“I don’t want to comment on that,” Guenther Steiner clarifies Haas-Uralkali conflict’s refund demands rest in ‘good lawyer’s hands’
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Guenther Steiner, Haas' logo with Uralkali as its sponsor
Haas decided to terminate the contract of its main sponsor Uralkali after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started in the last week of February. The sponsor has a direct and close association with the Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, father of the laid-off Haas driver Nikita Mazepin.
Following this termination, Uralkali demanded 12million euros, citing the contract between the two parties. This demand has been rejected outrightly by Haas, who instead has offered to pay 7.93m euros to compensate for the ‘loss of profits.’
When asked what the current situation is between Haas and Uralkali, Guenther Steiner, as quoted by GP Fans, said, “I don’t want to comment on that. It’s a legal situation, and confidentiality I respect. That’s what it should be. I don’t want to come out here publicly [and say] ‘we said that, they said that’. If it’s true or not you guys can read what was said and make your own opinion. I don’t want to be in a position to comment publicly on our legal issues with our former sponsor.”
Guenther Steiner: Have to wait on the next steps
The situation between Haas and Uralkali is dependent on much larger forces. With Russia engaged in war with Ukraine, other countries, prominently the USA, home of the Haas team, have imposed several sanctions on Russia.
Guenther Steiner commenting on it said, “It is not an easy situation now with these sanctions and stuff. I don’t have the detail. I leave that one in the good lawyer’s hands because that is a full-time job to find out these things. At the moment I have to wait on the next steps in the legal process.”
So, even if any payment has to be made to Uralkali, it can’t be processed. Haas has much time on its hands to manage their funds by bringing more sponsors aboard and carrying on its run for points this season.
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Manan Goel
(400 Articles Published)