Caterham’s new management team insist they have honoured all agreements with Tony Fernandes to take control of the outfit, following the latter’s suggestion they hadn’t paid for his shares.
Fernandes wrote on Twitter: “If you buy something you should pay for it. Quite simple.”
Engavest SA, the company behind the deal to take over the team, denied the allegations in a statement released on Thursday.
“On 29 June 2014 Engavest SA signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Tony Fernandes and the Caterham Group to acquire the shares of 1Malaysia Racing Team/Caterham F1.
“Engavest SA has fulfilled all the conditions precedent, including paying the purchase price for the shares.”
It added that Fernandes is held responsible for the situation the team finds itself in – which included being locked out of their factory on Thursday morning by administrators seeing to Caterham Sport Limited (CSL), despite that company having nothing to do with the F1 team.
“The shares have not been transferred and therefore Mr Fernandes remains the owner of Caterham F1 and is fully responsible for all its activities.”
A statement from Fernandes’ lawyers is expected shortly which may clear matters up, or most likely, confuse things further.