Haas F1 sponsor Rich Energy yet to pay Whyte Bike legal costs

Haas Formula 1 title sponsor Rich Energy has failed to pay any of the legal costs due to Whyte Bikes following a court order.

Having lost its legal battle against Whyte Bikes and right to appeal the ruling, the British energy drinks company was ordered to pay ATB Sales costs totalling £35,416 by July 11 2019 after being adjudged to have copied Whyte Bikes’ stag logo.

But in a statement issued by Whyte Bikes, the UK-based bike company confirmed the costs had not been received by the deadline given.

“On 27 June 2019 the High Court in London made various orders against the Defendants, Rich Energy, William Storey and Staxoweb,” it read.

“One of the orders was that they should pay to Whyte (ATB Sales) costs totalling £35,416 by 11 July 2019. The Defendants have failed to pay any of the costs award.

“Each of the Defendants is jointly liable for the whole amount of costs awarded. ATB will now be forced to take appropriate action to recover the costs that they have been awarded.

“This may include applications to the Court to wind up both Rich Energy and Staxoweb and to petition for the bankruptcy of Mr [William] Storey.”

It marks the latest twist in the saga involving Rich Energy, after it was forced to commit its partnership to Haas following a “regrettable” incident in which a “rouge” individual claimed via the company’s official Twitter account that it had terminated its sponsorship deal with the US squad ahead of the British Grand Prix.