Formula 1: Rich Energy reveal ‘the actual situation’ on Twitter

Rich Energy have revealed what they describe as “the actual situation” on Twitter as it pertains to their sponsorship of the Haas Formula 1 team.

These last few days have provided anything but smooth sailing for the Haas Formula 1 team and title sponsor Rich Energy after the latter tweeted on Wednesday that they had cut ties from the sport’s lone American team.

After becoming Haas’ title sponsor ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, Rich Energy stated that they would be ending this agreement after only the ninth of the season’s 21 races. They blamed Haas’ “poor performance”, and they blamed the “PC attitude” and “politics” of Formula 1 as well.

They made this announcement in a tweet.

However, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner later stated that this is not true, but without going into too much detail about the matter, as he claimed that he could not.

Here is what Steiner said about it.

After lots of speculation over the last few days, the British beverage company have taken to Twitter to reveal what they describe as “the actual situation”.

“The actual situation” is as follows:

But as expected, hardly anybody is taking this “actual situation” seriously, aside of the fact that they are dealing with a copyright infringement due to the extreme similarity of their logo and the logo of Whyte Bikes, which had their logo first.

There are so many conflicting reports out there that it will be hard to take anything at face value unless Haas confirm it at this point, no matter what other sources report it.

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First, there were reports that Rich Energy were working to salvage their relationship with Haas after posting such an unprofessional tweet, which, by the way, has still not been deleted from their Twitter account — even though this tweet seemed to confirm a departure that had already happened.

Then reports emerged that the tweet came from a “rogue” individual within Rich Energy. Rich Energy CEO William Storey called the team’s ensuing statement “ludicrous” and “risible” and insinuated that there had been a coup but that he controls all of the company’s assets and has the support of the key stakeholders.

Another report then emerged and quoted Storey as confirming that his company had, in fact, cut ties with Haas, which he reportedly referred to as a “milkfloat”.

The whole idea of a “coup” makes sense if the “actual situation” is true, but what does this mean for the rest of these reports?

Are Haas even willing to deal with Storey at this point, or are they simply unwilling to Neville Weston, one of Rich Energy’s shareholders, unless Storey is removed? Who sent/authorized the original tweet? If Storey is removed as the company’s CEO, will they still sponsor Haas? How about if he stays? Is the “milkfloat” quote something that Storey actually stated?

You get the point.

With all things considered, this situation pertaining to Rich Energy’s title sponsorship of the Haas Formula 1 team appears to be far from over, even if Rich Energy’s “actual situation” is 100% true.