Lotus have reportedly sacked a social media guru after he posted a tweet in support of gay athletes competing in the Winter Olympics in Sochi earlier this year.
Stephane Samson was dismissed at the end of February for "gross misconduct".
According to a letter to the company's lawyers seen by The Telegraph, the team were worried that the message would damage the team's financial interests, with several of their sponsors coming from Russia.
The tweet, which was swiftly removed, included an image of two men kissing alongside the message "ahead of the opening ceremony, we would like to wish all athletes a successful 2014 Olympic Winter Games".
