Sep.4 (GMM) Federico Gastaldi has admitted Lotus’ legal dramas are not over yet.
Ultimately, the embattled Enstone team managed to escape the court bailiffs at Spa-Francorchamps and get to Monza just in time.
But when it comes to the action brought by disgruntled former reserve driver Charles Pic, it is not over yet.
“No, the hearings and meetings are going on,” confirmed deputy team boss Federico Gastaldi.
“It will take some weeks and months until the court closes the case,” he told Speed Week.
Gastaldi said the Pic complaint came completely out of the blue — and he is furious.
“Imagine,” he said, “we have our first podium for almost two years, and after the race we had to deal with this. In the end we are all just people and I think this whole thing is crazy and unfair,” he admitted.
“I had not expected this person to give us these problems, as my calls all week were not accepted and then two minutes before the race he phones to apologise.
“I think some people do not realise the damage they cause, and to the 550 families who depend on our work at the factory in Enstone. Some people in the paddock just want to see blood and have negativity,” said Gastaldi.
“Our employees are naturally now nervous, just like the sponsors. It will take a while until the whole thing calms down again,” he added.