Haas expects Rich Energy F1 title sponsorship call before Singapore
Haas Formula 1 team boss Gunther Steiner expects a final decision on the future of its title sponsorship deal with Rich Energy to be made before the Singapore Grand Prix
Although the energy drinks company announced on the eve of the British GP that it had terminated its contract with Haas, the situation remained unclear amid a boardroom battle between major shareholders and former CEO William Storey for control.
Steiner met with Rich Energy representatives in London on Wednesday, and said he is now awaiting a final decision from the company about whether it wants to continue with its deal.
"It [the situation] has calmed down and now we'll see where we go from here," said Steiner, when asked by Autosport about the latest on Rich Energy's future with the team.
"First we need to be calm and make a rational decision, and then it will be decided. At the moment they [the logos] are on here, as you can see, so they need to decide where they want to go, not us.
"It is their decision, and then our one will follow.
"That should happen in the next week or so, and this time it will happen properly."
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Steiner said that given the next race at Monza only a week away, it was most likely that a decision from Rich Energy will be made ahead of next month's Singapore Grand Prix.
He also stressed the final decision was entirely Rich Energy's, and he could not predict what the outcome would be.
"I don't want to go into the contract; it is more for them to decide where they are at with their company and if it makes sense for them or not to continue or not," he said.
"I am not involved - so I cannot comment and I wouldn't be qualified to comment. I've got enough on my plate, I don't need anybody else's problems.
"So we agreed that once they are ready to decide where they want to go, the investors, they tell us what they want to do with us and I am fine with it.
"I think it will be after Monza, as Monza is next week so there is very little time to do things properly. Hopefully we can do things properly and respectfully."
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