Haas has no plans to change F1 livery after Rich Energy court loss

Rich Energy lost a court case against Whyte Bikes last Tuesday after the cycling company filed a copyright infringement claim over the use of its stag logo.

The case has now opened the door for Whyte Bikes to lodge an injunction against Rich Energy to prevent its use of the logo, as well as seek potential damages or a share of profits.

The matter is set to return to court next month and Haas has not been told that it needs to change or remove the Rich Energy logo that features on the car and both drivers' helmets.

Asked by Autosport about the impact of the case, Haas team boss Gunther Steiner said: "We were told [that] when we need to change something they will tell us.

"For sure we [need to] check that everything is okay and we are doing everything they tell us.

"We don't have a problem with the logo, Rich Energy has a problem with the logo, so I don't know if they need to change it or if there is another solution.

"I am not going to get involved in their issues because they don't need me to sort that one out.

"For here [Monaco], we were told to keep the logo like it is and if there are any other instructions coming we are ready for it."

The court ruling was critical of Rich Energy CEO William Storey, but Steiner said he was not too concerned about his team's image being damaged by the affair.

"I prefer not to judge people on what they say and what they do," Steiner said.

"As you all know, I am very liberal on that stuff, I am not trying to say to people 'you did wrong or right', that is not my position in life.

"The judge had an opinion and they [Rich Energy] as far as I understand, and it is not coming from me, they will appeal the verdict.

"We have to wait until everything is done and then come to a conclusion.

"If the judge judges William like this, what can I do about it? He hasn't done anything bad to me. That is my opinion of it.

"He has done what he has said he is going to do. Is it bad for us? I don't really think so because the brand Rich Energy is bigger than William Storey in my opinion, so I will wait until it is all over."

Steiner also suggested that Whyte Bikes had pulled publicity stunts in using images of the Haas F1 car in recent press statements.

"It is an easy way for Whyte Bikes to get a little bit of publicity putting an F1 car on without paying the money for it, so fair play to them," he said.

"They can get a lot of publicity out of it, but we are not actively dragged into it because we didn't do anything wrong."