That's Lotus written off for 2014
Discussion
Lotus to miss Jerez 4 day test!
With only 12 days of testing available before the 2014 Formula 1 season begins in Melbourne on March 16, Lotus's decision to miss the four-day Jerez test has far-reaching consequences.
As F1 teams work to a tight schedule with every element of the project determined far in advance, this appears to be a late decision and was presumably not part of the initial plan.
Why Lotus would choose to do this is baffling. This year, the technical regulations have changed fundamentally, there is a new turbo engine, energy recovery system, gearbox, braking system and aero to test, as well as the latest specification Pirelli tyres.
As most of these technologies are untested on track, losing a third of its pre-season running will be a serious setback in Lotus's preparations for Australia.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112041
With only 12 days of testing available before the 2014 Formula 1 season begins in Melbourne on March 16, Lotus's decision to miss the four-day Jerez test has far-reaching consequences.
As F1 teams work to a tight schedule with every element of the project determined far in advance, this appears to be a late decision and was presumably not part of the initial plan.
Why Lotus would choose to do this is baffling. This year, the technical regulations have changed fundamentally, there is a new turbo engine, energy recovery system, gearbox, braking system and aero to test, as well as the latest specification Pirelli tyres.
As most of these technologies are untested on track, losing a third of its pre-season running will be a serious setback in Lotus's preparations for Australia.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112041
woof said:
Why Lotus would choose to do this is baffling. This year, the technical regulations have changed fundamentally, there is a new turbo engine, energy recovery system, gearbox, braking system and aero to test, as well as the latest specification Pirelli tyres.
They probably don't have a choice, hard to test something that doesn't exist yet.Crafty_ said:
woof said:
Why Lotus would choose to do this is baffling. This year, the technical regulations have changed fundamentally, there is a new turbo engine, energy recovery system, gearbox, braking system and aero to test, as well as the latest specification Pirelli tyres.
They probably don't have a choice, hard to test something that doesn't exist yet.They didn't have the money to start it.
Though on the plus side Maldonaldo backers have paid off his contract at Williams just as Williams might have a good car under them and jumped ship to Lotus who don't even have a paddle yet
McClure said:
Yep, same as missing the first test ruined Brawn's season in 2009.
Oh, hang on...
Well - I think you'll find the regs were pretty static. Same tyres, same engine etc.Oh, hang on...
New tyres this year and the engine is a complete unknown for the teams. Shame because I'd like seeing Lotus up at the front end.
McClure said:
Yep, same as missing the first test ruined Brawn's season in 2009.
Oh, hang on...
Of course Lotus have had a large car manufacturer pumping money in to the team for 12-18 months to develop the technical expertise and ultimately a great car just before pulling out at the start of the year...Oh, hang on...
Oh, hang on...
The two situations are not even remotely similar.
I guess that bloke from Quantum is just a week away from completing the deal, or not.
woof said:
Well - I think you'll find the regs were pretty static. Same tyres, same engine etc.
New tyres this year and the engine is a complete unknown for the teams. Shame because I'd like seeing Lotus up at the front end.
Was it not a totally new wing configuration, first year of KERS and the first year for 12 years with slick tyres?New tyres this year and the engine is a complete unknown for the teams. Shame because I'd like seeing Lotus up at the front end.
Flying Toilet said:
I don't believe the comment above about them not having an engine either, I know other teams with the same supplier have had them for a while.
The theory is that they don't have an engine deal. The assumption must be that they will be using a Renault engine but the deal has as far as I know not been announced.They have a tub, just nothing else...
Lets hope they pull it off as there are a lot of great people working there.
Bottom line is if they have got the aero right they will do well, if not they wont.
Missing the test will hurt reliablity for sure and is not great but don't write them off just yet.
C43
Lets hope they pull it off as there are a lot of great people working there.
Bottom line is if they have got the aero right they will do well, if not they wont.
Missing the test will hurt reliablity for sure and is not great but don't write them off just yet.
C43
Vaud said:
It would be fine for the tests - maybe - IIRC they are not subject to Parc Ferme - but do they need to have undergone crash tests?
I don't think there will be much point testing last years tub, the new engines mean the EBD is finally dead, current tub will be using it, the engine install would likely be a compromise, with the new, thinner front wing other changes further back I think are likely, but you wouldn't have those on last years tub, chassis & bulkhead height changed and so on. Too many compromises and differences, I think all you'd get out of it would be running the engine & gearbox, which you can do on a dyno/rig anyway.
Crafty_ said:
I don't think there will be much point testing last years tub, the new engines mean the EBD is finally dead, current tub will be using it, the engine install would likely be a compromise, with the new, thinner front wing other changes further back I think are likely, but you wouldn't have those on last years tub, chassis & bulkhead height changed and so on.
Too many compromises and differences, I think all you'd get out of it would be running the engine & gearbox, which you can do on a dyno/rig anyway.
Sorry, I meant to say that technically they could run it. But in reality, the reengineering to get that engine in won't give any meaningful results - I agree with you.Too many compromises and differences, I think all you'd get out of it would be running the engine & gearbox, which you can do on a dyno/rig anyway.
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