Lotus are keen to sign off on a deal with Nico Hulkenberg for the 2014 season but cannot do so until investment from Quantum Motorsport has landed in its account.
It’s understood that Lotus chairman and co-owner Gerard Lopez will cut ties with Quantum if the money doesn’t arrive before the weekend, prompting investor Mansoor Ijaz to issue a promise that it will.
“We’re still very much going to join them,” he said on Sunday. “We will not quit this week until we finish it and we will finish it this week.”
However, doubts are beginning to emerge as to whether the promised money will ever arrive, which would force Lotus to switch to plan ‘B’ and take on pay driver Pastor Maldonado.
It’s fair to say Ijaz, an American born Pakistani investor, has been behind some less than successful deals and has made some disputed claims in the past which would put many off dealing with him.
Lotus however seem confident the deal is legitimate – though delay after delay would suggest otherwise. As such, Lopez has set Ijaz a deadline of the Brazilian GP before the plug is pulled.
Time will soon tell if Quantum Motorsport were ever serious about purchasing a 35 per cent stake in the team.
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