Lopez admits to frustration with Quantum

17/11/2013
NEWS STORY

Two weeks after Quantum Motorsport's Mansoor Ijaz claimed that the deal which would see his company purchase 35% of the Lotus F1 Team was done, the silence is deafening.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, in the wake of Kimi Raikkonen's revelation that he hasn't been paid “a single euro this year", Ijaz told reporters that the various hurdles which had stalled the investment had now been resolved.

"We're going to clear off the debt, and then we're going to bring very high quality sponsors which you'll see very soon," he said. "Those sponsors will give us the longevity and capacity to compete at the top end of the business for a long time.

"They are going to pay a lot of bills this week, let's put it that way," he continued, referring to the long line of creditors awaiting payment from the Enstone outfit. "We've asked them to make sure things get paid as quickly as possible."

Referring to Kimi Raikkonen's threat that he might boycott the remaining two races, Ijaz said: "I am confident that he will run the last two races and fulfil his professional obligations to us and us to him."

Well, two weeks later, Raikkonen has indeed missed the last two races, the Finn heading off for surgery on his back before heading to Ferrari for 2014. But what about that long line of creditors, what about that investment?

Well, although Ijaz is in the Austin paddock, it would appear that the situation has barely moved on. Indeed, Genii Capital's Gerard Lopez has admitted that his frustration is growing.

"They made the announcement on their own initiative," he is quoted as saying by France's BFM TV. "They said the deal was done. This is not the case.

"We have always said that we wanted the right partners, the right options," he added. "Quantum seemed to be good. Whether this is done or not, I do not know, but we cannot wait very long."

While some say that 'no news is good news', others are, quite rightly, of the view that 'no news is no news'.

While Ijaz clearly has some sympathisers in the media, now claiming that it is the international banking system that is at fault, others are growing increasingly wary. Indeed, some suggest, having done research on the man, that, at best, Ijaz is an 'F1 wannabee', the sport having attracted more than its fair share over the years.

Worryingly, his entry on Wikipedia, which previously had him as "Owner - Lotus F1 team" now claims he is "a potential future 35% stake owner in the Lotus F1 Formula One team".

Indeed, if nothing else, his Wikipedia entry does at least confirm the feeling that Mr Ijaz enjoys the warm glow of the media spotlight. Others, however, detect a more sinister side to the whole episode.

Meanwhile, the situation at Enstone worsens, the team now seemingly obliged to recruit Pastor Maldonado and his PDVSA millions. Whether this is enough to secure the future of the team to the satisfaction of its employees, creditors and fans remains to be seen.

The fact is however, that having first announced the deal in June, Lopez and Ijaz have had more than enough time... or will all this be settled once the season is over and the sport drifts into the media shadows.

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Published: 17/11/2013
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