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NASCAR & F1 Owner Gene Haas Accused of $2.8 Million Crimes as Russia-America Tensions Ramp Up

Published 03/15/2023, 4:34 AM EDT

Russian Roulette seems to be the favorite pastime for the American team Haas. While the history of the cold war era states that the two powers couldn’t ally and stood at loggerheads, the manifestation of the past in the Formula 1 world has been rather antipoetic. While the breakup with the Mazepins was a public and ugly affair over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a hypocritical side of Haas Automation was revealed recently.

Haas had a troubled relationship with Nikita Mazepin, whose father, Dmitry Mazepin, was also a sponsor for the team via Uralkali. The ousting of junior Mazepin was partly because of his Russian DNA. However, a recent revelation put a dent in the righteous image of the team. Gene Haas, who owns teams in F1 and NASCAR, namely Haas and Stewart-Haas racing, also owns the biggest bone of contention in the said revelation, Haas Automation. The American sanctions have choked the Russian economy. However, there have emerged conjectures of transactions to the Kremlin’s military output connecting to Haas Automation.

As reported by PBS.org, Haas Automation, a high-tech American manufacturer, which is said to be worth 2.8 million, may have flouted export controls. While Haas VP, Peter Zierhut, has denied the accusations stating they cut ties with the Russians last year, Ostrovsky’s investigation states otherwise.

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The American documentary filmmaker and journalist, Ostrovsky, stated, “But our investigation puts that account into doubt. Customs records reviewed by “NewsHour” show that shipments continued for months after Russia’s invasion began. At least 18 shipments were made to Russia directly from Haas worth $2.8 million from March 4 through October of last year. Sanctions or no, Russia’s arms industry depends on technology developed in other countries.”

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While these puts the American side in trouble, the TP of Haas F1 team and his statements over the Russian invasion and subsequent ousting of junior Mazepin highlight the contradictory nature of the said dealings.

Haas TP Guenther Steiner blames Russian lineage for the breakup

In 2020, the Haas team booted its experienced drivers to sign two rookies. In the subsequent year, the team, citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, booted Nikita Mazepin as well. The recent ties of Haas Automation reveal the contradictory stance of the team, but Guenther Steiner had recently shrugged off the responsibility of blaming the Russian legacy of Mazepin and Uralkali.

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As quoted by Motorsport-Total, he said, “I spoke to the entire board. It was obvious. I spoke to Uralkali’s chairman, Gene [Haas], and in the evening we ended the relationship. We didn’t know then what to do with Nikita, because you don’t want to destroy a young man’s career. But when it turned out that wasn’t going to stop, a few weeks later we made the decision that he wouldn’t end the season can begin for us.”

He further clarified, “There was a long lead up to the invasion. I was hoping they wouldn’t do it. Then we woke up one morning and they had invaded Ukraine. I was like, ‘What the hell now?’”

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Watch This Story: List of all the Russian Drivers in Formula One History

What are your thoughts on Haas and its unceremonious ousting of Nikita and an eventual conjectured hypocrisy surrounding them?

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Written by:

Anmol is an F1 writer at Essentially Sports. She is a Law graduate from National Law University, Lucknow, and currently pursuing PGD in Journalism and Mass Communication from Symbiosis. Being a Rallyist herself she began watching F1, the apex of motorsports, and eventually fell in love with the sport.

Edited by:

Varunkumaar Chelladurai

NASCAR & F1 Owner Gene Haas Accused of $2.8 Million Crimes as Russia-America Tensions Ramp Up

Haas TP Guenther Steiner blames Russian lineage for the breakup

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