Up Next
The Haas Formula 1 team is dropping the branding of its title sponsor Uralkali for the final day of the pre-season test following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Thursday morning, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a military attack on Ukraine, with bombing reported in several major cities.
Putin’s decision to start a war in Ukraine has been met with widespread condemnation throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
A lesser consequence of Putin’s actions is the impact on several major sporting events that Russia is due to hold in the coming months, including September’s Russian Grand Prix.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel pledged to boycott the race if F1 doesn’t cancel it, while reigning champion Max Verstappen said it is “not correct” to race there if Russia is at war.
Russia is expected to lose several of its major events, with European football governing body UEFA poised to move its showpiece Champions League final from St Petersburg.
F1 is yet to commit to action although a meeting has been convened by F1 CEO Stefano Domencali with all teams on Thursday evening at the pre-season test at Barcelona.
The crisis in Ukraine could have another consequence in F1’s world though, as the Haas team’s primary sponsor is Russian company Uralkali – part-owned by the father of Haas driver Nikita Mazepin.
It is known the senior Mazepin, Dmitry, was among the 37 businessmen meeting up with Putin in the Moscow Kremlin on Thursday, as per Russian state agency TASS.
In the wake of the Russian invasion, Haas also cancelled Thursday’s planned media engagement for team boss Guenther Steiner and Mazepin.
Haas removed the Uralkali branding from its team trucks and announced in the evening that it will run its VF-22 in a plan white livery minus Uralkali branding for the final day of testing on Friday.
Its livery utilises the colours of the Russian flag.
The team says “no further comment will be made at this time regarding team partner agreements”.
As part of the sanctions due to be imposed on Russia in response to Putin’s actions, all Russian banks have had their assets frozen and while some payments can be made from Russia to UK they will be limited.
There is also potential to cut Russia out completely from Swift payments.
It has been speculated that these sanctions, and potential sanctions from other countries, could impact Haas receiving funding from Uralkali.
The exact mechanics of this depend on the Haas team’s financial arrangements as while Gene Haas’s primary company is American and the F1 team has a base in the US, its main operations are in the UK where it has a registered business.
Mazepin will drive in the morning session of the final day as planned, before Mick Schumacher takes over in the afternoon.
