Caterham has reacted to a statement from the legal representatives of a group of employees who have parted company with the team since the new owners took over.
The statement outlined their grievances and their intention to pursue legal action.
In reply the team said today: “Caterham F1 Team has read with great concern recent reports about a group of individuals who are claiming unfair dismissal from the Formula 1 team following its takeover by new owners.
“The team is now taking legal action against those parties representing the individuals concerned, and each person involved, seeking compensation for the damages suffered by the team due to the gross misrepresentation of the facts made by all those concerned.
“These claims include the statement that they have been released from Caterham F1 Team – this is incorrect. Caterham F1 Team’s staff are employed by a company that is a supplier to the company that holds its F1 licence, the licence that allows it to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship.
“Additionally, the team has read claims that its staff were not paid in July – again, this is wholly untrue. Every individual currently employed by Caterham F1 Team was paid their July salary in full on 25th July, one week before it is formally due on the last day of the month, in this case 31st July.
“A formal request for the withdrawal of the relevant press statement issued on 28th July has been made by Caterham F1 Team and the team will vigorously pursue its action against all those concerned. However, it will not allow its core focus to be distracted from achieving tenth place in the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship, and building for the 2015 campaign and beyond.”
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog 
“‘Additionally, the team has read claims that its staff were not paid in July – again, this is wholly untrue. Every individual currently employed by Caterham F1 Team was paid their July salary in full on 25th July, one week before it is formally due on the last day of the month, in this case 31st July.”
So everyone who wasn’t let go was paid. Why don’t they comment about those who were let go and whether they were paid or not?
On top of which, they say in the previous paragraph that Caterham F1 Team doesn’t actually have any employees of its own!
I thought this kind of shoddy management behaviour disappeared from the pitlane a couple of decades ago, but apparently not. If Kobayashi is released for his first qualifying run at Spa 45 seconds before the end of Q1, we’ll really know the kind of outfit we’re dealing with…
Wow, that’s pretty weasely. Also seems pretty contradictory – They were not fired by Caterham F1 Team, because no-one’s employed by Caterham F1 team in the first place – they’re employed by some other corporate entity.
Everyone employed by Caterham F1 team (which we’ve just been told is no-one) was paid on 25th of July.
Wait, what?
Yes, I believe this is what’s called “a technicality”. At no point do they deny the substance of the claims, and – as previous commenters pointed out – they even contradict themselves!
“Shoddy” is too nice a word…
They deny that they are employed by the team and them refer to them as the ‘Team’s staff’. The technicalities of which company holds the contract is irrelevent, Caterham management decide who to hire & fire. This sort of big boy ‘you sue me, i’ll sue you for more’ legal behaviour is petty bullying and will harm Caterham’s reputation more than the ex-employees can.
Caterham could do a lot worse than use facts to defend their position, as opposed to ‘technicalities’. Which is what that statement appears to be.
Spin doctor stuff only.