Rich Energy claim to have an “update” regarding their alleged return to Formula 1 coming later this week. Fans remain skeptical, and rightfully so.
Rich Energy signed with Haas to become the team’s title sponsor ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, but after a disastrous, albeit somewhat comical, sequence of events that summer, one which included multiple legal battles, the two sides parted ways.
But William Storey, the founder and CEO of the British beverage company, has long claimed that his brand will be making a return to Formula 1.
Ahead of the 2021 season, he dubbed the return the “greatest comeback since Lazarus”, though no details were ever revealed, leading to justified skepticism from fans.
To nobody’s surprise, nothing happened for 2021.
As the 2021 season progressed, however, Storey didn’t give up on convincing fans that “the UK’s premium energy drink” would be back on the grid for “Chapter 2”.
He began to hype up a 2022 return and even launched the “Rich Energy F1 Fanzone”, though to this day, nobody really knows what, exactly, that is.
As it became clear that this alleged return would not be happening ahead of the 2022 season, Storey blamed the brand’s absence on other teams objecting to the comeback, noting that it is now “a matter for lawyers” and that “legal analysis is pending”.
Now here we are, three races into the 23-race 2022 season, and Rich Energy have returned — but not to Formula 1.
They have returned to making claims about their alleged return. On Sunday, they tweeted that they will be receiving an “update” on the legal matter at some point later this week.
We have been told that we will receive an update on legal position regarding Rich Energy F1 return this week. Thanks to the fans & the teams who have shown such support. #RichEnergy #F1 #Chapter2 🇬🇧
— Rich Energy HQ (@rich_energy) April 10, 2022
This will likely work out one of three ways.
- They will forget they tweeted it and nothing will happen — kind of like what happened with the fanzone at first.
- They will say there has been a delay and they don’t know the answer yet.
- They will claim the decision hasn’t gone their way but will pursue the matter further.
Any oddsmakers out there?
None of those options actually include a Rich Energy return to Formula 1. But stranger things have happened.