Guenther Steiner, the former team principal of Haas F1, has initiated legal action against the US outfit.
The lawsuit centers around two key claims: unpaid commissions and unauthorized use of Steiner's image and brand.
Steiner alleges that Haas failed to fulfill their contractual obligations regarding commission payments. Court documents lodged in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, detail claims of unpaid commissions for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, falling within the timeframe of his most recent employment agreement.
While the specific nature of these commissions remains undisclosed, they are potentially linked to sponsorship deals he secured for the team.
“Haas F1 chose not to renew Mr. Steiner's Employment Agreement,” stated the Court papers. “This was its right. But Haas F1 has done what it has no right to do and refused to pay Mr. Steiner [amount redacted] owed under his Employment Agreement.”
“But after years of accepting the benefits of Mr. Steiner's reputation, experience, and deep connections within the sport, Haas F1 cannot withhold from Mr. Steiner the benefits he has earned.”
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Beyond the financial dispute between the two parties, Steiner contends that Haas is also infringing upon his image rights.
The Italian claims the team continues to use his name and likeness for promotional purposes, including merchandise sales and website content, without his consent or proper compensation.
The court documents highlight the significant boost Steiner's presence brought to Haas through the Netflix docuseries "Drive to Survive,” with the team boss emerging from the outset as a hugely popular figure within the show, potentially further amplifying the commercial value associated with his image.
“Haas F1 has no right to use Mr. Steiner's name, image, and likeness or to exploit them in any form of media after the termination of his employment,” explained the Court documents.
“Haas F1 has not compensated Mr. Steiner for its unauthorized use of his name, image, and likeness.”
The legal proceedings will determine the validity of Steiner’s claims regarding unpaid commissions and the extent to which Haas overstepped their boundaries in using his image and brand.
But the lawsuit signifies a contentious split between Steiner and his former team.
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