Haas turns to Russia for new title sponsor; DAZN aboard AlphaTauri
Haas, the US Formula 1 team, has today unveiled a new title sponsor in Russia’s Uralkali, a leading potash fertiliser business.
The multi-year deal comes into effect for the 2021 season, with the outfit to be known as the Uralkali Haas F1 team.
The sponsor was presented at the livery for Haas’ new VF-21 race car, which features the red, white and blue of the Russian flag, unveiled today.
Uralkali is headed up by Dmitry Mazepin, the billionaire father of the team’s new Russian driver Nikita, who is stepping up from Formula 2.
The other Haas driver is also a Formula 1 rookie in Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael.
Haas finished ninth of the 10 teams in the 2020 Formula 1 constructors’ world championship, and will be seeking an improvement in this year’s campaign, which gets under way in Bahrain on 28 March.
Team founder and chairman Gene Haas said today: “I’m very pleased to welcome Uralkali to Formula 1 as title partner to Haas F1 Team. We look forward to representing their brand throughout the season. It’s an exciting time for the team with Uralkali coming onboard and having Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher driving for us.”
Meanwhile, DAZN, the international over-the-top streaming platform, has today been named as a new sponsor of the Scuderia AlphaTauri team for the upcoming season.
The company will serve as an official partner of the Italy-based team and has signed up its new Japanese driver Yuri Tsunoda as a brand ambassador in the Asian country.
Under the partnership, DAZN will create original content with Scuderia AlphaTauri and Tsunoda throughout the season, and has partnered with the team to launch an annual pass offering exclusive rewards and 12 months of access to the service for the price of 10 months in 2021.
AlphaTauri is one of two Formula 1 teams backed by energy drinks giant Red Bull.
Formula 1 is one of the major sports properties showcased on DAZN in Japan, along with soccer’s English Premier League and Japan’s J.League and Japanese baseball’s NPB.
Martyn Jones, executive vice-president of DAZN Japan, said: “The partnership with Scuderia AlphaTauri and Yuki Tsunoda underlines our continuing commitment to investing in working with the biggest stars and best teams to create high-quality original content that complements live events.
“We believe in the power of storytelling, in the build-up to the race, through live coverage and after the event. With this partnership, we can bring the full story of Formula 1 and Yuki to life for all Japanese motorsports fans on DAZN.”
Meanwhile, German car maker Porsche and its parent company Volkswagen Group would consider entering Formula 1 if the next engine regulations promote sustainability.
New rules are due to be introduced in 2025.
Fritz Enzinger, the vice president of Porsche Motorsport, told BBC Sport: “It would be of great interest if aspects of sustainability – for instance the implementation of e-fuels – play a role in this.
“Should these aspects be confirmed, we will evaluate them in detail within the VW Group and discuss further steps.”
FIA, motor racing’s international governing body, has said it is committed to the goal of 100 per cent sustainable fuels in Formula 1, which has seet a target of being net zero carbon by 2030.
