Lotus F1 Team 2013

[Jonnycraig]

Rumours picking up pace that Lotus & Caterham are merging , as potentially are Sauber & Marussia.

[Richard]

We do try to avoid "rumours are ... ". Any sources?

[Jonnycraig]

We do try to avoid "rumours are ... ". Any sources?

Finnish, but someone can translate:
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/formula1/art- ... 45598.html

English language from Amus on Sauberussia:
http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/ ... ber_merge/

[Bob Brown]

Stole this from James Allen's site, but with Pastor and Romain next year, this team should be rebranded LOLtus.

[SkinnyMinnie]

It's official : Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado will drive for Lotus next year.

http://twitter.com/Pastormaldo/statuses ... 8633155585

https://twitter.com/RGrosjean/statuses/ ... 4955008000

[Shrieker]

Caterham and Marussia disappearing would leave the grid only with 9 teams... 18 cars is right on the brink of danger zone.

[xpensive]

It's official : Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado will drive for Lotus next year.
...

Does this mean that Kimi will be paid now?

[lio007]

It's official : Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado will drive for Lotus next year.
...

What do you think about the Total-sponsorship? I can't imagine to find Total next to PDVSA on next year's car.

I read a few days ago, that Total is leaving Lotus and moving to RBR.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/11/b ... -at-lotus/

There is a potential clash with French oil company Total, an existing Lotus partner, but they are believed to be gravitating towards their relationship with Red Bull in any case.

[SkinnyMinnie]

It's official : Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado will drive for Lotus next year.
...

What do you think about the Total-sponsorship? I can't imagine to find Total next to PDVSA on next year's car.

I read a few days ago, that Total is leaving Lotus and moving to RBR.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/11/b ... -at-lotus/

There is a potential clash with French oil company Total, an existing Lotus partner, but they are believed to be gravitating towards their relationship with Red Bull in any case.

Apparently from this article Total and PDVSA will be on both car next year (in french):
http://www.7sur7.be/7s7/fr/1508/Sports/ ... otus.dhtml
(It also says that Hulkenberg would join Force India)

If Total will move towards Red Bull I don't what this will mean for Romain...

[lizardfolk]

This is Maldonado's last chance to prove his worth in F1. I dislike the guy but I wont go as far as some and say he's talentless and doesn't deserve to be here. He's had a bad 2013 with Bottas out performing him but it's obvious he's very unhappy at Williams. He now needs to perform at Lotus to stay deserving in F1 (and reduce his shunts).

I still look favorably on his Spanish GP victory.

[dren]

This team will take a step back on the grid next year.

[Bob Brown]

This team will take a step back on the grid next year.

More than a few steps.

[FoxHound]

A shame they will go backwards.
F1 is better for a team like this to be competitive.

But as has already been pointed out, the brain and financial drain will hamper them immensely.
And I would add that I'm not a fan of maldonado, but he has the potential to change people's opinion on him.

[xpensive]

It wouldn't surprise me if Lotus, together with two or three other teams, will be a no-show next season.

[stefan_]

It will surprise me to see your faces if they actually do good. Like always, when things go bad, people are rushing to predict how wrong things will go, how crap will be someone's season, etc. but when things are good, people can't find enough words for praising.