Ex-Caterham boss Tony Fernandes 'walked away from staff' Published duration 17 November 2014

image copyright Getty Images image caption Tony Fernandes announced he had sold Caterham to a consortium in July

Ex-Caterham owner Tony Fernandes has "walked away" from employees, a former worker at the Formula 1 team claims.

Jim McManus, a senior analyst for team based in Leafield, Oxfordshire, was one of 230 people made redundant on Friday

He said he wanted Mr Fernandes to "take some responsibility for the situation".

"He's a wealthy man, an owner of a Premiership football team and I think he's got a moral responsibility to the employees to do the right thing."

Mr McManus also said the team had been "insensitive" to announce crowd-funding success at the same time as job losses.

'Pretty upsetting'

Administrator Finbarr O'Connell said he hoped staff could be re-employed.

The BBC has so far been unable to contact Mr Fernandes for comment.

Mr McManus said news of the redundancies had been "pretty upsetting".

"The way it coincided with all the hoopla surrounding the crowd-funding was unfortunate and insensitive," he added.

image caption Jim McManus, a senior analyst with the team, said news of the redundancies had been "pretty upsetting"

image copyright Getty Images image caption Caterham last raced at the Russian Grand Prix at Sochi in October

He said of Mr Fernandes, who founded Caterham and is chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club: "He's simply walked away from the employees."

The Malaysian businessman entered F1 four years ago with what was then called Lotus Racing.

He changed the team's name to Caterham in 2012 after buying the manufacturer of lightweight sports cars, but announced he had sold the team in July

Mr Fernandes still owns the Caterham Group, which comprises two technology companies as well as the car manufacturing arm.

Mr O'Connell, representing administrator Smith & Williamson, said staff who were made redundant on Friday could be re-employed if a new buyer was found.

He said the "main objective" was to "have the same people back in there working again".