The technical guru and designer Mike Gascoyne has started legal proceedings against Force India for basically sacking him after only one year of a three year contract. Gascoyne made his name with Tyrell and Jordan in the early nineties before ending up at Toyota. He also spent time at McLaren, Renault and for a brief period of six months Ferrari.
At Toyota things didn't go to plan. After a couple of years of poor results after spending huge amounts of money, reportedly more than anyone else, including Ferrari. He was 'let go'. He transferred to the Spyker team which was almost immediately bought out by Force India.
Millionaire Vijay Mallya who owns Force India snapped him up for a huge sum of money when he got into a partnership with McLaren to provide engines etc. Did you notice how much the cars looked similar in 2008. Not just in design but also paintwork? It was if Force India were McLarens unofficial B-Team. With Force India changing partnerships from McLaren to Ferrari this year Gascoyne has been 'let go' again. This reportedly after just a year of his three year contract. Thus Gascoyne is suing Force India for loss of earnings. Something I'm sure the small team could do without.
It begs the question though that was Mike Gascoyne dropped because of the switch from McLaren to Ferrari. Did Ferrari even request it? Or is Mike Gascoyne just too much of a 'spikey' individual. Thus why he has been basically sacked from two teams in little over a year? If he gets the two million he is suing Force India for it will be interesting if he even bothers to come back to Formula One or if Force India survives such a huge chunk out of their budget in this era of financial crisis in Formula One. No doubt Gascoyne won't be out of Formula One for long. But in what capacity he returns will left to be seen.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
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