Rich Energy drink chief labels F1 team Haas ‘milk float at back of grid’ after pulling plug on sponsorship
HAAS F1 team are searching for a new title sponsor after Rich Energy terminated their deal - with drink boss, William Storey, labelling them a “milk float at the back of the grid”.
SunSport tracked down Storey, who said it was the energy drink’s decision to end their sponsorship deal, which was only agreed at the start of the season.
It leaves the Banbury-based team red-faced on the eve of the British GP.
Storey told SunSport: “We terminated them. Unfortunate but logical decision in light of events.”
He added: “Haas [are] nice people but the car is going backwards.
“We are a superior product to Red Bull.
“A milkfloat at back of grid a disaster for us. End of.”
The move was not expected by the Haas team and it comes a month after Rich Energy lost a court hearing against Whyte bikes over the use of their similar logo of a stag’s head, forcing the team to remove it from their cars.
Rich Energy posted the news on Twitter citing "poor performance" at the Austrian Grand Prix where the Haas cars qualified fifth and 11th but finished 16th and 19th.
The same Twitter account has also attempted to goad rival Red Bull with a series of tweets, which drew plenty of criticism internally by the Haas team.
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They also had a Twitter spat with Top Gear presenter Chris Harris, who was unsure of the drink’s legitimacy and produced his own taste test, declaring that it tasted just like Red Bull but in a different can.
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It is unknown how Haas, who are bankrolled by US businessman Gene Haas, will respond to Rich Energy’s bombshell going in to the sold-out British GP.
Guenther Steiner, team principal of the Haas team said: "Rich Energy is currently the title partner of Haas F1 team.
"I cannot comment further on the contractual relationship between our two parties due to commercial confidentiality."
Meanwhile, the team are preparing for the British GP as normal with the logos remaining on their motorhome and team uniform.