Uralkali seeks reimbursement from Haas for the money already transferred for 2022 F1 season, as they will use it to fund ‘We Compete As One’ foundation.
Following the contract termination by Haas and also Hitech GP, Uralkali released its first statement since the move where it seeks reimbursement from the former of the money the Russian company already paid for the 2022 F1 season.
Uralkali reiterates what Nikita Mazepin noted last week regarding the ‘unilateral’ decision of Haas to terminate the contract. The company finds the decision unreasonable as it notes that they always see sport away from politics and from any kind of pressure.
As it seeks the repayment, Uralkali states that it reserves the rights to initiate any judicial proceedings if the repayment is not made. The company wishes to use the funds for its ‘We Compete As One’ initiative which aims to help athletes without support.
Here’s the full statement:
Uralkali (the Company), one of the world’s largest potash producers, and also the title sponsor of Uralkali Haas F1 Team (the Team, Haas), hereby announces that it was advised by the Team of their unilateral termination of the sponsorship agreement with Uralkali due to the current geopolitical situation.
Uralkali has been for many years contributing considerably towards global food security and providing significant assistance to a whole range of sports associations, organizations and events both in Russia and abroad. The Company views the Team’s decision as unreasonable and believes that sports should always be free of politics and pressure from external factors.
Given the above, Uralkali intends to protect its interests in line with applicable legal procedures and reserves its rights to initiate judicial proceedings, claim damages and seek repayment of the significant amounts Uralkali had paid for the 2022 Formula One season.
As most of the sponsorship funding for the 2022 season has already been transferred to Haas and given that the Team terminated the sponsorship agreement before the first race of the 2022 season, Haas has thus failed to perform its obligations to Uralkali for this year’s season. Uralkali shall request the immediate reimbursement of the amounts received by Haas. The refund from Haas and the remaining part of Uralkali’s sponsor financing for 2022 will be used to establish the We Compete As One athlete support foundation.
Here’s Haas on Bahrain Test
Here’s Hitech GP dropping Uralkali
Here’s Gene Haas on dropping sponsor and more
Here’s Nikita Mazepin reacting to his axe
