Fernandes looks for speedy resolution
Team Lotus owner Tony Fernandes believes it is time for everybody involved in the naming-rights row to "grow up" and let the courts determine the outcome.
On the day Fernandes watched his team's new car, the T128, hit the track for the first time ahead of the impending Formula One season, the airline entrepreneur countered the comments earlier this week from Renault owner Gerard Lopez.
On Monday Lopez urged Fernandes to come clean and admit his fight over the Lotus name boiled down to nothing more than money.
In theory, Fernandes has no qualms over that because as he rightly points out, "there isn't any team here that is a charity."
Fernandes said: "If he (Lopez) expects me to give away Team Lotus and bankrupt this team, that's a crazy thought.
"I looked at an offer, with the best of gentlemanly conduct, that would have been better for the brand and everyone involved not to get into the fight we're in right now.
"I considered doing a deal, but the one they (Group Lotus) offered me would have bankrupted us, which is obviously something I've no intention of doing as I've worked hard to build it.
"I was doing it as a gentleman to try and not drag the name, so what can I do?"
Malaysian car giant Proton, who own sportscar manufacturer Group Lotus who have entered into a title-sponsorship deal with Renault, eventually terminated the five-year licensing agreement Fernandes had with them to use the Lotus name.
Fernandes then purchased the name 'Team Lotus' from David Hunt, brother of 1976 world champion James, who in 1994 bought the name himself after the marque went into receivership.
"As I saw Dany Bahar (Group Lotus CEO) doing his best to unravel a good relationship with Proton, I decided my investment and 250 jobs were in jeopardy, so we bought the name from David Hunt," confirmed Fernandes.
"I would much rather we remained as Lotus Racing (the team's name last year), but I had no choice because my licence was terminated, would you believe over nothing more than some t-shirts.
"We spent £80million, and yet they (Group Lotus) said we didn't have approval for some t-shirts. It's a laughing matter."
A High Court case to resolve the row is scheduled for the end of March and is expected to last 10 days, culminating just before the Malaysian Grand Prix, the third race of the season.
"I'm a fighter, and we'll fight this. I'm in the airline business and they train you hard there. I've had many years of many battles," added the owner of AirAsia.
"In all my years of being in that business it never got to the 'I said this, you said this'. It's petty.
"I think we should all grow up and let the courts decide, and at the end of the day we honour the courts.
"I said I didn't want to say anything any more, but they (Renault) keep making statements. I can't just say silent.
"I'm now happy not to say anything until the court case because we just want to go racing."
At least Fernandes was delighted to see the new Team Lotus car on track, complete with Renault engine, with Heikki Kovalainen at the wheel for its first day of testing.
"The best thing was Heikki's first comment when he said 'different car, different feeling, well done everyone'," said Fernandes.
"That really feels good because we were very nervous given we're rebuilding a whole new car, taking on other team's parts."
Lotus, though, appear to be aiming too high in only their second season as they are targeting eighth in the constructors' championship.
"The people who made those comments shocked me because they are generally not people who make comments like that, so there's fire in Hingham," said Fernandes.
"It shows there's a passion and determination to succeed, and that people are putting their necks on the line.
"Yes, we could be aiming too high, but the fact people are thinking like that changes the mindset of the team, so that's what I'm happy about."
Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)
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