31/01/2011
NEWS STORY
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Lotus Renault GP owner Gerard Lopez has hit out at Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes, claiming that what the naming rights row really boils down to is money.
The spat which has lasted for much of the off-season continued today, with Fernandes outfit opting for an on-line launch just a few hours before Lotus Renault GP unveiled its car in the pitlane in Valencia. While photographers eagerly snapped the black and gold liveried R31, Team Lotus issued a couple of pictures of their car in what appeared to be an underground car park.
While much of the focus, other than how the teams perform on track, is about the battle that will ensue when they head back to court in March, Lopez is under no illusions, as far as he is concerned Fernandes' motivation is money.
When asked if the spat is getting out of hand, Lopez replied: "I think it is, and it's a shame for the brand also because I'm a big fan. I've dealt with the press for many years, not just in Formula One but also in business, and you've got to call a spade a spade, and I can tell when somebody is trying to twist things.
"It's a shame because we've never twisted things in any form or fashion," he added, according to the Guardian. "We've just said we have a partnership with Lotus, which is a great car company. They have decided to be quite aggressive in terms of development, they want to have a business that's associated with Formula One, they want to promote their brand, and there is only one Lotus car company.
"Anything else is a bunch of BS," he continued. "I'm aware of the negotiations that took place, and I know money is essentially the centrepiece of this, it's not passion, not taking over Colin Chapman's legacy or whatever. It's the fact that if 1Malaysia Racing change their name, they lose their FOM money. "It's an issue for them, and it's probably one I wouldn't take too kindly to if I was in their shoes. I would be fighting. But just admit to the reality, that it's about money. It's nothing else."
Lopez is also unhappy with Fernandes desire to portray himself as the peoples' champion, the little guy sticking up for his team and the fans. "I don't think there's any question as to who is going to be who on the racetrack, but it's damaging to have this feud around the Lotus name," he said. "Where I believe it is quite damaging is to act as the small team that has been beaten up, a David against Goliath. Hello! We're a private team. The whole thing about being the poor kid that gets beaten up at the back of the room, that makes me laugh sometimes."