Force India to take Lotus team to court

The Force India F1 team has instigated legal action in Britain against the Lotus team, Lotus technical head Michael Gascoyne and the Aerolab windtunnel company for an alleged breach of intellectual property.

"Force India believes that Lotus Racing, via its use of Aerolab and Fondtech facilities and data, has utilised and benefited from the use of Force India F1 Team's intellectual property," Force India said.

The breach of intellectual property included "components and tyres licensed by Bridgestone to the Force India F1 Team, on its wind tunnel model design for the current Lotus T127 chassis without permission from Force India".

"Force India states these are very serious claims and therefore it would not be taking such action if it could not provide supportive evidence.

"Additionally Force India would like to clarify that any action between Aerolab and Force India for undue termination of contract is now being addressed by the courts.

"Force India confirms it paid approximately one million euros in autumn 2009 to secure the payment claimed by Aerolab and it is now for the competent courts to decide whether, indeed, this outstanding amount should be paid to Aerolab given the seriousness of these current allegations."