Mazepins demand Uralkali money back from Haas

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After being dropped as the team's title sponsor ahead of the coming Formula One season, the Russian company has demanded a full reimbursement from the team.

Following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, Haas cut ties with the company he was associated with and dropped his son Nikita as a driver.

At the start of 2021, the deal between the two companies included the race seat of Mazepin.

A group of business leaders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin last month to discuss the international sanctions placed on the country.

The governing body of motor racing, the FIA, did not ban Russian drivers from competing, but last Saturday, Haas confirmed it had cut ties with them.

On Wednesday, before Mazepin spoke to the media for the first time since that decision, Uralkali released a statement saying it wants its money back.

The Company believes that sports should always be free of politics and pressure from outside factors, and that the Team's decision was unreasonable.

Nikita Mazepin said in his media session that he is launching a new foundation to support athletes who are blocked from competing for political reasons.

He wants to support athletes who have been punished just for their passports.

The money that was reimbursed by Haas will be used to set up the initiative.

As most of the sponsorship funding for the 2022 season has already been transferred to the other team, the team has failed to fulfill its obligations to the company. Immediate reimbursement of the amounts received by the company will be requested by the company.

The We Compete As One athlete support foundation will use the refund from Haas and the remaining part of the sponsor financing to establish it.

When asked about the statement, he declined to comment.

As he put it, he learned of hissacking from the news release.

The Russian wants to return to F1 in the future, but he has no desire to drive for the team.