F1 team facing exile over Putin connection

The participation of the Haas F1 team in next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix is in some doubt amid legal strife involving a former sponsor with ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The team cut ties with then-title sponsor Uralkali ahead of the 2022 season following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Uralkali is controlled by Dmitry Mazepin, who’s son Nikita drove for the team in 2021, but was dumped as a part of the team’s split with the company. Mazepin senior is a Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin.
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Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. Getty
After the split, the company filed a lawsuit in Switzerland over a breach of contract. It claimed Haas should pay back the entire amount the company had paid in advance of the 2022 season – about $20 million. They also claimed they were owed a 2021-spec car.
The court in June ruled the team must immediately return a portion of the funds – about $13.5 million – and deliver the car.
In a statement, Uralkali claimed it hasn’t seen a cent and filed a fresh suit in a Dutch court in a bid to block Haas from leaving the Netherlands after Sunday night’s (AEST) Dutch Grand Prix.
On Thursday evening, the team was visited by Dutch bailiffs and police.
Nikita Mazepin and the Uralkali-branded Haas car at 2022 preseason testing. The team split with both Mazepin and Uralkali shortly after. DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Haas said it intended to pay the money over the weekend, and the delay had come as the team “worked with its lawyers to ensure payment will comply with all relevant US, EU, UK and Swiss sanctions and regulations”.
But Uralkali rubbished the suggestion.
“Haas has had over two months to implement the ruling, and, as was reported previously, Uralkali reached out to Haas’ representatives with options about how to make payment and where to send the race car, without ever receiving a substantive answer,” the company said.
“There are not now and never have been any sanctions issues preventing Haas from fulfilling its obligations. Nevertheless, they have gone unfulfilled.
Kevin Magnussen at Zandvoort. Getty
“We are delighted to hear that, following (Thursday) night’s visit from Dutch authorities, Haas is finally paying attention to the arbitral ruling. 
“Uralkali wants nothing more than to receive what it was awarded during a fair judicial process and hopes that Haas will move quickly to rectify the situation so that all sides can move on.”
To make matters worse for Haas, Nico Hulkenberg’s day ended early when he lost control and crashed at the Zandvoort circuit’s fast right hand turn one.