Haas trucks held at Zandvoort amid sponsorship debt resolution

The Haas Formula One team has encountered an unexpected hurdle at the Dutch Grand Prix circuit in Zandvoort. The team’s trucks are currently prohibited from leaving the circuit until a debt owed to a former Russian sponsor is fully settled, as confirmed by a team spokesperson on Sunday.

The financial obligation relates to an outstanding balance due to Uralkali, a former sponsor whose contract with Haas was terminated in March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The original sponsorship deal was reportedly valued at $13 million, with $9 million currently awaiting repayment.

To resolve the matter, a payment was dispatched on Friday. The spokesman asserted that preparations for the team's departure would proceed as usual on Sunday, despite the trucks requiring clearance before they can head to the next race in Monza, Italy, for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix.

This impoundment follows a local court action initiated last Thursday by Dutch bailiffs, who conducted an inventory of the team's assets in accordance with a Swiss arbitral tribunal ruling issued in June.

With the next race on the horizon, the Haas team is hopeful that the matter will be resolved promptly to ensure seamless logistics and preparation for the Italian Grand Prix.

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