Raikkonen bonus money situation 'resolved' - Lopez
Nov.24 (GMM) Lotus F1 owner Gerard Lopez has blamed "angry" potential partners for spreading rumours about the team's financial situation.
It had been rumoured the Enstone based squad, owned by Luxembourg businessman Lopez's Genii investment company, was having trouble paying Kimi Raikkonen and the team's 500 staff.
"We pay our bills on time just as well as the other teams," Lopez is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"It (the source of the rumours) was probably some people talking who wanted to join us as partners and are angry now because nothing happened," added Lopez.
"It's been resolved," he said. "We just didn't expect him to get so many points, so it's been quite expensive for us. We have agreed to a new payment system.
"But at the end it has paid off because we are getting more TV money. Kimi has his money," Lopez insisted.
Lopez also hinted that, despite not yet confirming Romain Grosjean as Raikkonen's 2013 teammate, the Frenchman will stay.
"We have put him under some pressure," he smiled.
"The boy has sensational speed, but since he was punished for his crashes, he still has the handbrake on. I have told him to attack again.
"If he can get a better handle on it emotionally, he can achieve anything," added Lopez.
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
The Lotus 72 was "an extension of my body," Emerson Fittipaldi reveals
Romain Grosjean turns 40 – here’s his career in 10 key moments
Ayrton Senna's 1986 Lotus F1 car hits auction for eight-figure estimate
“Am I confident? Probably not” – The unprecedented challenge Singapore is throwing at F1 drivers
“Unfinished business” for Max Verstappen – Has Red Bull finally fixed its Singapore weakness?
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
McLaren targets Lando Norris’ costly fuel system issue with Singapore F1 power unit fixes
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments