Haas is to review the future of Formula 1 title sponsor Uralkali next week after its decision to remove the company’s stickers from its cars following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Thursday evening, Haas announced it would complete the final day of the first pre-season test in Barcelona in an all-white livery, removing Uralkali’s sponsorship and colours that resemble the Russian flag.
The situation has put a question mark over the future of the deal, as well as driver Nikita Mazepin, just three weeks before the first race in Bahrain on March 20.
Addressing the media for the first time since the decision was taken on Friday, Haas team principal Gunther Steiner explained it would sit down to go through the legal ramifications next week.
“We removed it yesterday, we have to sort out all the legal stuff, which I cannot speak about, next week,” Steiner said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“At the moment, I said we’re not going to do it today. We made the decision yesterday with our team partners. This is what we’re going to do. I need to work on the rest next week.”
Haas’ decision follows Russia launching a military attack on Ukraine on Thursday morning, with the war continuing to escalate.
The Russian Grand Prix, scheduled for September 25, has been called off, with F1 officials claiming it was “impossible” to hold a race given the current circumstances.
Losing the backing from Uralkali could also put Haas’ F1 future at risk, but Steiner stressed that the American-owned outfit will be unaffected whatever call is taken.
“It has no [impact] on the team, how we are running it or how we are doing, how we plan this season,” Steiner said.
“There are more ways to get the funding. There is no issue with that one.”
Mazepin is known to bring funding from Uralkali, co-owned by his father Dmitry, who have backed the 22-year-old all of his racing career.
Steiner was clear that Mazepin’s future with the team “needs to be resolved” as there is the matter of government involvement at play.
“Not everything depends on us here, what is happening,” Steiner said.
“There are governments involved and I have no power over them. We need to see also the situation, how it develops in Ukraine.”
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