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Haas face legal trouble from ex-sponsor as Alpine confirm driver change – RacingNews365 Review
Haas F1’s former sponsor, Uralkali, has requested a Dutch court to seize the team’s F1 cars and spare parts before the upcoming grand prix due to the early termination of their sponsorship deal. Uralkali initially served as Haas’s title sponsor from 2021-2022 but ended ties after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, having already paid a significant portion of the sponsorship money for that year. Alpine has officially announced Jack Doohan as a full-time F1 driver for the 2025 season, elevating him from reserve driver status. Doohan, an Australian, joined the Alpine Academy in 2022 and has been responsible for simulator and testing duties as the team sought to improve their performance during the 2024 season. In response to RacingNews365’s report on the matter, Uralkali, the former sponsor of Haas, has issued a statement regarding their attempts to seize the team’s cars at the Dutch Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has expressed indifference to the departure of Jonathan Wheatley from the team, who will be stepping down from his role as sporting director following the season. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner addressed the dismissal of an appeal against allegations of inappropriate behavior filed by a colleague, for which he was previously under investigation earlier in the year. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has reaffirmed his interest in signing Max Verstappen, though he admits that acquiring him for the 2025 F1 season is unlikely due to the existing contract Verstappen holds with Red Bull until 2028.
