MOSCOW, Apr 14The Formula 1 team Haas, which was represented by Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, refused to return to its former title sponsor, the Russian company Uralkali, the funds received under the contract in the amount of 12 million euros, according to motorsport.com. In early March, Haas announced the termination of cooperation with Nikita Mazepin «Uralkali» due to the events in Ukraine. After that, Uralkali stated that it demanded the return of sponsorship money paid to Haas and threatened to sue. According to the portal, Haas sent an official letter to Uralkali, in which it completely rejected the company's claims. The document states that the contract allows the American «stable» to terminate the agreements unilaterally due to a clause in the contract according to which Uralkali «does not cause damage, does not cause controversy, does not ridicule or belittle the public reputation, goodwill or favorable image» Haas.» The team believes that businessman Dmitry Mazepin's ties to the authorities in Russia and EU sanctions against him contradict this clause. «According to the unanimous opinion of legal scholars and case law, a party that terminates an agreement due to a violation of the other party is not required to return such party what it has already received under the agreement. Uralkali's claim for the return of the amount paid in the amount of 12,000,000 euros is unfounded and rejected,” the text of the letter says. In addition, Haas believes that it is entitled to compensation in the amount of 8 million euros for lost profits that The team will not fulfill the clause of the contract on the transfer of the car Mazepin, which he drove in the 2021 season, to the Russian company until this compensation is paid. As the portal notes, citing a source, close to the situation, Haas refused to pay Mazepin the salary for the time worked in the 2022 season before his contract was terminated.
