Haas responds after Uralkali takes legal action

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has provided an update on the American team's ongoing legal battle with former sponsor Uralkali.

The issue has come to a head at the Dutch Grand Prix, with the Russian company sending bailiffs to the Zandvoort on Thursday evening to take inventory at the circuit.

Uralkali has requested Dutch authorities seize Haas assets, but the American squad maintains it is co-operating fully with the process.

The dispute has arisen due to Haas failing to repay sponsorship fees. Uralkali is owed €12 million after Haas terminated its agreement with the company early in 2022 after Russian's invasion of Ukraine - with a considerable portion of the season's sponsorship money having already been paid.

Russia has been under economic sanctions from a number of countries since the war in Ukraine began, including the United States of America, which has prevented Haas from being able to make the payment, with such action prohibited by said sanctions.

Uralkali provided RacingNews365 an exclusive statement outlining the situation from the perspective of the Russian company.

However, Komatsu has confirmed the team has been trying to find a solution, and is confident a resolution will be reached.

“The court ruling was made some time ago. We completely accepted the ruling, we’ve been trying to make a payment," the 48-year-old told Viaplay.

"But this process is pretty complicated so it’s been taking longer than anticipated. They came to a head this weekend but now we are fully focused with our lawyers, it’s our lawyers [job]. We are trying to resolve it as quickly as possible, so I’m confident it will be resolved very soon."

Haas are not negotiating with Uralkali

Komatsu insists it will not disturb Haas' weekend, but did confirm the bailiffs had been to the paddock, adding that it was merely to ensure the team would make a payment.

When asked whether Haas is negotiating with Uralkali, Komatsu replied: “No, we are not negotiating anything.

The ruling was made, so we are not disputing this one whatsoever. We fully accepted it on day one, it’s just the practicality of making that transaction from the US to their side, that’s been a complicated process.

"That’s why it’s taking a long time but we are trying to resolve it as quickly as possible and I’m confident we can.

“Our target is to finish completely this transaction by the end of this week.”