F1 team Haas not allowed to leave the Netherlands after seizure by Russian ex-sponsor

All assets of the Haas Formula 1 team are not allowed to leave the Netherlands for the time being. Former main sponsor Uralkali confiscated the racing cars, motorhome, trucks and computer equipment on Thursday. OSK Advocaten, which represents Uralkali, confirmed this on Friday. However, the team will be allowed to compete in the Dutch GP in Zandvoort on Sunday.

Uralkali is demanding around 10 million dollars. Until this sum is paid, all the equipment must remain in the Netherlands. This could mean that the team will not be able to compete in the Italian Grand Prix next weekend. "They also have to tell us where all the equipment is. If they fail to do so, they are committing a criminal offense," said OSK lawyer Jurjen de Korte.

The Russian fertilizer manufacturer Uralkali has been the name sponsor of the US racing team since 2021. Nikita Mazepin, son of owner Dimitri Mazepin, became one of the two drivers in Formula 1. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the team dismissed Nikita Mazepin, and the sponsorship agreement with Uralkali was terminated. The company is demanding almost all of the sponsorship money for this year.

De Korte says he received permission for the attachment from the court in Haarlem last week. He argues that a court in Switzerland already ordered Haas to repay two months ago. He says they must also hand over the 2021 race car to Mazepin, as agreed. "They had enough time to comply, but they played hide and seek. The ball is now in their court, they have to find a solution," said De Korte.

Team boss Ayao Komatsu says he is not very concerned about the matter. "We do not dispute that there has been a decision, and we have accepted it. We also don't dispute the amount. It is a complicated process to transfer the money," he said in the FIA press conference at the Zandvoort circuit.

"Our lawyers are working on it, and it is taking longer than I would like. We are doing everything we can to transfer the money owed as quickly as possible," said Komatsu, who believes that things will be sorted out and that Haas can compete in the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit in a week.

The Haas Formula 1 team announced that it would continue to work with the Russian fertilizer manufacturer to finalize the matter in the coming days.