Lotus to sit out first test at Jerez - F1technical.net
They've now got the Revs money as we know, but even that's not enough to fund the entire operation for very long. Bernie may well give 'em an advance from this years prize fund if they need it I guess. It's not like they're trundling round at the back after all. Assume that clown Ijaz (?) is still ****ing them around too..... The check is STILL in the mail it seems! I think they'll survive this season at least, beyond that? Who knows..... Cheers, Ian
Yup. Still no Ijaz moolah. Also no engines. The only bit of money that flowed in was indeed Revs, and I hope for his sake he hasn't paid all of it in one go...no engine = no racing = team goes belly up = all his moneys gone. IF they can get an engine they might finish the end of the season, with almost no new upgrades. They couldn't get a sponsor last year and the year before (everything fell through), and that was with Kimi on board. Like it or not, he's a well liked character in F1 these days and combined with Lotus pre-India 2013, should've easily attracted the right sponsor (Monster, Burn, Rockstar just to name a few energy drinks even). Rev's money well has significantly dried up, and outside of Venezuela, has zero marketability. Despite Grosjean doing pretty good now, I don't think he's got that much marketability outside of France. Don't count on any money from France because there isn't any. For the team itself; Any big name sponsor that was considering signing with Lotus will almost certainly not do it now. Lotus has a massive air of rotten egg around it. Their reputation has imploded with the constant lies about everything. Unless Mansoor comes up with the cash (he's not), Lotus will likely reach 200m in debt by the end of the year. If they're lucky creditors will start knocking after the season is over only. And that's all IF they can get an engine. Remember that the Brawn team was pretty much sponsorless the whole season, and they where winning races right left and center.
Yeah. I think it really depends on if Renault feels like throwing a life-line to them (again). Remember that the Renault engine will be the most expensive by a couple of million. Considering in how bad of a shape Lotus are: Kimi is owed in the 20s (!) and recently tried to settle for just 5m, and even that has proved problematic. I'm unsure if he even got paid still...
There's clearly something going on as the CEO has stepped down to be replaced by an ally of a minority shareholder (according to Autosport) 1994 revisited ?
Must admit,... I'd chuckle if Maldonado was left without his bag of money and without a ride... On the flip side,... while not a huge Grosjean fan,... he had a good year in 2013, and I kind of like him. I hope this doesn't cost him a career.
Coming any day now (as they've been telling us for the last 10 weeks now...) Couldn't care less about Maldonado (arrogant, entitled POS), Grosjean (boring, whinging crybaby), Lotus (what a way to **** up a team!) or Lopez (lying, arrogant POS who thinks everyone is borderline retarded). I do feel for their factory workers. I hope most have them have already applied to other teams...
Lux and Lopez have put up their own cash (Genii). So not really theirs, but people that have put cash in their company (financial management). They haven't done this earlier because...? IMO, it's a sinking ship and their only hope is for the team to get a big sponsor quick. They're grasping at straws, and took a huge risk. It was either sink before the start of the season (and lose all their money) or hope they can finally sign their big sponsor and recoup a little of their money. At least keep the team alive through the year before selling it on. I don't think people will take too kindly on their moneys being invested (and then lost) in the current state of Lotus F1.
Since last summer!..... I think he claimed 'unequivocally that they'd be #1 this season'.... However, and it's probably complete BS, but they seem to be claiming they may have found, if not a loophole, then an edge that they don't want to reveal too soon; This from their technical director, Nick Chester. It's also true that it's generally friggin' cold in Jerez in January. I still tend to agree with everyone here though - A *bad* idea given the new regs. If they've really got 'something' the others will all copy it PDQ as we know. We'll see soon I guess. Cheers, Ian Lotus to miss first 2014 Formula 1 winter test at Jerez - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com
Raising the art of dissembling to new highs. I wouldn't shake hands with him without counting my fingers before and after.
indeed. However, seems the lights are still on and there's a few hundred guys who one assumes are still being paid. Presumably the Revs check cleared. I also wonder if any of them got the 'substantial bonus' our buddy promised on a few occasions late last year As Bas noted, it's the 'grunts' with wives & kids etc I feel for. They're not paid that great at any time. Not being paid at all would get to suck fast for a lot of these guys. Further, getting to Jerez from Enstone isn't that big of a deal in the scheme of things. Bahrain doesn't come cheap OTOH.... Cheers, Ian
BS. If they had something "trick", just don't bring it. Plenty to learn regardless. The only reason to not run an early test is to save money,... or you're not ready.
I agree 100% as I already said. These new power units etc are going to need more than some fancy simulator work! But, there is maybe a tiny chance they've done something trick that isn't simply a 'bolt on/off'. I very much doubt it, not being ready is a much more likely scenario of course. They have confirmed Renault motors again though, right? Most of the Revs check has probably already gone to France to cover last years debts! Cheers, Ian
