Haas suffers damaging defeat to former sponsor

Haas has been ordered to pay compensation to Uralkali after the Swiss Arbitration Centre ruled in favour of the F1 team's former title sponsor following a lengthy legal dispute.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Haas terminated its contracts with then-driver Nikita Mazepin and with Uralkali, the company owned by his father Dmitry that entered into a title partner agreement with the team 12 months previously.

Uralkali, one of the world's leading potash producers, demanded Haas return the $13 million sponsorship money paid in advance.

The team countered, insisting it was within its rights to terminate the contract given clauses within the deal citing likely reputational damage in being linked to Uralkali and its former chairman Dmitry Mazepin, an oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Haas also demanded $8.6 million in compensation from Uralkali.

The SAC, however, has sided with Uralkali. A statement on the company's website has confirmed that "following a detailed examination of the case, the tribunal found that Haas was in violation of the contract".

Haas is now "obliged"..."to pay compensation to Uralkali". It added that "the tribunal also rejected all of the team’s counterclaims toward the company."

"The arbitral award puts an end to the dispute between Uralkali and Haas regarding the sponsorship agreement," adding that it "welcomes the decision by the tribunal".

Uralkali now "anticipates that Haas will fulfil its obligations under the ruling without undue delay. The funds, once received, are intended for the development and modernisation of the company’s production facilities."