![\"Eric-Boullier-2\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2013-rif-images\/f1-2013-persons\/Eric-Boullier-2.jpg\")
With unpaid Kimi Raikkonen’s boycott threat looming large, it appears the investment group known as ‘Quantum’ may finally be ready to inject much-needed cash.<\/p>\nAfter a tense weekend in Abu Dhabi, a deal to secure Lotus’ future looks closer than ever before.<\/p>\n
With unpaid Kimi Raikkonen’s boycott threat looming large, it appears the investment group known as ‘Quantum’ may finally be ready to inject much-needed cash.<\/p>\n
“We have tried to be diplomatic,” Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson told Turun Sanomat newspaper in Abu Dhabi, “but it’s already November.<\/p>\n
“The time for talking is over and now we need action,” he insisted.<\/p>\n
The situation did not appear to have improved by Sunday’s grand prix, however, when Raikkonen crashed on the first lap for the first time since 2006.<\/p>\n
Conspiracy theories that Raikkonen did it on purpose did the rounds.<\/p>\n
“We don’t have to worry about that (drivers crashing on purpose),” Red Bull’s mischievous Dr Helmut Marko said, “because we pay our drivers.”<\/p>\n
Raikkonen then immediately left the circuit.<\/p>\n
“I hope Kimi will be driving in Austin,” Robertson told Der Spiegel, “but first the conditions have to be right.”<\/p>\n
But then the ‘Quantum’ chief, Mansoor Ijaz, told reporters that talks with Robertson late on Saturday had in fact eased the tense situation.<\/p>\n
“I’ve apologised to Steve, we’ve apologised to Kimi,” he said.<\/p>\n
Lotus team boss Eric Boullier confirmed only that the controversy with the unpaid Raikkonen had been “settled”.<\/p>\n
It might also be good news for Nico Hulkenberg, who is Lotus’ first choice to replace the Ferrari-bound Ferrari next year.<\/p>\n
Boullier admitted that a “contract” with Pastor Maldonado is also “ready” — presumably if the Quantum deal ultimately collapses.<\/p>\n
Ijaz confirmed that Quantum and Lotus’ first choice is Hulkenberg.<\/p>\n
“I know Nico is excited about doing this and I think it’s a matter of a very short period before all that will be finalised,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to clear off the (team’s) debt, and then we’re going to bring very high quality sponsors which you’ll see very soon.<\/p>\n
“They (Lotus) are going to pay a lot of bills this week, let’s put it that way.\u00a0 We’ve asked them to make sure things get paid as quickly as possible,” he added.<\/p>\n
Boullier hinted that all will become clear on Tuesday.\u00a0 “Hopefully,” the Frenchman smiled.<\/p>\n
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