Discuss the sport you love with other motorsport fans
CATERHAM F1 TEAM STATEMENT
Leafield Technical Centre, UK – 29th July 2014
Caterham F1 Team has read with great concern recent reports about a group of individuals who are claiming unfair dismissal from the Formula 1 team following its takeover by new owners.
The team is now taking legal action against those parties representing the individuals concerned, and each person involved, seeking compensation for the damages suffered by the team due to the gross misrepresentation of the facts made by all those concerned.
These claims include the statement that they have been released from Caterham F1 Team – this is incorrect. Caterham F1 Team’s staff are employed by a company that is a supplier to the company that holds its F1 licence, the licence that allows it to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship.
Additionally, the team has read claims that its staff were not paid in July – again, this is wholly untrue. Every individual currently employed by Caterham F1 Team was paid their July salary in full on 25th July, one week before it is formally due on the last day of the month, in this case 31st July.
A formal request for the withdrawal of the relevant press statement issued on 28th July has been made by Caterham F1 Team and the team will vigorously pursue its action against all those concerned. However, it will not allow its core focus to be distracted from achieving tenth place in the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship, and building for the 2015 campaign and beyond.
Ends
To download Caterham F1 Team hi-res images, rights free for editorial use, go to http://caterh.am/HiResImages All images must be credited "Caterham F1 Team" and are made available strictly for editorial use. Any commercial, marketing or advertising use will be at the discretion of Caterham F1 Team.
CATERHAM F1 TEAM STATEMENT
Additionally, the team has read claims that its staff were not paid in July – again, this is wholly untrue. Every individual currently employed by Caterham F1 Team was paid their July salary in full on 25th July, one week before it is formally due on the last day of the month, in this case 31st July.
CATERHAM F1 TEAM STATEMENT
These claims include the statement that they have been released from Caterham F1 Team – this is incorrect. Caterham F1 Team’s staff are employed by a company that is a supplier to the company that holds its F1 licence, the licence that allows it to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship.
“Reference the press statement released by Caterham F1 Team on 29 July 2014. As confirmed in the contracts of employment for those working in the Caterham F1 Team, Caterham F1 is ‘the trading name of the Employer and the name of its motor racing team entered into the F1 World Championship’. All those dismissed were employed in the Caterham F1 Team by their operational company Caterham Sports Limited (company number 07042086 previously 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK) Limited).
“The dismissal letters were on Caterham F1 Team headed notepaper and the reason for dismissal was given as ‘following the change in ownership and, as a result of the current financial position that the new owners have inherited, your position at Caterham Sports Ltd will terminate with immediate effect…You are being dismissed in law for Some Other Substantial Reason.’
“The Caterham F1 Team website confirms the change of ownership as at 2 July 2014. The summary dismissal of employees from Caterham was done without warning or consultation, which is a breach of employment laws and contract and will result in significant compensation claims.
“Regarding matters of pay, those dismissed on 15 July 2014 were advised in writing that they would be paid for 1-15 July. Unless the position has changed, we are informed that those we represent had not yet been paid either on what would have been the usual payroll date of 25 July, or by 28 July. It is understood those we represent who were dismissed on 24 July 2014 may also not yet have been paid for July. If those dismissed have now been paid that would obviously be very welcome.
“Lawyers for those who have been dismissed wrote to Caterham on 25 July 2014 urging a response to the above matters and inviting settlement either through ACAS or in face to face discussions. A response from Caterham to this letter is awaited.”
Caterham Team Principal Christijan Albers resigns just nine weeks after joining
Dutchman makes sudden departure from struggling outfit
Christijan Albers has resigned as Caterham's Team Principal – just two months after arriving at the team as part of the Leafield outfit's takeover by unknown Swiss and Middle Eastern investors.
In the latest twist amid a season of upheaval at the former Tony Fernandes-owned squad, Caterham announced immediately after the Italian GP that Albers had stood down from his joint role as Team Principal and CEO at Caterham to be replaced by his deputy Manfredi Ravetto.
Ex-F1 driver Albers, who started 46 grands prix for Minardi and Midland/Spyker between 2005 and 2007, cited "private issues" for his sudden resignation in a post-race statement issued by Caterham after their cars finished 17th and 20th at Monza.
"Over the past months I have dedicated all my energy to ensure the takeover of the team would go as smoothly as possible and to achieve the best possible result for our investors, sponsors and all the people involved with Caterham F1 Team," the Dutchman said.
"As such I worked tirelessly to reconstruct the team while, at the same time, making technical updates on the car. In doing this we created both a better foundation for the team's future and achieved significant improvements on the speed of the car.
"Due to private reasons and in order to be able to spend more time with my family, I will resign from my position as CEO of Caterham F1 Team. I wish the team all the best in the future."
Ravetto, who like Albers has also worked for Caterham advisor Colin Kolles in the past, paid tribute to the work his former colleague had completed in his short spell at the team.
"Christijan has been an asset to the team since the moment he joined. It's been a challenging last few months, but we have moved forward together and we want to thank him for his hard work and commitment to the team. We wish him the best for the future."
Caterham currently sit bottom of the Constructors' Championship having still yet to score a point since first joining the grid under the Lotus name in 2010.
However, on track at Monza they showed signs of progress by outqualifing perennial rivals Marussia for the first time since April and then finishing ahead on race day.
it has all the taste of Super AguriSee our F1 related articles too!
