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Romain Grosjean reveals Lotus had struggled to pay him until now Romain Grosjean reveals Lotus had struggled to pay him until now
(about 1 hour later)
Romain Grosjean has confirmed he has finally been paid by Lotus.Romain Grosjean has confirmed he has finally been paid by Lotus.
His former Lotus team-mate Kimi Raikkonen revealed last year that he was owed money by the Enstone-based marque and threatened to boycott the final two grands prix of the season. As it transpired, Raikkonen aggravated a long-term back injury in the race in Abu Dhabi and pulled out of the final two events in America and Brazil to undergo surgery.His former Lotus team-mate Kimi Raikkonen revealed last year that he was owed money by the Enstone-based marque and threatened to boycott the final two grands prix of the season. As it transpired, Raikkonen aggravated a long-term back injury in the race in Abu Dhabi and pulled out of the final two events in America and Brazil to undergo surgery.
While Raikkonen was outspoken in his condemnation of Lotus' actions, Grosjean opted for a different path and kept his counsel. But the Frenchman has now revealed he was also in the same boat as Raikkonen, who has since moved on to Ferrari. Following the implementation of a new management structure over the winter, Grosjean is finally able to pay his bills again. While Raikkonen was outspoken in his condemnation of Lotus's actions, Grosjean opted for a different path and kept his counsel. But the Frenchman has now revealed he was also in the same boat as Raikkonen, who has since moved on to Ferrari. Following the implementation of a new management structure over the winter, Grosjean is finally able to pay his bills again.
"Since the new management has been in place, everything has been sorted and is good," said Grosjean. "But what happened was certainly not the way I wanted things to go. I never opened my mouth in front of the media because it was my own business, my personal thing."Since the new management has been in place, everything has been sorted and is good," said Grosjean. "But what happened was certainly not the way I wanted things to go. I never opened my mouth in front of the media because it was my own business, my personal thing.
"Kimi kind of launched the whole thing, that drivers hadn't been paid and so on. It wasn't easy for the guys [within the team], but things have now been made right.""Kimi kind of launched the whole thing, that drivers hadn't been paid and so on. It wasn't easy for the guys [within the team], but things have now been made right."
Asked whether motivation was a problem during the period when he was unpaid, Grosjean replied: "No because I don't do this for money, I do it for me – although at some stages I was a bit worried for my rent!" Asked whether motivation was a problem during the period when he was unpaid, Grosjean replied: "No, because I don't do this for money, I do it for me – although at some stages I was a bit worried for my rent!"
With a regular salary again, at least that is making the situation on track this season more bearable as Lotus remain plagued by technical issues. Neither Grosjean nor new team-mate Pastor Maldonado have collected a point from the opening three grands prix of the campaign. With a regular salary again, at least that is making the situation on track this season more bearable as Lotus remain plagued by technical issues. Neither Grosjean nor his new team-mate Pastor Maldonado have collected a point from the opening three grands prix of the campaign.
But with a more reliable financial structure in place, Grosjean said in the buildup to this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai: "At least now we don't have the problems we faced in the past, which is good for us.But with a more reliable financial structure in place, Grosjean said in the buildup to this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai: "At least now we don't have the problems we faced in the past, which is good for us.
"After two successful years, going into a difficult season it can be very different. But everyone is trying as hard as they can to get the car as good as it can be, to move forward and not blame something they shouldn't. We're together, we're united, because at the end of the day we're all in the same boat.""After two successful years, going into a difficult season it can be very different. But everyone is trying as hard as they can to get the car as good as it can be, to move forward and not blame something they shouldn't. We're together, we're united, because at the end of the day we're all in the same boat."