Williams Racing wins lawsuit against former sponsor ROKiT. ROKiT has been ordered to pay over $32.2 million to the Williams F1 team.
Williams signed a title sponsorship deal with telecommunications company ROKiT ahead of the start of the 2019 F1 season. Midway through the season, his contract was extended until the end of 2023.
But in May 2020, just a month before F1’s coronavirus-affected season began, Williams abruptly ended its sponsorship deal with ROKiT.
At the time, Williams suggested they had reason to do so, as their partners had failed to meet their contractual obligations and had withheld an installment payment of £3.5m to £5m.
Earlier this year, the Los Angeles federal court that arbitrated the lawsuit between Williams and ROKiT granted Williams’ claim and ordered ROKiT to pay $35.78 million.
However, ROKiT pursued the issue further, prolonging the litigation between the parties.
But on Thursday the United States District Court for the Central District of California presided over by Judge Christina A. Synder ruled that ROKiT was again liable to pay Williams £26,220,094.25, or about $32.2 million. made a verdict.
ROKiT will also have to pay £1m to cover Williams Racing’s legal costs.
ROKiT continues to be active in motorsport, having sponsored AJ Foyt in last season’s IndyCar. The company will also continue to support Venturi in Formula E.
Category: F1 / Williams / F1 sponsor