Lotus: Delayed Ignition?
Faced with financial difficulties, Lotus reportedly asked during the F1 Strategy Group meeting for the first winter tests to be postponed by a week, in order to participate under the best possible conditions.
Eight weeks is the period between the moment the cars crossed the finish line at the Brazilian Grand Prix and the first laps during the first pre-season tests of 2014. These tests will be held at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit between January 28 and 31, 2014, a date earlier than previous seasons due to significant regulatory changes that will come into effect next season.
A date that apparently does not suit Lotus F1 who, through its director, Eric Boullier, reportedly requested the postponement of these tests by a week during the last F1 Strategy Group meeting on Monday, December 9, according to *Speed Week*. The British team has already announced that it will not take part in the tire tests scheduled from December 17 to 19 in Bahrain, just like McLaren and Force India, who were initially announced.
For several months, the situation of the British team has been at the center of attention: first almost officially announced, the purchase of 35% of the team’s shares by the investment fund Quantum Motorsport is still not finalized, forcing the structure to turn to Pastor Maldonado and his wealthy backer, the Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA.
Anonymously cited by Mathias Brunner, journalist from Speed Week, a director from another team seems not inclined to show leniency: « Everyone knew the date for Jerez, and everyone built their plans around it. If someone is not ready, it’s nobody’s problem. » The teams’ plans certainly anticipated that the period between these initial tests and those in Bahrain, from February 19 to 22, being three weeks, should be used to correct major issues encountered during the inaugural tests.
This situation therefore seems to corroborate the statements made by Romain Grosjean last week in the columns of the Brazilian media TotalRace. When asked about the work done in the simulator, at a time of year when most teams have started this activity with the 2014 car for several weeks, the Frenchman replied: “I hope to be able to do it at the end of December,” before adding: “It’s because it’s a new tool for us. We are always working to make it as accurate as possible. When we have achieved synchronization between the car’s behavior on the track and the simulator, we will be able to focus our attention on next year’s car.”
