The Haas F1 will run on a completely white machine on the third and final day of the first pre-season test Route Barcelona-Cataloniawith Uralkali brands are removed as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Widespread condemnation of Russia’s invasion of their neighbors, and Sebastian Vettel and Max Ferstappen already said it will be hard to see a Formula One race on Sochi Autodrome in Russia in September.
But with Russian sponsors and a Russian driver on board, all eyes have been on Haas, and despite launching their usual livery on Thursday, they will remove the Uralkali brand before Friday.
Nikita Mazepin will continue to run and will drive the car on Friday morning before handing over the VF-22 to a teammate Mick Schumacher for the last session in the afternoon.
“The Haas F1 team will present its VF-22 in the usual white livery without the Uralkali brand on the third and final day of the Barcelona-Catalonia race on Friday, February 25.” a team statement said Thursday night.
“At the morning session, Nikita Mazepin will go as planned, and in the afternoon Mick Schumacher will take office.
“Currently, there will be no comments on the team’s partnership agreements.”
Perhaps key was the fact that the Uralkali name was also missing from the Haas team’s logo in the statement, and with rising tensions in the Russia-West area it could mean the end of a deal in which Uralkali will decorate cars and perhaps even end Mazepin’s Formula One races.
Both are team leaders Gunther Steiner and Mazepin also planned to cancel press conferences in connection with the Russian invasion.