I like Lotus. Hope they make the grid.
I can't buy into that reasoning! When you've got new regulations that change the car completely, and you have limited on track testing, it only makes sense to run your car on track at every possible opportunity! Red Bull's engine data will be of limited use to Lotus as chances are, they will have different aero and cooling characteristics (how embarrassing would it be to not run at the test and then find out later that your car has overheating issues, whilst one of your main rivals who did run at the test with the same engine have overcome all of their overheating issues thanks to the test?). I have to say that My first thought about Lotus missing the first test was that it was because they simply couldn't afford to run! It's interesting to read Lotus stating that they will not be the only ones not running at the first test - It sounded to Me like a desperate attempt to try to downplay the fact that they wont be there! (An F1 equivalent of: "Move along! - Nothing to see here!"). The problem is, the more they protest that it's no big deal, the more you start to suspect that it probably is!
+2 Having said that, I'm gonna stick my neck out some, and say there's at least 2-3 teams *every* year who 'take the tin snips' to their bodywork at the first toasty race!..... I guess the simulators suggest a 'solution' (big/small inlets, little/big wings, etc), and it doesn't always work out..... Cheers, Ian
This. RE overheating; Red Bull's KERS batteries overheated up until the end of 2013. It's not quite a simple fix by cutting into the bodywork and hope for the best. Not if you want to stay in front, that is.
Very true. I was being a little flippant with my comment. However, there's times when 'you've gotta do what you've gotta do', and I'll stick with my comment; New & unexpected 'holes' often appear when things get hot on a few cars every year. Cheers, Ian
Vents appear and disappear in the normal course of events throughout every season. Some tacks require better cooling than others. Can you even take tin snips to today's body work? Another sign of how effete the sport has become.
Indeed. Remember the 'chimneys' they ran a few years back? Varied greatly in size depending upon the ambient temperature. They'll even change not just the duct sizes but the entire radiators if needed. I was speaking, shall we say, 'metaphorically'..... Cutting holes in C/F is a PITA at any time, and fer sure tin snips don't work too well. But again, if yer **** gets too hot, you've gotta do what you've gotta do. I'm pretty sure Brawn was the last 'high profile' example in their year. First toasty race they cut holes in the sucker. They don't use very much bondo either. Cheers, Ian
Back on topic.... Both Marussia' and Lotus' entries are listed as 'subject to confirmation' in the list just released by the FIA. Marussia have already issued a release saying 'no worries, it's an administrative thing.' But no word from Lotus that I can find. Cheers, Ian
Well that wasn't exactly a bottle full of sunshine. I wonder what the over / under is of them even making the grid in AUS. If they truly don't have an engine supplier contracted,... and they didn't jump at the offer to pay Kimi 25 cents on the dollar to settle that debt... things are really bad.
No engine yet? No way they make the grid. No way anyone puts money down that rat hole. Its a shame that the team fom Enstone should end this way. On the other hand it's not entirely inappropriate for a team named Lotus.
Yup. What surprises me is that the internet has been asking the question for a few days now: ''Lotus, do you have an engine supplier?'' (pretty simple question with a very simple answer). Yet they haven't made a single statement still. Maybe their PR person has left his job too...and Lotus hasn't hired anyone to come on Twitter and say what's what? If they really have no engine (which I believe they don't), I rate their chances of making it to aussie today at 25%. If they don't attend the bahrain test, I rate their chances at 1%. Then Kimi should just lay claim on their (imaginary) cars and other assets. This is sounding an awful lot like some company in the States starting an F1 team a couple of years ago. I'm quietly waiting for a picture to arrive of some carbon fiber being assembled and a South American's racing contract to be made void...
I think you'll find that the PR person is too busy machining engine blocks and painting bodywork in his shed to have time to make any statements!
How can you design a car without knowing which engine you are getting? Did Renault send them "dummies" to draw the 2014 car?
In an normal year it would be impossible. In a year where the engine tech is all new, imeffinpossible.
And the weird part was the sour grapes from Lotus side. Gerard Lopez was so confident Lotus will be fine in the end. Eric Boullier wasn't so confident back then though.
