Exclusive: Uralkali issues statement following Haas F1 court action
Former Haas sponsor Uralkali has issued a statement following RacingNews365’s exclusive story about it trying to seize its cars at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Earlier this year, Haas was ordered to pay back money to Uralkali that it transferred to the team in early 2022 ahead of the expected second year of the title-sponsorship deal, but it was ripped up following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of that year.
Russian companies such as Uralkali have been under economic sanctions since, meaning companies like Haas have been unable to make transactions, such as returning the €12 million a Swiss arbitrator ordered it to pay.
The team issued its own statement to RacingNews365 and partner site Formula.Hu indicating that it sensed a swift resolution to the situation.
“Haas intends to pay all amounts due to Uralkali pursuant to the arbitration award, and there is no dispute over the amounts due,” it read.
“Haas has been working with its lawyers to ensure that the payment complies with all relevant US, EU, UK and Swiss sanctions laws and regulations.
“We will continue to work with Uralkali in the coming days to definitively resolve this matter.”
Uralkali has requested that Dutch authorities seize the cars and equipment from the team after the race weekend if the money is not transferred, with bailiffs present in the paddock on Thursday night to take an inventory.
Now the Russian company has issued an exclusive statement to RacingNews365 and Formula.Hu.
Exclusive Uralkali statement to RacingNews365 and Formula.Hu
“We are aware that Dutch bailiffs, accompanied by police, last night arrived at the Haas paddock and took an inventory of all racing equipment and other property.
“This is the expected consequence of Haas’ refusal to obey the ruling of arbitrage awarding payment and a race car to Uralkali.
“The arbitral ruling was issued June 12th with immediate effect and has been ignored by Haas. Haas has had over two months to implement the ruling, and, as was reported previously, Uralkali reached out to Haas’ representatives with options about how to make payment and where to send the race car, without ever receiving a substantive answer.
“There are not now and never have been any sanctions issues preventing Haas from fulfilling its obligations. Nevertheless, they have gone unfulfilled.
“We are delighted to hear that, following last night’s visit from Dutch authorities, Haas is finally paying attention to the arbitral ruling.
“Uralkali wants nothing more than to receive what it was awarded during a fair judicial process and hopes that Haas will move quickly to rectify the situation so that all sides can move on.
