Russia sponsorship: South Tyrolean team boss in a quandary

Haas has left open further consequences for the team co-financed from Russia after the Russian attack on Ukraine. “We have to clarify all the legal questions that I can only talk about next week,” said Haas team boss Günther Steiner on Friday on the sidelines of the test drives in Barcelona.

The future of the Russian mining company Uralkali as the main sponsor appears to be open, but also the question of the continued employment of Schumacher's Russian teammate Nikita Masepin. His father Dmitri Masepin is the majority owner of Uralkali. “A solution must be found,” said Steiner in general terms. No logo Haas did without the Uralkali sponsor logo on its car on the third and final day of testing. “As a team, we made the right decision at this moment, also to send a message to everyone,” Steiner explained further, referring to the discussions with the other team partners. Mick Schumacher during a test drive in Barcelona last week. © APA/afp / LLUIS GENE

Team owner Gene Haas supports this decision. According to Steiner, there is no pressure from the US government to end cooperation with Uralkali or Dmitri Masepin. “We were not in contact with the government at all,” explained Steiner. Steiner does not currently see any economic impact of sanctions against Russia for Haas. “Financially we’re okay,” he said. “There’s no problem.” What's next for Masepin? Steiner has also already assured that Haas could survive without the Russian company's sponsorship money. “We are financially broad enough to get through this season.” The Russian Nikita Masepin faces an uncertain future. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Steiner wants Nikita Masepin to be able to continue to concentrate on his job. “Hopefully he can keep his head up,” the team boss said a few days ago. According to media reports, the Russian driver's future is open. Steiner could replace Masepin before the start of the season (March 20 in Bahrain). “We now have to decide how everything will continue – with the sponsor and also with Nikita Masepin,” said the Merano team boss recently about this issue. “We now have to decide how everything will continue – with the sponsor and also with Nikita Masepin.” Gunther Steiner In any case, Masepin is not exactly considered a super talent. He had big problems in his first Formula 1 season and couldn't hold a candle to his teammate Mick Schumacher in the inferior Haas car. He is said to have kept his cockpit primarily because his father's company is the main sponsor. If Haas decides not to sponsor Russia in the future, Masepin could, according to media reports, be replaced with the current reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi (grandchild of two-time world champion Emerson).

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Russia sponsorship: South Tyrolean team boss in a quandary

The Haas Formula 1 racing team is in a quandary because of the war in Ukraine. The Meran team boss Günther Steiner is now faced with a groundbreaking decision.

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