Former Williams Racing sponsor ROKiT has initiated proceedings to bring the F1 team back to court in a lawsuit seeking $149 million in damages for defamation. Williams and ROKiT have been legally at odds since 2020. Prior to the start of the 2019 season, the Williams F1 Team welcomed ROKiT, the telecommunications company founded by Jonathan Kendrick, as its title sponsor ahead of the start of the 2019 season.
Midway through that season, the two partners agreed to a contract extension until the end of 2023. But in May 2020, one month before the start of F1’s Covid-affected season, Williams abruptly ended its sponsorship deal with ROKiT. At the time, Williams appeared to have reason to quit after ROKiT failed to meet its contractual obligations and was withholding several payments. In 2021, Williams won a lawsuit against ROKiT at the International Court of Arbitration in London. In December 2021, a federal arbitration court in Los Angeles rejected ROKiT’s claim that it withheld payment to Williams for failing to meet its obligations after January 1, 2020. At the time, Williams’ total compensation was set at $35.7 million. But the lawsuit between the two companies is far from over, and now ROKiT has hit back in a lawsuit filed in Florida, accusing Williams of “wrongfully concealing a statement of material fact.” ROKiT names Williams and members of the former management team before the team was sold to Dorilton Capital as defendants, including former deputy team principal Claire Williams, former CEO Mike O’Driscoll, and former CFO. including Doug Lafferty. Former Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams In a nutshell, ROKiT has given Williams the assurance it has built a competitive car for the 2019 season in the final stages of sponsorship negotiations. It claims it didn’t have the money to actually develop a competitive machine. ROKiT says Williams’ subsequent uncompetitive campaign and finishing last in the championship has damaged the company’s reputation. . ROKiT alleges that Williams’ conduct has resulted in “substantial financial loss and damage to their business credibility and reputation.” The company alleges that “as a direct and immediate result of the fraudulent statements made by the defendant, the plaintiff suffered significant economic loss and reputational damage,” adding that it “exceeded $149,528,550. We are seeking monetary compensation.” Williams has dismissed ROKiT’s legal action as “counterfeiting.” “Having successfully arbitrated against ROKiT in the UK and successfully petitioned for the arbitration award to be confirmed by a federal court in the United States, Williams continues to have reliance on court proceedings in this unfortunate matter,” Williams said. Stated. ROKiT is not involved in F1, but maintains sponsorship status in the Formula E and British Formula 4 championships.
