Haas Denies That It Broke Russian Sanctions In 2022 F1 Season

The company indicated that any sales or shipments made after this date were done without Haas' knowledge or approval.

The Haas F1 team recently denied allegations that its subsidiary, Haas Automation, provided machines and parts to Russia, directly violating US export control and sanctions rules. Haas clarified that it had been in full compliance with US government laws and had not exported any machines to Russia since March 3, 2022. The company indicated that any sales or shipments made after this date were done without Haas' knowledge or approval.

The statement came after a PBS story claimed that Haas machines were being used in Russia, prompting the American company to reveal that these machines were shipped prior to the US sanctions that were put in place after Russia invaded Ukraine. In response to these claims, Haas revealed that it had terminated its relationship with the Russian distributor, Abamet Management, on March 3, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“On March 3, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Haas Automation terminated, in its entirety, its relationship with its sole existing independent distributor for Russia and Belarus, Abamet Management. Since that date, Haas has not sold or shipped any machines, parts, or software to Abamet or anyone else in Russia. This crucial fact was made clear to the PBS reporter before the story was aired,” Haas said in a statement.

Haas also voluntarily cancelled 50 existing machine orders from Abamet, even though such orders may have been permissible under then-existing US export control and sanctions regulations. The company emphasized that it has always been against providing support to the Russian military and had severed ties with its primary sponsor Uralkali, which cost it millions of dollars in revenue. Uralkali is owned by Russian oligarch Dimitry Mazepin, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nikita Mazepin, his son, was part of the Haas 2021 and 2022 driver lineup but was immediately removed from the team after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Haas has accused PBS of presenting a poorly-sourced hit piece, which ignores basic facts and asserts other facts that are clearly false. The company has emphasized that it has always been in compliance with US export control and sanctions regulations and has not exported any machines to Russia since March 3, 2022.