Team Lotus End of 2010 Season www.youtube.com
A video from the very heart of the team, the round up of our first year in Formula One™ and the steps we will be making to succeed in the future. A special thank you to all of you who have followed and supported us this year, you have been absolutely amazing, and we cannot wait to race and make step
Team Lotus will have its 2011 car at the opening test in Valencia but is not planning a traditional "launch", a spokesperson said on Monday.
After a visit to the team's Hingham headquarters last week, owner and boss Tony Fernandes said the new car "is looking great" and "much slicker" than its predecessor, but warned that Lotus "won't do a conventional launch".
A spokesman clarified to Dutch website f1today.nl that Team Lotus will be giving the new car its debut at Valencia early next month, along with majority of the other teams.
"We will present the car there," he said.
The new Lotus comes with high hopes and will run a Renault engine and a Red Bull gearbox as the team aims for its first points this season. 2010 rivals HRT and Virgin will not bring their 2011 cars to the first test, electing to take more time to prepare them away from the track.
Meanwhile, after an HRT spokeswoman confirmed that the Spanish has left the Formula One Teams Association due to "politics", Fernandes said on his Twitter account on Monday that Team Lotus will not be following suit.
"We think FOTA is very good and very important," he said.
TL: How're you feeling at the moment? We've finished our debut year, we succeeded in gaining tenth place in the Championships...
DG: I'm very happy that we achieved all our set goals for the 2010 season, but that also makes me begin to look forward to 2011. Our challenge was to be best of the new teams, but after a while it gets a little boring, as at the end of the day we are at a level where we had to be best of the new teams, or else we'd be very disappointed! I'm looking forward to the challenge next year, and that is to move further up the grid.
TL: We've changed our name; yes you're Sporting Director and more involved in the technical side of things, but does that affect you?
DG: The name is important. When I was growing up and started following Formula One™ Lotus was important to me. The Lotus with the Renault engine was one of my first strong memories, and it was something that has been in the back of my mind. I think this gives you some extra motivation, running under the Team Lotus name.
TL: Looking ahead, we've got a few great improvements coming. Are you feeling happy and confident about them?
DG: Absolutely yes. We should make a big step forward in terms of reliability this year using the Red Bull gear box and hydraulics package since this was a major issue for us throughout the 2010 season. The performance however, must come from other areas. I don't think we can expect to make a major step forwards just because of our Red Bull / Renault package, we need to develop the car and put together a good and strong aero package on the car, which is also suited to the new regulations.
We need to understand the new tyres quickly and make the necessary adjustments and then we should be in the position where we have a better performance. So yes, definitely, very exciting times are ahead although being World Champions is perhaps still a little far away; this is something that will always be in the back of my mind as I feel this is the important thing for us to aim for.
TL: Regulations this year. Talk us through what you already know...
DG: The most important ones to note are that no team is allowed a double diffuser, and no team is allowed an F-Duct. There is no adjustable front wing and these are replaced by KERS which will be back again in the cars. An adjustable rear wing is allowed to enhance overtaking. They are significant changes and it should make for an interesting 2011 season.
TL: Realistically, where would you like to see us this year?
DG: Well, I can't say anything different from the official target, which is eighth place! I think to be in a position to fight with the established teams ahead of us would be a good achievement. Realistically, if we are in a position to regularly compete with them then we should we be happy, and then if we make some good calls we may have the opportunity to go for some bigger points.
TL: Talk me through what happens on the pit wall...
DG: There is a lot of preparation work before we come to the pit wall, which we present to Mike. Once he agrees, we have a detailed plan laid out. On the pit wall, there is a permanent discussion between Mike, Jody and myself if we think we see any situation coming up which we might have to react to. And it's probably fair to say, that if there's an imminent decision then we rely on Jody to make the call, as there are situations where we simply have no time discuss! For example if the safety car comes out and our car is at the beginning of the pit entry, Jody would make that call.
TL: Do you ever get nervous?
DG: Excited, yes. Not really nervous. If it gets to making a call, where it's not always that obvious, you do feel a little apprehensive.
For example, the much talked about Ferrari decision in Abu Dhabi. Everyone said it was the wrong thing to do; but I don't think there were many people who immediately said that the decision was wrong when the car was pulling into the pits; even if afterwards it seemed obvious.
TL: How do you relax?
DG: Away from the races I enjoy spending time with my family, and during the race weekends I like to go running. This is very relaxing for me, and it's like releasing my brain, if you like. You can focus and think about things without any external factors. Often I have good ideas when I go running, as I have the chance to really think in depth about things.
TL: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
DG: I think I'd have to come back to Fred Stalder, owner of the ROC (Racing Organisation Course). He said to me once, 'Dieter, a bad decision is better than no decision.' And it was a piece of advice that I always remembered as obviously there's a lot more around it than only the sentence he spoke. If you decide something, even if it's not the best decision in hindsight, then everyone goes in the same direction and you can get a result. But if you don't decide, then everyone goes their own way, in different directions, and the efficiency of work is greatly limited.
TL: If you could sum up the last year in one word, what would you say?
DG: Well, if I had to say only one word, I would say 'eventful'.
Lotus must score points in 2011, says chief Riad Asmat
By Andrew Benson
Team Lotus have set themselves high targets in 2011
Team Lotus say they are under pressure to score points this season to prove they are making progress after a successful debut season last year.
Lotus finished 10th in 2010, and were the best of the three new teams, but now want to bridge the significant gap to the rest of the field.
Chief executive officer Riad Asmat said: "This year, I've got shareholders on my neck saying it's points time.
"We know where we need to be - that's running with Toro Rosso and Sauber."
The team are owned by Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes - the owner of the Air Asia airline - and his fellow shareholders Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin.
They invested a budget of approximately £50m in the team in 2010 as the start of a five-year programme that they hope will end with them winning races.
The car really will be a midfield runner. It's a modern F1 car. I'm very confident it is a big step up
Mike Gascoyne
The outfit competed under the name Lotus Racing in their debut season last year but have adopted the historic Team Lotus moniker after buying the rights to the name.
But they now find themselves in the awkward situation of racing against another team with Lotus in their title after Group Lotus decided to back out of a five-year licensing agreement with them in favour of becoming the title sponsor of Renault, which has been renamed Lotus Renault GP.
Asmat said Team Lotus's ambitions were not related to the split with Group Lotus.
"We know we are Team Lotus, so it's really not an issue for us," he said. "It is what it is.
"We have a five-year plan. It's unfortunate they decided to go their own way for reasons which to me are trivial.
"They get free publicity but we know who we are. It is about the culture of the team. That's what we've taken out of last year.
"When we started the programme, the target was to be up the front in five years' time and we won't change that by virtue of someone else being there, because if we push ourselves too much we will over-commit, and that's not good business."
Team Lotus chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne told BBC Norfolk on Monday that he expected his cars to be able to compete with those of the Renault team by the end of 2011.
Lotus finished last season 10th in the constructors' championship, with Renault fifth, and the Renault cars were 2.2 seconds faster per lap at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The two cars will both be launched in time to take part in the first pre-season test at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo from 1-3 February.
Gascoyne said: "This year's car is a much more contemporary design. The car really will be a midfield runner. It's a modern F1 car.
"I'm very confident it is a big step up and it's the start of a process that takes Team Lotus back to the front of the grid."
Renault are being sponsored by Group Lotus in 2011
He added: "We have to step up into the midfield and be racing Toro Ross, Sauber, Force India, Williams even.
"But I'm very confident about our development and where we're going from an engineering perspective.
"I think our goals are rising up from that and there is something personal about it. Certainly by the end of the year we want to be beating a team like Renault and I think we can be doing that."
He pointed out that the difference between the two different Lotus names in F1 was "we are a constructor, not a sponsor".
He added: "It's very clear, there are two Lotus cars on the grid, which are entered by Team Lotus, and two Renaults, which are entered by the Renault constructor. Lotus have chosen to sponsor them for whatever reason."
The two parties are involved in several lawsuits, relating to the rights to use the Lotus name and Proton's decision to back out of its contract with Fernandes.
Group Lotus chief executive Dany Bahar has told BBC News he expects the situation to be resolved before it reaches the courts.
But Asmat said: "We haven't heard anything from them - we haven't talked to them recently."
Asmat said it was "unfortunate" that Team Lotus and Group Lotus had not been able to find a way to work together.
And Bahar, who was appointed to his role after Group Lotus parent company Proton had done its initial deal with Fernandes, likened it to a failed marriage.
He said: "With any business relationship, you start on good terms and if it turns out to be beneficial for both parties, you continue. If not, you just stop - it's like in a marriage. And this one turned out to be an unsuccessful relationship."
By Jonathan Noble Monday, January 17th 2011, 15:25 GMT
Jarno Trulli says that his and Team Lotus's motivation for 2011 are higher than they have ever been before - as he claims the naming row surrounding the outfit has actually helped spur it on this winter.
With less than a fortnight to go before the new Team Lotus car hits the track for the first time at Valencia, Trulli says there is genuine excitement within the Hingham-based outfit about what is achievable this year.
He believes his team's deal for Renault engines and Red Bull Racing transmission will be critical in helping the team deliver a good car.
"We know we have the package to compete for at least the midfield and our aim is to race for points at every race," Trulli told AUTOSPORT in an exclusive interview on Monday. "I know it will be hard, but we know the package has the potential.
"We have a brand new Renault engine, we have a Red Bull gearbox - so we are thinking we can do well. Mike [Gascoyne, technical chief] has worked hard to set up a great team and get ready for this year.
"But while no-one exactly knows where they are going to be, I always dream and hope that we can do better than we expect. It has happened many times in the past - so maybe we can exceed our expectations for this year. I feel very confident."
Much of the talk surrounding Team Lotus over the winter has focused on the naming dispute between it and rival Renault, which has signed a sponsorship deal with Lotus.
Although that spat became quite heated in public, Trulli thinks the situation has been a blessing - acting as a rallying call for all the staff at Hingham.
"I think it has motivated a lot of people here," he said. "That stretches from the management like Tony Fernandes through to the shareholders, who have been through a lot of difficulties, and down to the last members of the team.
"What Tony did was unique. He has worked hard to bring the Lotus name back on track, which no-one had done for many years. He also just didn't go out there and buy a team.
"He and Mike [Gascoyne] made up the team from scratch – which comes from the Lotus mentality. It would have been easier to buy a team, but that is not what Colin Chapman did. He drew his own and manufactured his own F1 cars.
"That is why this is the real Team Lotus – and that is what makes it unique and different from the other Lotus team on track. We know that Group Lotus is going to sponsor the Renault team, and that is a very different thing – we have to make that very clear.
"They can argue and they can go to court, but at the end of the day the people understand what Team Lotus is and why it is doing what it is doing.
"It belongs to the heritage and the story of Colin Chapman. I am sure that Colin Chapman would have been proud of what we are doing. And to do that we need to deliver. That is not going to happen from just one day to another, and it will take a bit of time, but there will be more satisfaction when we do that.
"In my opinion, Tony is doing the right thing, even though we feel a bit sad about the row."
Trulli also says the progress Lotus has made over the winter has left him eager to get back to his best on track.
"Last year was the beginning of a new era for Team Lotus and we knew that with even limited time we could compete," he said. "So we put all our efforts onto this season, so we are very confident.
"I am very fired up, to be honest. It is like my first day of racing again. I admit that 2010 was difficult – but my confident feeling is back now."
TL: Mr Watson, Team Manager! It's the middle of January, the car's due to fire up soon... What's going on in your world?
GW: My world is very busy. Obviously with the car there are always ongoing things and it's a tight schedule up to the first test, plus there's always lots of production going on in the background. From an operational side we're heavily into booking everything for the season; flights, hotels, hire cars and all the logistics of moving a Formula One™ team around the world! While we have to manage all of the personnel and car requirements, you have to think about all pieces and aspects of a team. For example, both our race trailers are away having modifications, so that's all going on as well!
From a Race Team point of view, we've had a few additions to the crew, which I believe will strengthen the team and the new guys are familiarising themselves with the current staff and fitting into the team. We have a new Number One Mechanic coming, which is great news. So yes, all in all, it's a pretty busy time, particularly this year.
TL: This year we have twenty races in the season... Is that a headache for you?
GW: Twenty races actually isn't too bad. We had nineteen last year, so it's only one more to be honest, and we managed last year! I was actually looking at the breakdown this morning for the Mechanics; they're away one hundred and eighty days this year, so if you add the one hundred and eighty days to the twenty-two days holiday entitlement, and their twenty-four lieu day entitlement and the six days bank holiday, then they can actually only be in the factory for a total of eighty-nine days! So when people say 'oh the Race Team are never here,' it's because they physically can't be! So having twenty races adds to that. It means slightly more time away, but from an operational point of view it's not really a big headache. We've done our recce to India, and we're happy with where we're going and staying etc.
TL: And what have you been doing over the winter and during the off-season? Obviously you're part of the Race Team so you're away for those days too, plus others for recce trips! What have you been doing to relax?
GW: This winter's been quite difficult as we're changing engine manufacturer to Renault and have a new relationship with Red Bull Technology for the gearbox and hydraulics. That change has created some complications for the new car development over the winter, but it's all for the good. I've managed to take some long weekends and obviously we had Christmas and New Year. But to relax, I'm a big rugby fanatic, so really I love just to chill out on the sofa and watch a few games, and spend time with my wife, Fiona.
TL: Which races are you looking forward to this year? Personally, and as a fan?
GW: Personally I really enjoy the long-haul races. I think because most of them are based in a city, or near a city, for example Montreal or Melbourne, they have a bigger atmosphere outside of the track. So when you go outside, people are still hyped up and really interested in what's going on and there's such a great vibe around the Grands Prix. This year after Melbourne I'll be heading back to New Zealand for a quick stop, which will be great, and so that's the one I'm really looking forward to this time around!
TL: We've changed our name to Team Lotus, and we're making some massive steps forward... How does that make you feel, being one of the crucial cogs in the wheel?
GW: I think Team Lotus name is one of the most revered names in sport, however I truly believe Tony [Fernandes] is right, and that the team makes the team and not just the name. For me, I've always been one of those people who likes to do a professional job, and I expect the team around me to do a professional job. Really, we could be called 'Tinpot Racing' and it wouldn't affect the way we work. Having the Team Lotus name is of course a drive and a huge incentive, but as professional people we will always focus on our jobs and do the very best we can.
TL: We're firing up the engine and unveiling the car soon... how's it all going?
GW: It's different this time around as we're doing some much more in-house. Last year was difficult, but this year is too, because we're doing everything internally - designing and producing the car - and of course it takes time for people to gel. It can take years for a Formula One™ team to gel properly, and I think we're making good steps forward in doing that, and we're becoming a tight unit. The end product will be a better product for sure.
TL: What are your goals for this year, as Team Manager?
GW: My personal goal is I'd like us to be the best pitstop team in the pitlane this year. Period. There's no excuses why we can't be. You can sit there and talk about money, but to be honest, pitstops are a very pure thing and the equipment we all use in the pitlane is very standard, bar a couple of the teams. Even then it doesn't have a huge impact on the times, so we really have to focus on becoming one of the best pit stop teams, if not the best, consistently in the pit lane. The other aspect for me is to maintain the levels of professionalism that we carried through 2010 and improving on those levels and taking it a step forward. If we sit on our laurels, then we will very quickly become a non-professional looking unit. So those are my goals.
TL: What's the best part about being a Team Manager?
GW: I think the best thing is having a big influence on the operational side of the team, obviously I have no say in the engineering side! But I am involved in the way we look on track, the way we act and present ourselves. It's something I take a lot of pride in, and with the new staff changes I think we can achieve more and develop even further.
TL: What can we look out for this season?
GW: For the purist, the car will look very different, i.e. the shape of the car will change considerably from last year's challenger. But for the fans, I hope that the biggest difference you will see is that we're further up the grid! And that we're there on merit. 2010 was a brilliant year, but that's all history now, and it's about 2011 and people seeing a clear performance improvement on all areas.
TL: Sum up 2010 in one word, and then tell me a word that you feel represents Team Lotus.
GW: Hmm, I'd say 'rewarding' for my 2010 word. And for a word that describes Team Lotus, that's difficult! Just one word?
TL: Yep!
GW: I think 'passionate' would suit us. And I think 'hard' too - Mike Gascoyne's influence rubs off on us, in that we are here to do something and we will do it. End of story.
Lotus: Switch to Renault power set to pay off
24 Jan 2011
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Lotus T127. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Friday 19 November 2010. (L to R): Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Lotus and Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus at the Lotus team photograph. Formula One World Championship, Rd 19, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Race Day, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, 14 November 2010 (L to R): Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus with Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Lotus. Formula One World Championship, Rd 17, Korean Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Korea International Circuit, Yeongam, South Korea, Saturday, 23 October 2010 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus T127. Formula One World Championship, Rd 19, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, 13 November 2010
With KERS, Pirelli tyres and adjustable rear wings just some of the changes being introduced in 2011, the grid’s 12 teams have had a very busy off-season. For Lotus, who have also made the switch to Renault power this year, it’s been an even busier winter break, but the team hope the hard work will help them enter the mid-field fray this year.
Like fellow newcomers HRT and Virgin, Lotus used Cosworth power during their 2010 debut season. Although they eventually finished 10th in the standings, ahead of their fellow debutants, it was decided Renault engines would provide a better platform for future growth, especially as it meant Red Bull Technology could then supply the team with gearboxes and hydraulic systems.
“This winter's been quite difficult as we're changing engine manufacturer to Renault and have a new relationship with Red Bull Technology for the gearbox and hydraulics,” team manager Graham Watson told the team’s official website. “That change has created some complications for the new car development over the winter, but it's all for the good.”
If the changes do pay off, the team’s aim is to make a move into the midfield. Whilst they established themselves as the best of the 2010 newcomers, they failed to score any points, finish higher than 12th (Heikki Kovalainen in Japan) or qualify higher than 13th (Kovalainen in Belgium).
“I hope that the biggest difference you will see is that we're further up the grid!" said Watson. "And that we're there on merit. 2010 was a brilliant year, but that's all history now, and it's about 2011 and people seeing a clear performance improvement on all areas.”
One result of the changes at Lotus is that work which they didn’t carry out in their own factory in the hectic scramble to make the 2010 grid has now been brought under internal control. Whilst Watson admits it’s been a challenge for all concerned, he hopes the T127’s successor will be a much stronger car for drivers Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli as a result.
“It's different this time around as we're doing so much more in-house,” he explained. “Last year was difficult, but this year is too, because we're doing everything internally - designing and producing the car - and of course it takes time for people to gel. It can take years for a Formula One team to gel properly, and I think we're making good steps forward in doing that, and we're becoming a tight unit. The end product will be a better product for sure.”
Kovalainen and Trulli are expected to visit the Lotus factory on Monday to take a peak at the team’s new car, which is set to make its on-track debut on February 1 during the Valencia test.
Heikki Kovalainen sends a quick message to the Team Lotus fans from the cockpit of the 2011 challenger. A short behind the scenes video, taken today, just for you!
Team Lotus is delighted that we were successful at the Summary Judgment Application hearing today and that the Judge threw out Group Lotus' application even before hearing the arguments of the barristers on either side.
Although this decision was never in doubt, it means that we start the 2011 season under the Team Lotus name. Whilst we expected that the Judge would refuse this application, it is good to have the decision in black and white.
The Judge also felt that it was in everyone's best interests to bring the hearing date for the full trial forward and that is now fixed for 21st March rather than us having to wait until Autumn 2011 or even later. We remain confident that we will succeed at the full trial and we can now focus on the challenges ahead in the 2011 FIA Formula One™ World Championship.
Team Lotus will launch its 2011 car, the TL11, exclusively free and online in the Team Lotus Notes magazine at 0500 (GMT) on Monday 31st January viawww.teamlotus.co.uk
Team Lotus Notes is the team’s exclusive free magazine that gives readers unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Team Lotus on and off track. Subscribers to the magazine will be sent the TL11 launch edition before images of the car appear anywhere else online - free subscription is available now via the website www.teamlotus.co.uk
The team will then be attending the first test of the season in Valencia with Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen at the wheel of chassis TL11-01 and have opted to take advantage of the 2011 rules and not run on Tuesday 1st February, replacing that date with a private test day and on-track filming on Friday 4th February.
T01 Valencia schedule
Tuesday 1st February
Media day – Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen, Mike Gascoyne, Riad Asmat and Tony Fernandes available for interview on request
Wednesday 2nd February
0845 – 0850 Team Lotus photocall in pitlane
0900 – 1700 Heikki Kovalainen
Thursday 3rd February
0900 – 1700 Jarno Trulli
Friday 4th February - Filming / Private Test Day
0900 – 1700 Jarno Trulli / Heikki Kovalainen
Hi-res images of the TL11 and a full press pack will be available viawww.teamlotus.co.uk
on the morning of 31st January.
Access to the test / filming day on 4th February is open to broadcast media on request. Accreditation will be granted on a first come / first served basis – to register interest in attending please email: accreditation@teamlotus.co.ukwith VALENCIA TEST in the subject line.
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