The perils of F1's business model
The falling-out between Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus indicates a fundamental problem with Formula 1's business model, as DIETER RENCKEN explains
Kimi Raikkonen's salary woes were well documented in Abu Dhabi, but that all was not well on the fiscal front between the Finn and Lotus became clear in September when he gave as reason for his departure for Ferrari in 2014 as "the things I haven't got, my salary..."
To most in the paddock it seemed inconceivable that a team that had recently won two grands prix and been Red Bull Racing's closest challenger in the second half of this season failed to pay its star driver, instead putting it down to gross mismanagement by team owner Genii Capital - the Luxembourg-based investment firm run by Gerard Lopez and Eric Lux.
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