Lotus to Sit Out First Jerez Test

BTW, has anyone heard anything at all recently from our buddy Ijaz? Or has he just gone AWOL?

 

+1

Their DNA has got a little confused over the years, but there is a lot of history there regardless.

Anyone live 'nearby'? It'd be interesting to hear how full the parking lot is.

Most likely explanation. But again, Jerez really isn't, or at least shouldn't be, that big of a deal at this level.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Not a big deal as in "not too expensive" or "not too important"?

 

I was initially thinking the former. A couple of trucks, ferry ticket, a few handfuls of guys, and a hotel and you're there. No 'hospitality' BS to worry about.

I know I'd want to be there!

OTOH, seems it led the teams, and more significantly, Pirelli, down a terrible path last year! It was colder than a witches tit and the tires did good. Once it warmed up some we know what happened! So maybe freezing your ass off in Jerez in January really isn't that important!?

Cheers,
Ian

 

I think that its either money or just not being ready. With the new tech testing time is gold even under sub-optimum conditions.

 

Couldn't agree more. Most likely is not ready. If they haven't got the $ to get to Jerez, they're in deep dooh-dooh!

But, remember also these guys have some design balls!..... Remember the 'forward facing' exhausts for example? Didn't work out, but at least they tried something a little different. Maybe they've gone out on a limb again?

Cheers,
Ian

 

We shall see.
But I'm not putting any money on them just yet.

 

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not either! Right now, I'm just hoping they can do the Bahrain test and make the grid all year!

Given their finishing position last year I also think Bernie may step in if needed. It would be done 'quietly', but he doesn't want to lose a close to front running team right now.

Dunno how he and Eric get along, and I suspect he's not a fan of Lopez, but losing 'em would hurt a little at this stage.

Cheers,
Ian

 

It's going to take more than interim financing.

Not only isn't Bernie known for throwing money away he has investors to answer to.
Any Lotus bail out will have to be part of a much needed comprehensive financial restructuring of F1.

 

I hear you. He's certainly not in the business of throwing money away.

However, over the years he's helped many an F1 team out of a bind. Nothing to do with CVC or any investors, him personally...... He's got many ways of doing it via the myriad 'offshore' accounts and trusts he controls. It may be a loan, probably secured some way or another that makes him yet more money, but if he likes you, he will help you. Prof Sids book opened my eyes on that one TBH.

I have no idea what he 'thinks' of Fauxtus right now, and as I said, I suspect he's not a fan of Lopez, but despite popular opinion, he does have a soul!

Maybe an advance on their winnings last season? Per the Concorde, these are paid about a year in arrears, but he can change that if necessary to help a team out..... Best guesses are they're due ~$60-80MM from last season for example.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Mad Max tried that!......

Seriously, why does it need to be restructured? It's more successful than ever, the grid remains pretty much full and the racing is as close as it's ever been.

Toto said the same recently, but I really don't get it - He's now onboard with one of the biggest budget outfits there's ever been. STFU and win the damn title dude!

Right now, we're not even hearing too much whining from the tail end Charlie's either!

It may be 'unsustainable' long term, but I've gotta be honest, I'm not seeing too much evidence of too much pain right now........

Cheers,
Ian

 

21c today in Jerez...

It has been cold the last few years though. Unlucky timing? Barcelona is also never really that warm and over the last few years I don't think any team *really* complained in the end...did they?

The teams don't really have an option in any case; Jerez is as far south as possible whilst staying in Europe (Ascari resort might be an option, but then I don't think it's got F1 testing certified sticker slapped on it, which is big $$$. What a facility though...Red flag or car broken down? Driver can just chill in the pool, perhaps studying his telemetry ).

The other option would indeed be Bahrain or Abu Dhabi, but then the cost increases again, as does the timeline of when things have to be done. Kyalami has too much rain this time of year, and equal cost getting **** there. Also, their stuff will be nicked and their drivers kidnapped or murdered, lol.

 

Ian,

In fact (speaking from France) no official announcement about the engine deal has hit the news yet, if I'm not mistaken.

The "Lotus" situation towards Renault remains actually quite complicated, almost full of mistrust.
Lotus is desperately trying to bring Renault back on board, and Renault is very firmly regularly stating that they have nothing to do with their former team since three years now, that there are no ties left, etc...

It has been said in the press here that Lopez suggested to Renault, towards the end of the summer, that he was ready, and hoping, to sell them back a stake in the team and rename it "Renault" again, as Renault felt at the time that they suffered from a general lack of visibility for the brand as a car manufacturer.
These discussions were stalled almost just after they began as Carlos Tavares, at the time the XO of Renault, left the company: he was rumored to be the one "open" towards motorsport, contrary to Carlos Goshn who is not interested. As Goshn remains alone as CEO, Renault is again saying very firmly that they have nothing to do with their former team.

Exchanging with other friends, no-one has heard anything definite as for the engine deal yet; perhaps some agreement has been reached quitely, but not announced officially?

Rgds

 

My own research over the last few days has also reached 0 results. Nothing has been confirmed. They did their last run with the E21 (!!!) just a couple of days ago in the simulator. What that could possibly have to do with this season is beyond me. Without an engine, they have NO parameters to put into their simulator (i.e. what the engine characteristics are, heat dissipation, cooling etc etc etc). All pretty important stuff.

It strikes me as VERY strange that they haven't done a formal announcement yet about which engine they're using. Not even a twitter message.

Brawn never had an engine just before winter testing, but by then the engines here locked already, it was more or less the case of jamming it in there and make it fit. The engines where pretty reliable. Lotus really needs to do there testing ASAP, wring out whatever gremlins they can find now so their car will be more reliable in Bahrain (even cars last year in testing where somewhat unreliable, that was using mostly engines they knew inside out...) for testing to focus on improvements.

IIRC they CAN get the days they're not testing in Jerez back later this year. Surely if Jerez was that bad (temperature wise) all teams wouldn't run there and use the ''testing credit'' for the European season to make their car massively fast. But they're not. All teams bar Lotus are going to Jerez because it's an absolute necessity to get their cars reliable for the season. I predict, if Lotus will race at all, they'll really struggle to finish races, let alone score points.

 

Bas,

The only thing that seems pretty consistent is that Lotus was owing, and perhaps still owes, a large amount to Renault for an unpaid bill that remains perhaps outstanding to this day. But as for the engine deal for 2014, I've done a quick check again in french: nothing.

Rgds

 

Well they don't have much choice after Renault. Only Ferrari and Merc are there. I'm not sure many are too keen to lend engines with the promise of payment by a team that's gotten quite known for not sticking with their promises or paying for anything. That same team also owes more money than their assets are worth.

IF Renault won't give them an engine there will be NO Lotus in Australia. I don't think Renault is all to keen on giving them an engine, the only way this can be resolved is by Bernie influence, but, as discussed here...he's probably not to keen on Lotus/Lopez at the moment. Bernie has promised 10 teams to every race. He's got 11. Lotus can drop of the entry list with no issues. In fact, they'll have to pay Bernie a heavy fine for not promising on THEIR contractual obligations.

 

It would be a shame imho if Lotus is not in AUS. I believe the brand still warrants recognition and their past performances, once again IMHO, have brought a lot of promise.

 

+1

However, you gotta remember they're *nothing* to do with the road car manufacturer that Clarkson calls 'the turnip farmers from Norfolk'! Nothing to do with the once mighty team that the late great Colin Chapman built either. They started as Toleman, became Benetton, then Renault and now Lotus.

They had a pretty darn good 2013 as you said; 13 podiums and a solid 4th in the WCC is, obviously, a lot better than most!

But they've all got to pay their bills, and it seems they're not doing that. I feel for them, and hope they'll survive, but it's starting to look more and more dodgy at best.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Nero, thanks for 'the French perspective' and comments on the engine situation, relationship with Renault etc. Appreciated. (Also of course, your Michael updates too.)

It's certainly 'worrying' that there's been no engine announcement, but if you want to play, you've got to pay! I don't know how much they owe(d) Renault, but do recall mumbling that they too hadn't been paid.

Hopefully, the Revs check is very, very large!.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

There's an interesting poll on Bernie's site right now asking 'will Lotus be disadvantaged by missing Jerez?'

Unfortunately, it doesn't say how many have voted, but I was *amazed* at the current results;

Yes - 36%
No - 41%
Hard to say - 23%



Seems folk there disagree with us!

Cheers,
Ian
Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website

 

Ian,

Were you aware, about three weeks ago (?), on "your side of the pond" of the rumor that saw Boulier resigning from Lotus F1 to join Renault Sport? He denied, and we can see now that he stayed indeed, but I guess that is another proof of their difficult situation...
They must have received, perhaps "covertly" at least, some mild assurances from Renault as for the engine, because it would be impossible to design the car without, but nothing has surfaced until now...
Rumor has it that Red Bull had a 50% discount on the engine prices as the "team officially endorsed by Renault" and Lotus a 25% one justified by their "former common history"...
Rgds

 

Hmmm.... *very* vague bells are ringing on the Boullier rumor, but it never got to be anything 'serious' IIRC. Just another silly season story when the news is slow I believe.

As for engine costs, interesting indeed.... I very much doubt they publish a price list!.... More a question of 'what can you afford' and/or 'what can we squeeze out of you'!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Seems to me those people obviously don't have our expertise...

 

Our tin-foil hats are better than theirs!

 

I think Lotus see the first test possibly as a wash anyway as it will most likely be data gathering for the Renault power unit and not much else. They figure it will be beneficial to allow Red Bull/Renault to do the heavy lifting required at first. Let's hope that's the case anyway.