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Russian company Uralkali has demanded a refund from the Haas Formula 1 team.
This comes after both driver Nikita Mazepin and Uralkali had their contracts terminated ahead of the 2022 season.
TEAM STATEMENT #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/5aEXLzYtmV
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 5, 2022
The company is a subsidiary of Uralchem, and is owned by Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin.
In a statement, Uralkali said it “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” it claims to have paid for the 2022 season.
The statement went on to say Haas’ decision to terminate the deal was “unreasonable” and the company “believes that sports should always be free of politics and pressure from external factors.”
According to Uralkali, most of its sponsorship had already been paid to Haas and it alleges that the Formula 1 team has “thus failed to perform its obligations to Uralkali for this year’s season.”
As a result, Uralkali is to request the “immediate reimbursement of the amounts received by Haas.”
It adds: “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.”
Nikita Mazepin addressed Russian media on Wednesday morning and said, this will be to help athletes who are unable to compete because of “political reasons”.
Mazepin said they have “been collectively punished just for the passports they hold” and that the Russian Paralympic team will be the first case to benefit.
He went on to explain that they will be given to help find jobs, legal aid, and psychological help “to cope with the sense of loss and emptiness”.
Feature Image Credit: @HaasF1Team on Twitter.
