A longer wheelbase for the Lotus E21 at Monza to prepare for 2014

The Lotus F1 team recently revamped its facilities with the creation of a new simulator. The team based in Enstone is currently playing a leading role in Formula 1 and wants to establish itself sustainably at the forefront; it hopes this new tool will help it achieve that.

In addition to this simulator, the Lotus F1 team has decided to introduce an evolution of its E21 at Monza, which will have a longer wheelbase than the current one. This evolution will serve as a testing base for the 2014 car, which is also expected to have a longer wheelbase than this year’s car. The new chassis has successfully passed the FIA crash tests and can therefore be tested in Italy, although for now, there’s no confirmation that there will be two chassis for Grosjean and Räikkönen.

Eric Boullier, the team principal, told *Autosport* that the goal of this new chassis is to validate the proper functioning of the new simulator to better prepare for the future: “We must do it because we need to test our system. The decision-making process is now much more complex because it includes the simulator, which gives more importance to the chassis performance. But we need to see if it works. This [change] is focused on chassis performance. We need to conduct tests to ensure there are no drawbacks on the aero side, and there seem to be some benefits. The drivers enjoyed it in the simulator, so we’ll see if this new way of working brings results.”

The Frenchman hopes that this tool will help the team in its fight for the constructors’ title because if Boullier believes that with his retirement at Spa, Kimi Räikkönen seems out of the race for the drivers’ title, the team title is still in Lotus’ sights: « We are not going to give up but it’s difficult to make up 65 points. We are trying our best to be in a position to fight for the constructors’ championship. I am more confident for the rest of the season [after Europe] because we knew that Spa and Monza would be difficult. »