Lotus F1 Team 2013

[stefan_]

Lotus F1 Team Announces Altran as Technical Partner

Here at Enstone, we engineer success into everything we do; something the latest addition to our partner portfolio knows very well indeed…

Lotus F1 Team is pleased to announce new Technical Partner Altran UK, who will provide the team with specialist engineering services for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Services will be delivered by a team of Altran UK engineers who will be based on site at the home of Lotus F1 Team at the Whiteways Technical Centre in Enstone, Oxfordshire. Altran has a distinguished track record in Formula 1, having previously been a technological partner of the Renault F1 Team – a previous incarnation of Lotus F1 Team – for a decade.

Patrick Louis, Chief Executive Officer, Lotus F1 Team:
"We are pleased to again welcome Altran into the family of our Technical Partners. Historically, the contribution of their support has had a tremendous impact on the team's performance, while their desire to discover and nurture engineering talent fits perfectly with our philosophy. We look forward to re-joining forces in what I am confident will be a mutually rewarding journey."

Mike Simms, CEO, Altran UK:
"Altran is extremely proud to be partnering with Lotus F1 Team; a Formula 1 outfit with an amazing heritage and development prospects. This is a partnership built on a shared commitment to engineering excellence, a passion for ground-breaking technological innovation and a desire to win. It is a privilege to be working alongside a Formula 1 team that has based its success on nurturing new talents and creative engineering and management. Altran will bring a wealth of expertise to Lotus F1 Team, enabling its engineers to explore new approaches and solutions to key engineering challenges and translate them into on-track performance."

About Altran UK:
Altran is a global leader in innovation and high-tech engineering consulting. As a trusted innovation and engineering partner of UK businesses throughout the automotive, aerospace, defence, energy, life sciences, rail and telecoms sectors, the mission of Altran is to enable organisations to develop and deploy leading-edge systems, products and services. Altran adds unique value to its clients by pushing the boundaries of technological innovation, minimising development cost and time to market, and assuring the highest levels of safety and integrity. In the UK, Altran has offices in Bath, Bristol, London, Loughborough, Manchester and Warwick. The Altran Group has 500 major clients and a global network of 20,000 employees, operating in over 20 countries.

Source: Lotus F1™ Team

Kimi Raikkonen: “The decision will not be an easy one…”

Kimi Raikkonen insists that he has still not decided what he wants to do next year, despite the confirmation that Mark Webber’s seat is available.

Raikkonen is widely regarded as Webber’s most likely replacement, although Lotus is still trying to hang on to him.

“I still don’t have an answer for what will happen next year, it hasn’t changed since the last two races,” he said. “Obviously people will be talking more about chances but it doesn’t really change what I will do next year or what my decisions are, even if there is obviously an open place.

“I have no contract, which is normal in F1. I have nothing to tell people unless there is something certain on paper, and then I will tell immediately because for me it’s much easier, everybody stops asking the same question. Until I have something I can’t answer.”

“I think whatever the decision will be will not be an easy one. It’s never easy. It’s not the first time that there are different options on the table, then you take the one that you thing is right for you at the moment. It’s hard to say if it’s the right or wrong decision, but then you have to live with it, whatever it is.”

Regarding the prospect of having Sebastian Vettel as a team mate, he said: “I have no problem to race with anybody. I’ve never been in a position to choose who I drive with, so it doesn’t change anything. If would happen obviously it would be more easy than some other years.”

Meanwhile he admitted it would be difficult to leave Lotus.

“It’s been perfect, without them I wouldn’t be back in F1. For sure they also got something out of it, so no complaints. Obviously there’s certain things that have to improve, but I’ve had a great time with the team so far and that’s why whatever the decision will be will be difficult.”

He also suggested that it was not certain that he would be in F1: “Until I have a contract there is always the option that I will not race. There’s a long time from now to the beginning of next year, a lot of things can happen in life that make the decision for you, and you might not be racing. But I think that there’s a bigger chance that it will be F1 next year for me.”

Source: Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

[Sombrero]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... bxNqJikRAc[/youtube]

[iotar__]

From AMuS and if I understand it correctly:
Allison can't work until March 2014, for Ferrari presumably, and Lotus still have to pay him. They'll probably figure it out earlier, a bit like Lowe situation.

[korzeniow]

check this out:

[stefan_]

Probably the whole paddock will smell like Rexona Men until next year

[Kiril Varbanov]

Probably the whole paddock will smell like Rexona Men until next year

LOL.

I don't really know where to throw that, as Allison is still not officially appointed at SF, so over here... At least his Linkedin profile still states Lotus.

That may be an old rumor, but still; Someone who has been wandering in the paddock for some time has suggested that Allison was initially going to join Honda as a project lead for the car responsible for building their engine around. Then, this move got veto from Mclaren, for some reason - they haven't been entirely happy. Lotus intercepts that movement (it's a small environment, really) and gives Allison the boot. He then talks to Ferrari and news emerges that late.

I'm not really sure what to make of that, would love to hear opinion.

[korzeniow]

very interesting, but it's not in line with Boulliers comments about the engineers salaries, they had to be caused by something and Allison negotiating with Ferrari fits here

[Kiril Varbanov]

More on Lotus' situation: While Boulier already admitted some level of satisfaction in regards to the racing season so far, Alan Permane wasn't really convincing about the second part of the season. He told AMuS that there's not much left in the pipeline in terms of development parts for 2013. That has been the case last year, too, so it's not ideal, concludes Permane.

Later that day, E. Boulier has shared with the Finnish MTV3:

“We are going to reorganise the financial process of the company. “We are expecting a large financial investment, which is part of the team’s future plans."

Today, he's quoted by AUTOSPORT saying that F1 needs a budget cap, because not all of the teams can afford such development spending.

"Don't forget that in the beginning of the 90s, a top team was spending maybe £40 million; by 2008, a top team was spending £100 million.
"We have to put that cost down."The problem today is 80 per cent of the teams are in favour of this but 20 per cent are not.

I feel bad for them, honestly...

[dren]

Too bad they can't get the qualification results or this team may be sitting at the top.

[Richard]

It's that time of year when we need our traditional "Silly Season" thread to avoid multiple team threads talking about the same thing. We usually try to keep the team threads to discussion of this team, this season.

Silly season chat this way http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewto ... ead#unread

[stefan_]

Raikkonen tests GP3 car

Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen took time out from his summer break on Friday as he got behind the wheel of a GP3 car in Spain. The test, part of an official GP3 development programme in preparation for the junior single-seater series’ 2014 season, was made possible thanks to Raikkonen's relationship with GP3 team Koiranen GP.

“I wanted to test the GP3/13 because my friend Afa Heikkinen has a team in this series and I have been closely following their progress and results since the beginning of the season,” the Finn explained to the official GP3 Series website after completing 58 laps of Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

“I was curious to see how the car handled and it was actually fun to drive. There were a few issues regarding its behaviour, but we managed to solve most of them. The GP3/13 is a very good tool for young drivers, especially when you have to learn about tyre management like we have in F1.”

The purpose of the test was to gauge the performance of the car on different tyre compounds and to conduct a development programme requested by GP3 and Pirelli, as well as to find technical solutions to offer more overtaking possibilities to the drivers for the 2014 races.

“We are extremely pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Kimi today,” added GP3 Series technical director Didier Perrin. “His experience and feedback were invaluable and they gave us a better understanding of what needs to be done in order to make our car a better tool in overtaking opportunities for next season. He has confirmed all our hypotheses, and together we could start working on two development directions for the end-of-season testing."

Raikkonen returns to Formula One action next Friday in opening practice for the 2013 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

via Formula1.com

[stefan_]

New Heights with Emaar Properties

Lotus F1 Team welcomes Dubai-based residential and commercial property investment company Emaar Properties to its portfolio of partners, in a new two-year deal commencing from this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix



Lotus F1 Team welcomes Dubai-based residential and commercial property investment company Emaar Properties to its portfolio of partners, in a new two-year deal commencing from this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

Emaar’s portfolio includes properties such as The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa; the world’s tallest building. As Official Partner to Lotus F1 Team, Emaar will enjoy a presence on the team’s E21 car in addition to a range of other Lotus F1 Team marketing collateral. This new relationship builds on the team’s recent partnerships with brands such as Microsoft, Unilever [Clear and Rexona] and The Coca-Cola Company [burn].

Eric Boullier today remarked, "We rare delighted to begin this new relationship with Emaar Properties; particularly as the UAE has been a fruitful location for us on track with Kimi Räikkönen winning the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That victory truly confirmed that Lotus F1 Team as one of the foremost outfits in Formula 1 and we have continued our strong performances this season. With this new partnership with the developer of such iconic projects as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, we are looking forward to some home support as we race in the UAE once again this year. We are also very excited to see how this partnership will further enhance Lotus F1 Team’s brand value.”

The Chairman of Emaar Properties, Mohamed Alabbar, also commented, “Formula 1 brings man, mind and machine together in one exciting journey to perfection. The minute attention to details, the passion and commitment, and the determination of every participant to push the boundaries are values that have also set Emaar apart, as we challenged accepted norms to develop world-class projects such as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.

“Our partnership with Lotus F1 Team, a remarkable team with impeccable credentials in the racing circuit, is therefore a perfect fit to our own values. As they race at the Formula 1 Championship circuits across the world, we are truly honoured to extend our support to the Lotus F1 Team, while also engaging with our international clientele and further defining the global identity of our brand.”

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. A provider of premium lifestyles through its world-class portfolio of integrated communities, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls & retail, and hospitality & leisure. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are among Emaar’s trophy developments.

Emaar is currently expanding The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue by 1 million sq ft expansion and also redefining the cultural scene of the city with The Opera District in Downtown Dubai, to feature the city’s first opera house and several design galleries. The company is also partnering in implementing Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), with Dubai Hills Estate, the first phase of MBR City, developed as a joint venture with Meraas Holding.

Among other mega-projects of Emaar is the King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia the region’s largest private sector-led project. Emaar is also the largest foreign direct investor in India’s real estate sector and its joint venture has a country-wide presence covering the residential, commercial, retail and hospitality sectors.

Source

[Kiril Varbanov]

...

Which appears to be a significant deal and I can easily speculate that this is a much needed step to retain Kimi. Well done, Lotus.

[iotar__]

...

Which appears to be a significant deal and I can easily speculate that this is a much needed step to retain Kimi. Well done, Lotus.

...

Which appears to be a significant deal and I can easily speculate that this is a much needed step to retain Kimi. Well done, Lotus.

There are only two necessary steps: Red Bull hiring Ricciardo and Ferrari not hiring him (which I suspect won't be difficult). Pity some super deal didn't help them to keep Allison and some others.

[xDama]

There are only two necessary steps: Red Bull hiring Ricciardo and Ferrari not hiring him (which I suspect won't be difficult). Pity some super deal didn't help them to keep Allison and some others.

+1

He's stuck with Lotus for 2014. And I doubt that they'll have a winning car in 2014. I'm even thinking there's a chance he just quits F1.