Aerolab defends itself and denies the similarities with Force India

Aerolab has denied suggestions that it passed Force India’s data to parent company Fondtech, while the Silverstone-based team is concerned about the similarities between its former car and the new Lotus.

The Lotus model, used in the wind tunnel, was designed by Fondtech, the parent company of Aerolab, an aerodynamic engineering firm that worked with the Force India team until September of this year.

Both Fondtech and former Force India technical chief Mike Gascoyne are working in the Lotus team, which will make its return to Formula 1 next year.

After being informed by close sources, the Force India leaders were immediately alarmed by the similarities between their former car and the Lotus model currently in the wind tunnel. The photos are public and were unveiled last month.

Aerolab, however, denied any copying and claimed that no Force India data had been held by Lotus. The company, through its spokesperson, also stated that legal action would be taken against Force India for serious and persistent breaches of its contract.

It’s quite unusual for us to talk about negative things, but we had no choice but to make the facts public… Rumors are circulating claiming that we have transmitted data to our parent company, which is close to Lotus F1 Racing.

stated Aerolab director – Jean-Claude Migeot.

« In fact, Force India only found this solution to silence our complaint against them. The truth is that we’re suing them for not honoring their contract… not that we passed information to third parties. »

Aerolab stated that its legal case was still awaiting validation and subject to review. Force India, which is reportedly already in debt, could therefore have new problems, this time with the French company.