According to Autosport, Lotus face having their cars and equipment impounded after the Belgian Grand Prix, after their former test and reserve driver Charles Pic began a lawsuit against them.
Pic, 25, was signed early last season by the Enstone based team as a third driver should either of regular drivers Pastor Maldonado or Romain Grosjean be unable to compete in a weekend.
In his contract, the former Marussia and Caterham driver was promised a minimum number of hours behind the wheel of last year’s challenger, the E22.
However, the change to hybrid power at the start of last season and the subsequent struggles that then power unit supplier Renault faced, coupled with the team’s lack of testing and the handling issues that ensued, led to the Lotus hierarchy giving both Grosjean and Maldonado the maximum amount of time in the car possible, in a bid to allow the drivers to familiarise themselves with the woeful chassis that was produced.
It is because of this that Charles Pic has opted to sue his former employers, claiming legal redress, with an arbitration court currently handling the case.
Pic has obtained a “conservatory impounding” notice from a Belgian court, which could mean that Lotus are unable to transport their cars and equipment following the conclusion of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The Lotus team do not believe the impounding is valid due to the arbitration court leading the enquiry.
It is understood that representatives from both parties are in discussions to try and find a compromise that suits all.
Lotus co-owner Gerard Lopez told Autosport:
We are having our legal department look at it. This will be solved, and solved in a manner that is adequate.We know there is a difference in the number of the days [Pic should have driven], but I know we’ll find an amicable solution, and the show goes on.I think the cars will leave as planned. I don’t envisage there being an issue. I know there will be a resolution.
To add further insult to injury, the team were summoned by the stewards this morning to explain why three team personnel broke the 11 PM curfew last night. No action was taken, with the reason believed to be that they were guarding the equipment.
Despite being adjudged to have been “associated with the operation of the car”, the stewards accepted the team’s excuse of “extraneous circumstances” as no changes were made to either chassis, meaning that the breach of curfew will not count towards the team’s permitted two for the season.
