[Team] Haas: Gene Haas of NASCAR attempting to start F1 team

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Apart from the joke final season of FV8, or whatever it was called, Pietro was very, very poor throughout his junior career.

i didnt follow to be honest...was he really that bad? a case of another kid with connections advancing?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

i didnt follow to be honest...was he really that bad? a case of another kid with connections advancing?

Midfield, ocassiomally closer to the front with very limited depth in quality or quantity in that final year!

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

my personal feeling is that this Mazepin saga is far far from over.

AS far as his f1 career is concerned its over.
Even before the invasion, he was on the nose following grope-gate before last season, and his performance (admittedly in a pretty poor car) and by all reports his attitude won him no friends in f1.

Even if he can somehow get money now or the war ends and sanctions are lifted, I cant see any team wanting him, and other than daddies company no other company would want their name on his car. After all for sponsors F1 is PR and image. I dont think many multinationals will want to be associated with him, not a good look public image wise. Not for many years anyway, by then his window will have closed.

He came across as a spoiled boy who got into F1 coz his daddy (one of Putins inner circle) had billions through business and financial dealings working closely with his friend Putin. (He still has not outright condemned Putins actions)
So the money is questionably dirty, is now unavailable and his name is a dirty word.

There are many drivers with better ability, some who can access similar dollars without the taint. so why take him back - ever?

[S griffin]

It's not looking good for Mazepin. He did improve last year and it would be interesting to see him go better a potentially better car this year. But now he's out and will have to hope the war is over before anything else. It's not impossible for him to come back, so we'll see.

Certainly there is something in him and he's done well to help fund Haas, but now thanks to Putin, the team has made the tough decision to drop him. I don't envy him in this situation, it's gonna be a bit of a struggle to get back

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Certainly there is something in him ....

I'm just wondering what you see that 'something' as? I confess I've not seen 'anything', let alone 'something', TBH.

[E.B]

I see in our motorsport press here are making mentions of intended legal action against Haas over refund on sponsorship monies paid, and talking of Haas decision (to 'axe' them) as being unreasonable. They also talk of using the money they get refunded to finance a ‘We Compete As One’ foundation, believed to be aimed at helping athletes who have been affected by worldwide sanctions against Russia.

Uralkali statement below:

Uralkali (the Company), one of the world’s largest potash producers, and also the title sponsor of Uralkali Haas F1 Team (the Team, Haas), hereby announces that it was advised by the Team of their unilateral termination of the sponsorship agreement with Uralkali due to the current geopolitical situation.

Uralkali has been for many years contributing considerably towards global food security and providing significant assistance to a whole range of sports associations, organizations and events both in Russia and abroad. The Company views the Team’s decision as unreasonable and believes that sports should always be free of politics and pressure from external factors.

Given the above, Uralkali intends to protect its interests in line with applicable legal procedures and reserves its rights to initiate judicial proceedings, claim damages and seek repayment of the significant amounts Uralkali had paid for the 2022 Formula One season.

As most of the sponsorship funding for the 2022 season has already been transferred to Haas and given that the Team terminated the sponsorship agreement before the first race of the 2022 season, Haas has thus failed to perform its obligations to Uralkali for this year’s season. Uralkali shall request the immediate reimbursement of the amounts received by Haas. The refund from Haas and the remaining part of Uralkali’s sponsor financing for 2022 will be used to establish the We Compete As One athlete support foundation.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/03/09...-against-haas/

[broadrun96]

At least in the US they would be up excrement creek without a means of conveyance. There's no way there isn't a disrepute/bad conduct/etc clause that allows termination with immediate effect and without refund or new billing. Not reading the entire contract ain't Haas' fault.

Their statement reads more like the usual Russian "we aren't doing anything wrong" statements. Even if they got a refund judgement the monies would be seized anyway so it's not going back to them

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I'm just wondering what you see that 'something' as? I confess I've not seen 'anything', let alone 'something', TBH.

Well his wallet for one?

But as is often said

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by E.B

They also talk of using the money they get refunded to finance a ‘We Compete As One’ foundation, believed to be aimed at helping athletes who have been affected by worldwide sanctions against Russia.

i find this particularly distasteful. to coopt the name and message of historically underrepresented groups within F1, to basically try and use that message against the sport in order to propagate his own political agenda exposes him as the rich, entitled, and classless hack that he is.

just my 2cents.

Originally Posted by bathurst77

AS far as his f1 career is concerned its over.

i hope so!

wish that F1 rejects site was still around because we have a new wiener!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

i find this particularly distasteful. to coopt the name and message of historically underrepresented groups within F1, to basically try and use that message against the sport in order to propagate his own political agenda exposes him as the rich, entitled, and classless hack that he is.

just my 2cents.



i hope so!

wish that F1 rejects site was still around because we have a new wiener!

Wiener being the operative word.

[Anyopenroad]

Kevin Magnussen replaces Mazepin.

[bella]

EXCELLENT decision.

[Richard C]

Brings experience back to the team and also a good measuring stick for both the car's performance as well as Mick.

Richard

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Kevin Magnussen replaces Mazepin.

What happened to " never drive a backmarker car again" .......cannot imagine Peugeot are to impressed or maybe the Peugeot project is going back a year?

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

What happened to " never drive a backmarker car again" .......cannot imagine Peugeot are to impressed or maybe the Peugeot project is going back a year?

According to Andrew Benson, BBC's F1 writer, Magnussen has signed a multi-year deal and negociated his way outnof the Pug snd Ganassi deals.


I must admit to finding it a strange decision, unless you have a good idea that you can quickly move up the grid.

[chillibowl]

may be wrong, but Mags is not a pay driver/ brings very little money/one of the reasons he was let go for 2021?

if so, awesome for Haas for not picking a pay driver and possibly means they have the ability to effectively fund the team until a replacement sponsor is found?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

What happened to " never drive a backmarker car again" .......cannot imagine Peugeot are to impressed or maybe the Peugeot project is going back a year?

A bird in the hand thing there, if they were serious about the car he would know. Him leaving is a sign that ship has leaks everywhere

[steve_r]

Surprise. Reasonable driver. We will know later this season whether Mick Schumacher is any good or not.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

may be wrong, but Mags is not a pay driver/ brings very little money/one of the reasons he was let go for 2021?

if so, awesome for Haas for not picking a pay driver and possibly means they have the ability to effectively fund the team until a replacement sponsor is found?

Always brought megabucks with the Jack & Jones sponsorship before. Don’t know about now.

[sizzle]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Surprise. Reasonable driver. We will know later this season whether Mick Schumacher is any good or not.

[S griffin]

So Haas replace one driver who likes to swerve at other drivers with another!

Seriously though there might be some who say, why are they going to the past, when they could go with a young driver instead, but quite frankly this is a great move with Haas. This brings them the experience they were lacking last year and while Magnussen isn't a megastar, there are many people, including myself, who rate his natural talent high, so this will be a big chance for Mick to show how good he is. And I doubt Magnussen has gotten any slower since he left F1 in 2020

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by S griffin

So Haas replace one driver who likes to swerve at other drivers with another!

Seriously though there might be some who say, why are they going to the past, when they could go with a young driver instead, but quite frankly this is a great move with Haas. This brings them the experience they were lacking last year and while Magnussen isn't a megastar, there are many people, including myself, who rate his natural talent high, so this will be a big chance for Mick to show how good he is. And I doubt Magnussen has gotten any slower since he left F1 in 2020

Have to agree, i think its a smart move, and probably the logical choice if you put funding to one side. K Mag will bring experience into the team when developing the car.

I suppose their biggest issue now is dollars and trying to find replacment sponsors.

[AndreasDavour]

I'd say it's a total win for Haas, but I wonder about how sensible it is for the career of Kevin Magnussen. He was in a works effort, in a world championship with a real chance of winning races and possible even the championship. He was also in another seat with a team that knows how to win and he could definitely be in the fight in most races. Instead he goes back to a team owned by a backer who likes to spend less, and a team which even if they improved greatly probably wont challenge for wins, and absolutely not have a chance at a world championship.


All that to be racing in F1?

[Greem]

I doubt he's doing this for altruistic reasons, I imagine Gunther made it all rather palatable for him.

The intent with Peugeot when he signed was to race at Le Mans, but their development pace means they're not racing at all until later in the year - if they manage that.

[AndreasDavour]

Yeah, well. I guess I think it's quite likely Peugeot will win Le Mans in a few years, and even if they wont win this year I would say they are pretty sure to win something next year. Haas, I'm doubtful.