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Name row all about money - Lopez

ESPNF1 Staff
January 31, 2011 « Perez ready to prove himself | »
Gerard Lopez: "There's only one Lotus car company and anything else is a bunch of B.S." © Getty Images
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Renault's Gerard Lopez has said he is tired of the tit-for-tat row over the Lotus name in Formula One and believes it is all based on money.

Carmaker Group Lotus is sponsoring Renault this year and is hoping to prevent the Tony Fernandes-owned Team Lotus from running under the iconic name. The issue is set for a court hearing after the Bahrain Grand Prix, but a series of press releases and statements have given the dispute a bitter edge.

Speaking at Renault's launch in Valencia, Lopez implied Team Lotus' arguments were shallow and that the actual reason behind it putting up a fight is money, as Fernandes' outfit would stand to lose its 2010 prize fund if it changes its name.

"What I don't like - and I've known this for many years, not just in Formula One but in business as well - is when somebody is trying to twist something," he said. "We've never twisted anything in any form or fashion. We've just said that we have a partnership with Lotus; Lotus is a great car company; they want to be quite aggressive in terms of development; they want to have a presence in Formula One; they want to promote the brand. After all there's only one Lotus car company and anything else is a bunch of B.S.

"I'm aware of the decisions that took place and I know that money was essentially central to it, it's not passion, it's not taking over the Lotus name, it's the fact that if 1Malaysia changes its name, they lose their FOM money. And yeah, it's an issue for them and it's probably one that I would not take too kindly to if I was in there shoes, and obviously I would be fighting. But they need to admit to reality and the fact that it's about money and not something else."

Renault has the support of Lotus-founder Colin Chapman's family and Lopez believes that is because it's not trying to be something it is not.

"The Chapman family kind of likes what we are doing," he added. "Not because we are better or worse or whatever, but because at the end of the day we're not pretending to be any sort of link or legacy to Chapman, in terms of the team. This [Renault] is completely different."

Lopez believes Fernandes and Team Lotus have portrayed themselves as a smaller company being picked on by Group Lotus, and that that is far from the truth.

"What I believe is quite damaging is to act as the small team that has been beaten up in some sort of David and Goliath thing. We're proud of the team, we do have a sponsor, but we are privately owned and we just happen to be bigger. The fact is that it's all about the money, and they stand to lose money if they change their name. They should be honest and just say that."

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