A financial stand-off has begun between the Haas Formula 1 team and their former partner Uralkali and driver Nikita Mazepin.
The American outfit terminated contracts with both just before the new season in the wake of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, replacing Mazepin with Kevin Magnussen.
This led Uralkali to demand a refund of sponsorship money they claim had been paid for 2022 and threaten to sue Haas for, in their opinion, wrongly ending the contract.
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However, in a letter seen by the media, Haas has not only rejected Uralkali's demand but countered with a demand for $8.6m in compensation for loss of profits.
“According to unanimous legal scholars and case law, the party which terminates the agreement for breach of the other party is under no obligation to return to such party what it has already received under the agreement," the letter read.
“The claim of Uralkali to obtain the re-payment of the down paid amount of 12m Euros ($13m) is therefore ungrounded and rejected.”
Furthermore, Haas has refused to pay Mazepin for work done in 2022 before being axed or give him his car from last year, which was a term agreed under his contract.
The matter is expected to be decided in court.
