Lotus F1 Team 2015

[mrluke]

Letter of Intent is not binding in any way.

[ChrisF1]

Letter of Intent is not binding in any way.

No ---, but at least it's something a bit more real than we had at Monza, where Renault were linked with Lotus AND Force India.

[AnthonyG]

More important, a letter of intent is proof that likely a more positive outcome for the creditors is comming.

[AnthonyG]

AMuS reports the deal is signed, Prost has no ownership in the team.

Der erste Schritt ist getan. Renault hat eine Absichtserklärung unterschrieben, Lotus zu übernehmen. Jetzt geht es an die Detailarbeit. Es wird vermutlich noch sechs Wochen dauern, bis das Projekt steht. Alain Prost soll wie Niki Lauda den Außenminister spielen. Ohne Firmenanteile.

More here:
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 81119.html

So we know what that rumour was worth.

[NathanOlder]

Jolyon Palmer Confirmed for a race seat next year.

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12473/ ... f1-season?

[kptaylor]

I like Palmer, but not paired with Maldonado... Wish it were an experienced driver with good technical set up skills and Palmer. Maybe Renault can still dump Maldonado when they take over Lotus.

[stefan_]

First of all, I think that Jolyon is a good driver and a good chap to have around the team, but he has a lot to learn to develop himself into a good and consistant F1 driver. I also think that it would have been much better to pair him with someone more experienced and who is not a total nutcase like Maldonado.

This odd pairing leads me to believe that:
1) Nothing is sure about the Renault buyout and Lotus want to secure a part of their 2016 money from the drivers (as good as Jolyon is, he still brings money to the table). They want to make some sort of statemet that even without Renault, the team can survive financially (and I have no dobt it can).

or

2) Even with Renault buying the team, 2016 will be a transition year, in which they can keep Maldonado's money and prepare for 2017 properly with money from Renault. Jolyon gets some experience and they ditch Maldonado and get a proper driver in order to return to the 2012/2014 form or even better.

Either way, Jolyon has to realize that he has to be the one that scores points for the team in 2016 - the other one will be busy screwing up the 2nd half of the grid.

[OneAlex]

2) Even with Renault buying the team, 2016 will be a transition year, in which they can keep Maldonado's money and prepare for 2017 properly with money from Renault. Jolyon gets some experience and they ditch Maldonado and get a proper driver in order to return to the 2012/2014 form or even better.

Either way, Jolyon has to realize that he has to be the one that scores points for the team in 2016 - the other one will be busy screwing up the 2nd half of the grid.

I think it's probably this to be honest.

The wording of the Lotus announcement confirming Maldonado would be staying on wasn't exactly keen - "we signed a contract with him for 2 years, so yes he will be with us in 2016 (unfortunately)", so I think Lotus already knew they weren't going to have the ideal line-up they wanted in 2016 anyway.

In which case better to take the risk with Palmer during what is a transitional year anyway, use his extra money to bring more financial stability and hopefully development to the team and see how he gets on before the first "proper Renault" comes along in 2017 and they can choose the full driver line-up that they want.

Best case scenario - he'll be brilliant despite his lack of experience and really make the car perform, in which case they'll keep him on for 2017.

Worst case scenario - he doesn't quite live up to expectations, and while the car won't be good enough that he'll be losing them wins, he may lose enough points for them to replace him in 2017 when the team is more stable anyway.

Likely scenario - somewhere between the two. He'll gain experience and if they decide to keep him on they'll pair him up with a more experienced driver to help push him further (unless Maldonado displays a spectacular comeback next year and they decide to keep both of them).

[r101]

Acoording to Autosport, Renault personnel already working together with Enstone guys, here Gastaldi:

"They sent people across to help us continue the development of next season's car, and we've had marketing and administration people, to finish off bits and pieces and to keep us moving."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121647

[Manoah2u]

lotus has been blocked entry into the pitbox from brazilian police!




http://www.formula1blog.com/f1-news/lot ... out-in-us/

[Manoah2u]

scratch that, they are now allowed entry again to unpack boxes



https://twitter.com/JunaidSamodien_/sta ... 08/photo/1

[Manoah2u]

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/lotus ... ontent=www

Lotus insists its participation in the Brazilian Grand Prix is not in doubt, despite security staff blocking access to its garage at Interlagos on Wednesday.

Team personnel were not allowed to unpack the team's freight or continue work on preparing the cars, by officers who were stationed at the front and rear of the garages.

A team spokesman confirmed that the team was dealing with the situation – which related to an unspecified 'commercial arrangement'

[Hail22]

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/lotus ... ontent=www

Lotus insists its participation in the Brazilian Grand Prix is not in doubt, despite security staff blocking access to its garage at Interlagos on Wednesday.

Team personnel were not allowed to unpack the team's freight or continue work on preparing the cars, by officers who were stationed at the front and rear of the garages.

A team spokesman confirmed that the team was dealing with the situation – which related to an unspecified 'commercial arrangement'

Just to add to your post Manoah, this was how it looked with the blocked Lotus garage:

[Manoah2u]

eh yes, the last photo actually is just a post above my post, actually one posted by myself, too. but thanks for sharing tho!

[Joseki]

I don't want to be extremely pessimist but I think they are going to struggle a lot next, the chassis this year seemed to be probably one of the worst, only better than Sauber and Manor, and with a Renault power unit I think they'll be the "new McHonda".