Lotus F1 Team

New Arrivals – The Enstone Machine Shop Gets a Refresh [Q&A]

2012-05-17T17:19:46Z

Earlier this week, a crowd started to gather around the entrance to the Enstone machine shop as a large truck arrived to offload a new arrival. We caught up with Composites Production Engineer Colin Watts to find out what all the fuss was about…

Colin, we've had some pretty sizeable new equipment delivered to the factory; what are we looking at here?

We've brought in three new machines, all of which are used to create the moulds (or patterns) required for manufacturing composite parts of the car. Two of the machines are called Antares, and there's another known as the Ares. The Antares are basically smaller versions of the Ares. Between the three of them they're replacing two older models of machine which we had been using for quite a few years. All three do roughly the same job, just with different scales of project.

So what was the reasoning behind increasing our pattern making capacity?

Over the last two or three years we've been outsourcing a lot of pattern work, but we're increasingly finding a demand for machining patterns in-house. We also machine carbon fibre using these units, although the new machines are more akin to routers than milling machines. This means they're more suited to pattern block work as the heads are slightly smaller, and work at higher speed but with less power. The pattern blocks are made of an industry standard epoxy tooling board, which is not a resistant as carbon fibre.

Almost everything you see on the car in terms of composites is made using the moulds produced by these machines, so they're quite central to the manufacturing process. As mentioned we're trying to bring this side of our operations more in-house. We'll still need to outsource some of the work – it's hard to say how much that will be, but we do send a lot of projects elsewhere currently, including a large part of the model shop's work.

How are the machines operated?

It only takes one person to operate them, and that same person can operate multiple machines simultaneously. We have in-house programmers who create the programme for each part, with the guys on the shop floor setting the programme up on the machine and letting it run. They're pretty autonomous pieces of equipment.

We do however need to monitor them of course. We run shift systems, and while they're not quite running 24/7 it's not far off. We're hoping to move more towards ‘lights out' machining, where we leave the programmes to run overnight unsupervised. This gives us more running time which increases productivity, and also means the guys on the floor don't have to work so many night shifts.

Are there not safety implications from leaving machines running unobserved through the night?

There are numerous risks to this approach. For example; if a cutter gets damaged, a tool change doesn't happen as it should do, or dust builds up around the cutter creating friction and subsequently a fire, we can end up with serious delays to the production line and potentially costly damage to the equipment.

Another issue that can arise is that when numerous jobs are nested on one machine bed – for example with the Ares which has a vast platform of 3.6 x 2.6m, allowing multiple projects to be worked in sequence – there is always the possibility that the tool can catch on a block other than the one it is meant to be cutting, thereby rendering that piece unfit for use.

How were these parts made before we had such equipment available?

I was actually a pattern maker myself when I first started here, and back then it was all done by hand using chisels, planes, spoke shaves and so on. There were very little in the way of detailed drawings, and you'd be working directly with the Chief Designer. Of course, at that time the patterns were made from wood; chiselling carbon fibre would not be an easy task! Traditionally we would make a wooden pattern and cast it in sand, before taking the pattern out, putting the moulds back together, and casting metal into the cavity, which is how the trade originated.

If that wasn't tricky enough, a lot of the moulds actually used to be made on the car. For example, we used to create air intake ducts for turbocharges engines by hand and the only way to do this was to get the mechanics to fit the turbo to the engine, pull the floor up, and quite literally build the pattern in between the two. The car I remember doing that for specifically was the Benetton B196, so we're going back a few years! Luckily that's all in the past, and with the new machinery we're talking about creating patterns in a matter of hours rather than days. It's impressive stuff.

Keep in Touch!

Just one week to go until Round 6 of the Formula 1 World Championship begins at the legendary Monaco circuit. In the meantime, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

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Part 2 of the Lotus F1 Team history feature is now online! For pictures, facts & figures, and everything you need to know about the Benetton era, just click here.

Today's Winners, Tomorrow's Champions – GSM Young Drivers at Enstone

2012-05-17T08:27:19Z

Throughout the week, we've been joining up with some of the brightest young talents in world motorsport for a unique education in fitness and nutrition here at Enstone

A collaboration of Gravity Sports Management and Lotus F1 Team is working to find the Kimi Räikkönens and Romain Grosjeans of the future. Formula Renault 3.5 Drivers Kevin Korjus and Richie Stanaway, Formula Renault 2.0 competitors Oscar Tunjo and Esteban Ocon, and KF3 karting star Dorian Boccolacci have joined the team at Enstone this week for a unique education in fitness and nutrition.

The journey begins for the racing protégés in the Lotus F1 Team Human Performance Centre (HPC), where the young drivers have been speaking with a host of the team's fitness partners to gain tips and tricks on how to keep themselves in peak physical condition.

Starting with the gym equipment itself, the drivers received in-depth advice on how to get the most from the facilities available to them; thus increasing the effectiveness of their regimes and providing a variety of techniques designed to target the specific muscles required for top level racing drivers, as HPC Driver Training Manager Daryl Coombes explains:

“We get all the latest equipment from our supplier as and when it's developed. They ask us for our input in creating driver specific training machines, in addition to attaining feedback from the drivers themselves as to how the kit is working for them. In this way we can ensure that the drivers have a ready-made facility available to suit all their training needs”

Next up, the drivers were given a demonstration of how the gym's integrated workout station system allows them to record every aspect of their exercises, thereby tracking progress over time and giving them the opportunity to tweak their regimes as their physical requirements evolve. With regular online reports sent back to their dedicated personal trainer David Thompson from wherever they are in the world, there's no room for slacking off!

As an additional technology available to the aspiring Formula 1 stars, the group were introduced to the ‘Actiped' system; a lightweight attachment for the drivers training shoes which detects their running / cycling patterns, and subsequently their performance. With leader boards ranking each drivers activities, this also acts as a motivational tool; not that these guys need an excuse to demonstrate their competitive edge!

Bike supplier Whyte (created by former Benetton designer John Whyte) also joined in on the action, handing over brand new rides for each driver to train with throughout the year – carbon fibre models for the two Formula Renault 3.5 drivers, and alloy versions for the remaining three. Lessons in cycling technique and best training practice were the order of the day, followed by a guide to keeping their new wheels in top condition to cap things off.

Of course, it's not just the exercise regimes which will help these young drivers to reach the top; getting the right nutrition is just as essential. Over the course of the week we joined the drivers in donning our aprons for a series of cookery classes in the Enstone kitchen.

With recipes ranging from home-made fish and chips to the creation of two days' worth of meals from one serving of chicken, the group learnt how to prepare different meats, season their food, and create healthy dishes that provide all the key nutrients to help aid their training.

In addition, the group received an insight into the essential training aids provided to help the drivers push themselves to the limit. Beyond simply packing in the protein, the key is to use each supplement in the correct way to assist the young stars in their race preparation and recovery, as Dave Smith from sports nutrition supplier Zipvit explains:

"We see these guys as athletes; highly skilled with fantastic fitness levels, and requiring the same treatment as triathletes, cyclists and so on. Our aim is to help educate the drivers on how to use the various supplies we give them; what to use, when to use it, how much to use and so on. These supplements are more than just food; they need to be used in the correct way. The goal is to help enhance the driver's performance rather than encouraging them to consume vast amounts of everything.”

There are four main areas of focus in this respect. The first is to provide energy for training to ensure that the drivers have the right levels of energy when it is needed. The second – and perhaps most important – is that of recovery after an exercise routine, with the third being everyday health; attaining the essential vitamins and minerals needed to ensure the drivers are fit and healthy throughout each race weekend and for the entire season. Hydration forms the final piece of the puzzle; retaining well hydrated to cope with the intense heat within a fireproof overall being a key consideration for any racing driver.

With the drivers (and our man on the ground) now fully educated, it's back to the gym for the five stars of the future. As for our man on the ground, all this talk of exercise and healthy living is somewhat overwhelming. Time for a good lie down…

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Like Kimi? Then ‘Like' Kimi! – The Iceman Arrives on Facebook

2012-05-15T14:54:24Z

Lotus F1 Team driver Kimi Räikkönen has launched his official Facebook fan page, giving Iceman aficionados a new way to interact with the 2007 World Champion

Kimi Räikkönen has answered long standing calls from thousands of Formula 1 fans by creating his official Facebook fan page.

As his first move into the social media space, the Iceman recognises the importance of keeping in touch with his avid followers through using new channels to create a strong official fan community.

In conjunction with his official website, the page will keep followers up to date with all the latest pictures and news from the 2007 World Champion, in addition to promoting competitions and other features.

To like the official Kimi Räikkönen Facebook page, just click on the Like button below:

for Kimi's Facebook fan page, click here

For Kimi's official website, click here

Keep in Touch!

A one week break now before Round 6 of the Formula 1 World Championship from the legendary Monaco circuit. In the meantime, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

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Part 2 of our Team History section is now online! For pictures, facts, figures and everything you need to know about the Benetton era, click here.

Cold Air, Hot Tyres and Front Ends – What We Learned in Barcelona [Blog]

2012-05-14T10:00:00Z

With five rounds of the World Championship now under our belts, there's been a lot to take away from the season so far for Lotus F1 Team; so what did we learn at the latest venue – the Circuit de Catalunya – and what's in store next for Kimi and Romain?

One podium, two fastest laps and twenty-seven points is not a bad a return from a single race – particularly in one of the most tightly contested Formula 1 seasons in recent memory. Perhaps even more encouraging is the fact that the team was slightly disappointed with what could certainly be described as a strong performance.

So what does this tell us? Well, for starters there is a definite belief flowing through the veins of Enstone that this season has all the potential to produce not just points, but podiums and even race wins. The E20 has certainly proven to be capable of such results, and the drivers more than able to extract that performance from the car.

Friday in Barcelona may not have seen either car at the head of the times, but a string of simulation runs demonstrated the pace of the E20 over a race distance – of course the most important factor over the course of the weekend.

A similar pattern emerged through Kimi's running on Saturday morning, instilling a confidence that the race could provide a very strong result for the team. Despite the Finn pointing out understeer through certain sectors of the lap, the car appeared just as stable (if not more so) than any of its competitors, who were also experiencing the same hindrance.

Of course, the fuel pressure issue that halted Romain's session almost as soon as it had begun should be noted as a mark on the book. However in the grand scheme of things, to have had just a single minor technical issue throughout the season so far – and one which was instantly resolved by the mechanics in time for qualifying – can also be seen as a tribute to both the reliability of the E20, and the superb work of the men in the garage.

Qualifying itself once again gave positive indications as to the performance of the car. Although not threatening the ultimate pace of the Lewis (Hamilton), both Kimi and Romain sailed through to the pole position shootout, with both admitting that minor mistakes (through turns eight and nine respectively) perhaps cost them even stronger starting slots than their eventual P5 / P4 positions (later upgraded to P4 / P3 after a penalty for the McLaren).

The main event – Sunday's race – threw a familiar spanner in the works; temperature variation. The team has found throughout the season that the E20 works best in warmer conditions; a trend which was once again realised here (most prominently at the beginning of the Grand Prix).

With a significant temperature drop from the heat of Friday and Saturday, the drivers were unable to stay in touch with the leaders in the early stages. However, as the race went on and rack temperatures rose the E20 began to come into its element, with Romain's fastest lap of the race standing at over a second quicker than the next non-Lotus F1 Team competitor – despite missing a significant portion of his front wing end plate.

In addition, the decision to run a second set of scrubbed soft tyres during the second stints showed, somewhat surprisingly, that the hard rubber was in fact the faster option in Barcelona. While this may seem counter-intuitive, it provides another valuable piece of information for future races.

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A one week break before Round 6 of the Formula 1 World Championship from the legendary Monaco circuit. In the meantime, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

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Missed Romain's Q&A from the Spanish Grand Prix? Don't panic! Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “There is a real belief within the team that we can win” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-13T18:22:49Z

Romain may have been slightly disappointed with P4 in Barcelona this afternoon, but as always the Frenchman remains philosophical; looking at the bigger picture, and focusing on continuing to progress in Monaco…

Romain, P4 today and more points on the board; what are your thoughts on the race?

It's always good to score good points, but for sure we were expecting more from today. The cooler temperatures didn't help us and the start was not as good as I wanted so we'll need to analyse both of those factors before the next race. The positives of course are that we've achieved two more top five finishes and the car was very strong in the last part of the race so we'll try to take that forward to Monaco.

We've heard that you had some contact in the first few corners; did this affect the car in any way?

There was some very slight contact which damaged my front wing end plate. This unfortunately caused a few issues with the front tyres in the early part of the race, but we made some adjustments to the front wing settings during one of the stops and this seemed to cancel it out nicely. The team did a great job to work around the issue – once they made that change the car was absolutely flying!

Do you think the switch to soft tyres perhaps came a bit too early?

To be honest I think we got the strategy call pretty much right; it was more the drop in track temperature that caught us out, particularly after missing out on what could have been some useful comparable data from Free Practice 3. Given the way the day played out I think we can be relatively pleased with the result. It's good to be a bit disappointed with P3 and P4, as it shows how much belief there is within the team that we can win; if you offered me these last two results last year I'd have signed up straight away!

Monaco is up next in two weeks' time; you must be excited to race there?

Monaco will be very special as always. The atmosphere there is incredible and we're more or less in France which is obviously great for me! It's as close to a home Grand Prix as us French drivers will get this year, so being on the parade lap and seeing a few flags lining the streets will be a huge motivation for all three of us. I can't wait!

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Kimi Räikkönen – “I'm sure we can make that last step” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-13T17:33:01Z

P3 for Kimi in Barcelona this afternoon makes it two podium finishes in a row for the 2007 World Champion, moving him up into P4 in the Driver's Championship. Despite another strong result however, the Finn was left wanting more…

Kimi, P3 for you today and with a few more laps it could have been even better; how are you feeling after the race?

To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. I expected us to be a bit stronger in the race, especially at the beginning. We weren't fast enough in the first stints and that's why we couldn't fight for the win. We showed at the end that we have the speed but it was too late. Maybe we made the wrong choice in the first pit stop, but like I said we weren't quick enough at the start and that cost us the race. I probably wouldn't have been disappointed with P3 at the beginning of the race because I couldn't follow the guys in front, but having caught them up by almost twenty seconds towards the end we come away feeling a bit disappointed as we just needed a few more laps to possibly even fight for first place. Anyway, that's racing and at least I scored some good points for the team and we're going in the right direction.

Tell us about the start; it seemed that pretty much set the tone for your race…

I had a pretty good start, nothing to complain about. I thought I had a chance to overtake the top two around the outside, but I didn't have enough speed in a straight line – I actually hit the limiter I think in fifth gear which stopped my acceleration a bit – and because of that I couldn't quite hang on and hound them. I was pulling away from the guys behind me but I couldn't stay in touch with the leaders. The first stint was pretty well, but for the second I chose the soft tyre and on that compound I didn't have the speed to keep up with the guys in front. I'm a bit disappointed, but we fought hard and when we changed to the hard tyres the car was really, really good but by that time we were just too far away. Maybe with about five or ten more laps I think we could have been fighting for the win.

Were you surprised at the pace of Pastor (Maldonado) and the Williams today?

Williams have been quick at different stages in most of the last few races, and as I've said before, it's very difficult to say who has the quickest package overall at the moment. At one race a team can be right up there, and then suddenly they are tenth in the next race, so it's bit of an odd situation this year. It's good for the sport, as it gives a lot of teams the chance; anyone who has good speed and when can get the tyres working for them have a chance to win. The tyres seem to be the key thing; if you can get them working well you will be fast.

Two podiums in a row for you now; do you feel a win is around the corner?

Twice now we've come close and I'm sure we can make that last step. Unfortunately you're not always going to be able to challenge for the win, and if you get the chance you have to take it because it's not every race that you will have the opportunity to go for it. Hopefully we can keep doing what we're doing now and eventually I'm sure things will go exactly right and we'll be up there. So far we've made good progress and the car has been strong everywhere. The next race is a bit different – Monaco – and it's hard to say how we'll go there. The team has done a good job, but we still have work to do and things to improve. So far the season is going well; obviously we're not 100% happy because we're not winning just yet, but that's normal and I'm pleased the team want to push even further.

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Photo Finish – 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, The Race [Report + Pictures]

2012-05-13T14:20:52Z

Another podium and a good haul of points for Lotus F1 Team at the circuit de Catalunya, as Kimi and Romain brought their E20's home in P3 and P4 respectively on a warm and sunny afternoon in Barcelona

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Grid: P4
Race: P3
Best Time: 1:26.938 [Lap 50]

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Grid: P3
Race: P4
Best Time: 1:26.250 [Lap 53] - Fastest lap of the race

For a full run-down of the final race standings, visit our results page.

Cooler conditions than Saturday's running but a warm and bright day nonetheless as the minutes ticked away to the start of the Spanish Grand Prix. Kimi and Romain emerged from the garage on matching sets of scrubbed soft compound tyres as used during qualifying.

As the drivers settled into their P3 (Romain) and P4 (Kimi) grid slots – both having been promoted a place following a penalty for Lewis (Hamilton) – the tension in the Lotus F1 Team garage was palpable as the starting sequence began.

Great start from Kimi, less so from @RGrosjean #CatchTheBull #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 13, 2012

An incredibly tight start as Kimi surged past Romain – the pair almost touching – before closing right up to the back of Pastor (Maldonado) heading into the first corner. With the pole sitter failing to defend against Fernando (Alonso), Kimi had no choice but to settle for P3 at the end of the first lap with no sign of a gap to follow the Spaniard through.

Romain had a solid start, but a lock up into turn one after being passed by his team-mate eventually saw him drop a further place to Nico (Rosberg) by the time the field crossed the start / finish line for the first time.

Romain was the first to dive into the pits, stopping in the box for another set of the yellow marked soft compound Pirelli tyres; a different strategy to the cars around him, which all made the switch to the hard tyres. A good job from the crew, with the Frenchman being followed tightly in by Michael (Schumacher) and emerging well in front.

Kimi followed his team-mate's lead a lap later, again remaining on the soft tyres and making a good clean stop to remain in touch Pastor (Maldonado) in front.

Romain meanwhile had moved straight onto the back of Nico (Rosberg) following his stop, making a brave move to follow the German through past Bruno (Senna) into turn one, touching the Brazilian as he went by and losing a piece of front wing end plate in the process.

By lap 15 the reigning GP2 Champion was climbing all over the back of Nico (Rosberg), taking the German easily using the DRS into turn one and immediately marching away from the Mercedes, now up to P4.

#Cirebox Live Cartoons - It was so close, well done guys #F1 #OneMorePodium twitter.com/Lotus_F1Team/s…

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 13, 2012

Romain was first in for fresh rubber once again on lap 26, this time emerging sporting a set of hard tyres. Kimi followed suit on lap 27 for the same fresh set of boots. A quiet period of the race then ensued before the next round of stops; silver marked hard tyres again on laps 46 and 47 respectively for the Frenchman and Finn.

By lap 50 Kimi was absolutely flying; setting the fastest lap and closing on the leaders by more than a second per lap on fresher rubber, with his time being bettered the following lap by Romain, who eventually set the best time of the day by nearly 0.7 seconds in a rather lonely P4.

The Finn continued to close as the laps fell away, taking time out of the front two drivers hand over fist, with the gap to Fernando (Alonso) down to only two seconds by the final lap. Unfortunately there just wasn't enough time, with Kimi finishing less than a second behind the Ferrari as the team crossed the line to clinch P3 and P4.

A good points haul for Kimi, Romain and the E20 to see the team consolidate P3 in the Constructor's World Championship, the Finn move up to P4 in the Driver's World Championship, and the Frenchman leave Spain with P8 in the standings.

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Calm Before the Storm – Sunday Morning in Barcelona [Blog]

2012-05-13T10:00:00Z

With just two hours to go until the lights go out to signal the start of the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, Lotus F1 Team takes a look at what has been, what is, and what could be this afternoon at the Circuit de Catalunya

It was under three months ago that Lotus F1 Team suffered the humiliation of having to pack up and return from the first pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya, the track at which the team's E20s will line up on the second row for today's Spanish Grand Prix.

Since then the offending suspension mounting point has been redesigned, strengthened, and concerns for its integrity are now a distant memory. The E20 has also proved to be fast wherever it has gone, and with four Grands Prix under its belt it's shown itself to be one of the best cars on the grid at this early stage of the season.

The podium performance in Bahrain was the first realisation of its race potential, meaning that the team starts the first European race with even more focus and optimism for what could be possible.

However, it hasn't been all plain sailing this weekend. Finding the setup sweet spot has kept Kimi and his engineers busy, whilst Romain had to contend with missing FP3 due to a fuel pressure problem leaving him stranded out on track.

Despite these challenges, qualifying went well with Romain posting the fourth fastest time and Kimi the fifth. Both drivers analysed their vital Q3 laps and concluded they could have gone faster; Kimi pointed to a mistake in turn nine whilst Romain cited a less than perfect turn ten on his flyer.

After Lewis Hamilton's disqualification from pole for insufficient fuel in his car, the two E20s make up the second row, with Romain in third position and Kimi in fourth. Ahead of Romain sits Pastor Maldonado in his first pole position. Ahead of Kimi sits Fernando Alonso; sophomore driver alongside a two-time champion. The start will be interesting.

This morning in the paddock is far cooler than the past few days. Indeed, the humidity of the heat which greeted the crew on the past few days was cleared by a brief thunderstorm at the track last night.

Looking at Friday's long run pace and listening to both drivers we're in with a shout of a strong result today, but as any motor racing fan will tell you; anything can happen and it usually does.

“Our forecast doesn't predict any rain until after the race” says Trackside Operations Director, Alan Permane. “That said, if it does rain, we're happy with the performance of both our drivers and the E20 in wet conditions.”

“The overnight rain will have cleaned the circuit to an extent, but it's not the same situation as a couple of years ago when overnight rain could have a big impact on how the tyres react with the track surface.”

“That it's cooler than the past few days doesn't cause us any particular concerns. It's not as cold as it was on Friday in Shanghai, and we have a better handle on the car setup now.”

“We've looked hard at the data and there isn't a particular strategy that shouts out for us, and as always we will be looking at how the race unfolds. It's undeniable that we're in a good position for a strong result. Let's see what happens.”

Keep in Touch!

The main event – the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix – is next up at the Circuit de Catalunya at 14:00 local time this afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

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Kimi Räikkönen – “We had a chance to do better” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-12T17:58:37Z

Lining up in fifth on the grid for the Spanish Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen looks ahead to contesting his tenth Formula 1 race in Barcelona. Can he go one step better than in Bahrain?

Kimi, how was qualifying today?

For the team the qualifying result is probably the best of the season so far but we had a chance to do better; I made a mistake in turn nine so we lost a few tenths there. I think we had a chance to be in the top three but we've been fighting with the set-up quite a bit today. We change the car for qualifying and actually it was the correct call in the end; it was just a few small mistakes which cost us some time on my Q3 lap.

What do you think are your prospects for the race?

We'll see how it goes. The car has usually been better on Sunday than it has been on Saturday, so if that's the case tomorrow we'll be pretty happy. Hopefully we get a reasonable start and we can be up the right end and go for it. I think we've got a good car and that's the main thing.

What are your thoughts on the tyre performance for the race?

On Friday's long runs we looked okay in terms of tyre degradation, but the race is going to be different again as everyone has a better idea of their cars and the track has changed since Friday. Usually our car is better in the race than in qualifying.

Are you happy with the car setup now?

We struggled a little bit with the setup all weekend but for qualifying we changed the car and we went back to the baseline where it was okay. In qualifying it was good, especially in the last corner and without my mistake we could have been in the top three. I think it should be a bit better in the race.

Do you have any concerns about the weather?

I'm happy to race in the dry and I'm happy to race in the wet. Our car is good in the hot conditions and I don't think it's going to be freezing cold tomorrow. As long as it's a reasonable temperature we should go fine.

Keep in Touch!

The main event – the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix – is next up at the Circuit de Catalunya at 14:00 local time tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

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Missed today's Q&A with Romain? Not a problem! Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “As drivers we always want more” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-12T16:22:21Z

P4 on the grid for Romain in tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix may sound like a good result just five races into his first full season in Formula 1; the flying Frenchman however is convinced that there is more to come…

Romain, P4 in qualifying today; considering you didn't run in Free Practice 3 this morning the result could certainly have been worse…

To be honest it could have been better, but once again the lap times have been extremely close today. I definitely had room to improve my own lap today; I lost a bit of time in turn ten – maybe a couple of tenths. As drivers we always want more and P4 isn't bad at all.

You made a great start in Bahrain; where do you think you could be going into the first corner tomorrow?

It will be a long race and anything can happen; anything is possible. I don't think that we are too bad at managing our tyres and our race pace looks okay…but we'll have to see what the guys in front of us do. In Bahrain we were a bit surprised by our pace right from the beginning of the race. Will we have the same nice surprise here in Barcelona tomorrow? We will have to wait and see, but for sure we will do our maximum to get the best result possible.

Do you think that the race will be complicated from a strategy perspective? Some say that the outcome of this Grand Prix will be tyre-dependent…

As I said, tyres will play a key role in this race – we have seen some teams not lasting longer than eight laps on the soft tyres… we will have to be very vigilant in managing our tyres. It may sound a bit over the top, but I think tyre management could make a big difference to the outcome of the race. My feeling is that we have done a good job with our car since the beginning of the season. For tomorrow, I will try and be as kind as I can on my tyres to make them last as long as possible.

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Line Astern! – Spanish Grand Prix, Qualifying [Report + Pictures]

2012-05-12T13:28:00Z

A season best performance overall for Lotus F1 Team during this afternoon's qualifying sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix, as both Kimi and Romain brought their E20's home in the top five during a pole position shootout which was as frantic as it was unpredictable

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Position: Q1 – P7 / Q2 – P5 / Q3 – P5
Best Time: Q1 – 1:23.406 / Q2 – 1:22.856 / Q3 – 1:22.487
Laps Completed: Q1 – 7 / Q2 – 3 / Q3 – 3

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Position: Q1 – P2 / Q2 – P3 / Q3 – P4
Best Time: Q1 – 1:23.248 / Q2 – 1:22.667 / Q3 – 1:22.424
Laps Completed: Q1 – 8 / Q2 – 3 / Q3 – 3

For a full run-down of the session's final standings, visit our results page.

Similar conditions to those of Free Practice 2 yesterday afternoon provided a significant challenge for the drivers as Qualifying 1 got underway at 14:00 local time in Barcelona. Soaring temperatures created a noticeable lack of mechanical grip, as most competitors struggled with understeer in particular.

The first flying laps of the afternoon for Lotus F1 Team saw Romain immediately flying out of the traps, taking P1 with his first attempt on the silver marked hard compound Pirelli tyres. With Kimi was somewhat more conservative in P5.

'Nice job Romain' P2 at end of session, Kimi P7 #CatchTheBull #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 12, 2012

With five minutes to go, both drivers emerged once more on the yellow marked soft tyres. Kimi surged straight up to P2, only to be immediately knocked out of his position as his team-mate went quickest. The Finn ended the session in P7, with the Frenchman flying high in P2.

Qualifying 2 saw the team opt for a single run apiece for Kimi and Romain. With six minutes to go, the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion lead the reigning GP2 Champion out of the pits. An empty track greeted the pair, with matching sets of fresh soft tyres for both.

Once more, the Finn jumped straight to the sharp end of the grid, shortly to be displaced by the Frenchman. Both drivers easily sailed into the pole position shootout in P3 (Romain) and P5 (Kimi).

The final session kept the entire paddock guessing right until the last minute. Both Lotus F1 Team drivers left it late to make a single attempt on the soft tyres, The Finn and the Frenchman momentarily sitting in P3 and P2 respectively; just shy of Fernando Alonso.

A frenzy of last gasp attempts saw Kimi eventually finish the day in P5 on the grid for tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix, with a fastest time of 1:22.487. Romain's best effort of 1:22.424 will see him start in P4; another fine performance for the young Frenchman.

With the team's best qualifying session of the season so far and good long run pace demonstrated in Friday Practice, the team are feeling positive for the race tomorrow.

Keep in Touch!

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Missed this morning's Free Practice 3 report and pictures? Don't stress! Just click here.

No Pressure – Spanish Grand Prix, Free Practice 3 [Report + Pictures]

2012-05-12T10:27:27Z

With one last chance to prepare for qualifying, Kimi made good use of the team's final opportunity to squeeze the final drops of performance from his car, while Romain was unfortunate to suffer the E20's first dose of unreliability during the season so far

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Position: P9
Best Time: 1:23.936
Laps Completed: 16

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Position: P24
Best Time: N/A
Laps Completed: 2

For a full run-down of the session's final standings, visit our results page.

Slightly cooler conditions than the previous day's running at the Circuit de Catalunya, but nonetheless a dry, bright and warm start as the one hour countdown for Free Practice 3 began.

Kimi and Romain charged down the pit lane in flying formation for their install laps on matching sets of the silver marked Pirelli hard compound tyres. Standard procedure of system checks and oil dips before heading back to base to wait patiently for an opportunity to attack the track.

The was a fuel pressure problem on @RGrosjean's car; it's back and if we can rectify he'll go back out #CatchTheBull #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 12, 2012

The drivers eventually seized their chance to put the E20's through their paces with fifteen minutes elapsed – once again sporting identical hard compound tyres.

A matter of minutes later, Romain's session came to a premature end with a loss of fuel pressure forcing the Frenchman to stop out on track. Despite stellar work from the mechanics, there was simply not enough time to get the car back out for another run.

In the meantime Kimi continued to work on long runs using the hard tyres, occasionally heading back to box for minor tweaks aimed at eliminating mild doses of understeer from his E20.

As the chequered flag dropped, Kimi finished the morning in P9 with a fastest time of 1:23.936 from 16 laps, while Romain failed to set a flying lap due to technical issues with his E20.

Keep in Touch!

Qualifying is next up from the Circuit de Catalunya at 14:00 local time this afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

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Missed yesterday's Q&A with Kimi? No worries! Just click here.

Kimi Räikkönen – “Today went very smoothly for us” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-11T17:45:34Z

After his return to the podium in Bahrain, Kimi was in good spirits as he took to the track for the first practice sessions of the Spanish Grand Prix, ending the day with the ninth fastest time in the morning and fifth fastest in the afternoon

What are your feelings from today?

The pace from the car was okay; it certainly wasn't a bad Friday for us. I think we can go faster over a single lap but I made a mistake on my first lap with the fresh soft tyres. Overall not too bad at all.

As always this season there has been a lot of talk about the tyres; how are the two compounds feeling here?

Both feel good. Of course, it's so hot here that it's easy to get the tyres to work and we seem to be able to keep them working quite well too. Our aim today was mainly to try to see how the car is with both the short and longer runs and we achieved this. We're still looking over the data but it's looking good so far.

Is the team approaching the weekend any differently after the result in Bahrain?

We've been doing the same thing at every race, we just need to have the whole race weekend go as well as it did in Bahrain and we'll be happy. Nothing has changed in our approach to the weekend, we're just going to do the same things as before and see if we can achieve another good result.

How important is tomorrow's qualifying session?

Of course it helps if you're on the front row here, but it's not as important as it used to be. The rules are different and the tyres are different so it's easier to overtake; even here in Barcelona. It's certainly not going to destroy your race if you don't start on the front row.

Can you and the team repeat the Bahrain level of performance this weekend?

It's difficult to say if we can repeat our Bahrain performance. We were quick here in testing, but you can't really compare that; all teams have progressed quite a lot since then. For sure, our car is better than in testing, but so are other teams' cars too. Today went very smoothly for us – better than some other Grand Prix Fridays so far this season – so hopefully we're in a good position. In Bahrain we didn't have it so easy on Friday, but everything came together for the race. We'll see tomorrow where we are with qualifying and then on Sunday where we are in the race.

Keep in Touch!

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Circuit de Catalunya at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

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Missed today's post-practice Q&A with Romain? Not a problem! Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “We could be in a position to score good points this weekend” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-11T15:37:54Z

After P7 and P6 in Free Practice 1 & 2 respectively for Romain at the Circuit de Catalunya this afternoon, the Frenchman is feeling positive about the E20's performance heading into the rest of the weekend

Romain, what have you learnt today?

Tyre degradation, just as we expected it, is very high. The car is also working rather well on high fuel, so we are pretty happy about this. We did some race simulations this afternoon and that was pretty positive and encouraging too.

What exactly do you do on a Friday? Is the programme of the day very precise?

Yes, absolutely. We plan what we'll do on a Friday the day before and these plans can be altered until we start FP1. There are various runs we do in the morning and then we test the tyres we have for the weekend during FP2. We also do race simulations to judge the car's performance with different fuel levels.

When do you actually prepare for qualifying?

We actually prepare for qualifying in earnest on Saturday morning which means time is quite tight, but we must adapt and understand the car as quickly as possible to get ready.

What is your feeling about the car this weekend and what are your hopes?

A lot will depend where we are on the starting grid; we need to do well in qualifying. Overtaking at this circuit isn't easy, but I feel that our car is performing pretty well so far so hopefully we could be in a position to score some good points this weekend.

Keep in Touch!

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Circuit de Catalunya at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

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Missed the Free Practice 2 report this afternoon? No worries! Just click here.

It's Tight at the Top – Spanish Grand Prix, Free Practice 2 [Report + Pictures]

2012-05-11T13:55:08Z

The second of today's Free Practice sessions from Barcelona this afternoon saw the Lotus F1 Team drivers neck-and-neck once again, with both bringing their E20's home in the top six of a tightly packed field

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Position: P5
Best Time: 1:23.918
Laps Completed: 32

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Position: P6
Best Time: 1:23.964
Laps Completed: 37

For a full run-down of the session's final standings, visit our results page.

As the green lights went out at the Circuit de Catalunya, it was Romain who lead the way out of the garage closely followed by his team-mate. With the sun beating down on the track once again, the engineers were blessed with prime conditions to garner comparable data with the morning session.

Both drivers emerged from the pits for their first flying runs with just under thirty minutes elapsed; each sporting the new design of front wing and beginning the session on the silver marked hard compound Pirelli tyres.

Long runs were the priority during the afternoon, with the Finn and Frenchman notching up some substantial mileage during the final hour's running for the day and showing good pace throughout.

Our cars P5 and 6 currently, Kimi quicker than @RGrosjean by 0.046 #CatchTheBull #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 11, 2012

Switching late on to the soft tyres, both drivers demonstrated the speed of the E20 by instantly jumping into the top six places, Romain setting the fastest time through the first sector in the process.

The session concluded with pit stop practice for each car in quick succession, giving the mechanics a good work out in preparation for Sunday's race.

As the last few cars crossed the line, Kimi wrapped up the day in P5 with a fastest time of 1:23.918 from 32 laps, while Romain's best effort of 1:23.964 from 37 laps saw him lie in P6 – each driver once again running within fractions of a second of the other.

Keep in Touch!

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Circuit de Catalunya at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

Check This Out!

Missed the Free Practice 1 report this morning? Don't panic! Just click here.

The Narrowest of Margins – Spanish Grand Prix, Free Practice 1 [Report + Pictures]

2012-05-11T09:54:45Z

With the excitement of Bahrain behind us, the team's focus turned to Barcelona and Free Practice 1 this morning at the Circuit de Catalunya. A range of setup changes ruled the session for Kimi and Romain, as the Spanish sunshine provided ideal conditions to kick off the weekend

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Position: P9
Best Time: 1:25.285
Laps Completed: 29

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Position: P7
Best Time: 1:25.217
Laps Completed: 16

For a full run-down of the session's final standings, visit our results page.

A relatively low-key session for Lotus F1 Team provided the first opportunity to see how the teams shaped up in Spain, and a chance to build on the data gathered during winter testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.

As usual, Kimi and Romain departed the garage early in the session to complete their install laps. A series of short and medium runs with a range of setup tweaks followed as the team sought to analyse the E20's performance with a range of new parts available.

New front wing should be a little bit different; hopefully a little bit better#CatchTheBull #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 11, 2012

One such upgrade was clear for all to see, as Kimi dived into the pits for a front wing change during a mid-session run, with the Finn running for the first time since the last race in Bahrain. Clearly keen to get some mileage under his belt, the 2007 World Champion completed the most laps of any driver during the session.

Romain's running was largely consumed by work on the ride height of his car, as the Frenchman looked to build on a strong showing at the Mugello test last week. A host of changes throughout the session restricted him to a handful of laps, but the reigning GP2 Champion nonetheless demonstrated his pace and was clearly pushing to the limit, with a few sideways moments to keep the pit wall on the edge of their seats.

As the chequered flag dropped on a tightly run session, Kimi finished the morning in P9 with a fastest time of 1:25.285 from 29 laps, while Romain's best effort of 1:25.217 from 16 laps saw him lie in P7, edging his team mate by mere fractions of a second.

Keep in Touch!

Free Practice 2 is next up from the Circuit de Catalunya at 14:00 local time this afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

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Missed our blog on what's at stake at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend? No problem! Just click here

Spanish Grand Prix – What's At Stake This Weekend [Blog]

2012-05-11T07:00:00Z

Lotus F1 Team takes a look at how the Formula 1 grid is shaping up going into Round 5 of the World Championship at the Circuit de Catalunya

The Bahrain Grand Prix provided the fourth different race winner in as many races during the season to date, while no less than eight drivers have stood on the podium from six teams over the same time period.

Needless to say, 2012 has thus far been as close and exciting as it has been unpredictable. Eighteen of the twenty-four drivers who make up the grid have scored points, with the top five separated by a mere ten points.

So what could Barcelona possible have in store for us this weekend? As usual we start at the sharp end, only this time with Red Bull. The reigning champions have crept to the top of both the Driver's and Constructor's standings, and while many believe the RB8 is not the quickest package in the grid, it seems the Milton Keynes outfit are becoming increasingly competitive by the day.

McLaren had a disastrous race in Bahrain, and could easily be leading both championships had it not been for a series of mistakes. Nevertheless the MP4-27 still appears to have the edge on its rivals in terms of raw pace, and having not only made changes to the car in Mugello, but also revamped the pit crew which ultimately cost the team dear at the last race, the Woking squad will undoubtedly be looking for a strong response this weekend.

Lotus F1 Team's double podium in Bahrain was not only the best result achieved by Enstone since 2006, but also launched the team into third place in the Constructor's table, demonstrating the previously unrealised potential of the E20. As an aerodynamically focused track, the Circuit de Catalunya should suit the car well, and the team will be targeting a good haul of points in Spain.

Despite continuing to struggle with the F2012 during the Mugello test (particularly alarming given the extent of upgrades brought to the test), Ferrari still find themselves among the top four teams in points scored. Both team and drivers have however underlined that there is still a lot of work to do if the Italian outfit is to push the front runners this weekend.

Fifth place currently belongs to the Mercedes team, who will have been disappointed not to have carried their race winning form of China on to Bahrain. The abrasive Barcelona track surface and forecast for warm temperatures could aggravate the F1W03's tyre preservation issues, so this could be a difficult weekend for the silver arrows.

Sauber still occupy sixth in the standings, but will not have been best pleased with their showing in Bahrain. The Swiss-based squad are still hot on the heels of the teams directly ahead however, and will have been encouraged by encouraging results during the Mugello test. They could certainly be one to watch this weekend…

Williams and Force India are neck-and-neck in a private midfield battle at present, with the latter gaining ground courtesy of a strong performance in Bahrain while the former suffered a double retirement. Both teams have demonstrated good pace at different stages throughout the season, and will be eager to gain the upper hand in Spain, whilst also closing the gap to Sauber.

After a positive start to the campaign, Toro Rosso have hit a dip in form over recent weeks and will be looking to arrest that slide as soon as possible. After a stellar qualifying performance from Daniel Ricciardo in Bahrain, the young Australian plummeted down the order, eventually being outpaced by his team-mate. Both drivers will have a point to prove this weekend.

One of the main surprises so far this season has been the battle at the tail end of the field. Despite a decidedly rocky pre-season, Marussia find themselves at the head of the three protagonists and making solid progress in terms of pace. Caterham by contrast have flattered to deceive, with the promise of regularly challenging for points seemingly further away than had been predicted before the season began.

HRT continue to struggle, and having missed the Mugello test to focus on upgrades will need to hope for significant results from the new parts if they are to keep pace with their direct rivals.

Keep in Touch!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest paddock news as we continue our countdown to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Check this Out!

Missed the Spanish Grand Prix preview Q&A with Renault Sport F1 Team Support Leader Ricardo Penteado? Fear not! Just click here

A Safe Bet – Lotus F1 Team and Interwetten.com

2012-05-11T06:30:00Z

Lotus F1 Team announces partnership with sports betting website Interwetten.com

Lotus F1 Team has harnessed the commercial pull of a promising start to the 2012 season with a new sponsorship deal seeing the Interwetten.com name on the team's cars as well as further branding locations. Representatives from Interwetten.com will also be introduced to Lotus F1 Team's growing portfolio of partners.

Patrick Louis, Chief Executive Officer, Lotus F1 Team:
"It's been a fantastic start to the 2012 season for us in both commercial and performance terms. We have received a lot of focus because of our driver line-up and performance on track, as well as the potential these two factors have highlighted. Interwetten.com joins us at a perfect time to gain maximum potential for their brand. We are making good moves on the track, which gain the attention of the world's media. This is exactly what Interwetten.com want from our partnership. We are striving to deliver the very best performance on track which in turn gives Interwetten.com and all our partners the greatest exposure and return on their investment."

Birgit Bosch, Chief Operating Officer, Interwetten.com:
"Becoming involved in Formula 1 is the logical continuation of the excellent collaboration between Interwetten.com and Lotus in World Series by Renault 3.5. We're very proud to be associated with such a well-known brand as Lotus F1 Team, at such an exciting time in their history. We respect the innovative way they go about their competition and promotion; they are certainly the most exciting team in Formula 1 at the moment. Lotus F1 Team is a great bet for any company and we stand to receive far more than our sponsorship stake in terms of brand exposure. The odds for a victory from the team are certainly going down at the moment and we want to be on board for continuing podium performances from the team."

Find Out More…

To learn more about Interwetten.com, click here.

For any further enquiries, please contact the Interwetten.com Press Office:

michael.gradwohl@interwetten.com
+43 (0) 1 732 10 156

Two Drivers, One Room, Plenty of Coffee – Kimi and Romain in Barcelona [Q&A]

2012-05-10T17:31:59Z

With the on-track action set to kick off tomorrow morning at the Circuit de Catalunya, we caught up with Kimi and Romain to grab a few words over some coffee before the serious business begins

Kimi – You're a two-time winner here, both from pole position. Do you think a third Spanish Grand Prix victory is possible this weekend? You've said you team will be winners at some stage...

KR: The rules are different to a few years ago, and you don't necessarily have to be on pole to win. We'll try, but I can't predict what will happen; it's very difficult to say before the weekend starts. The teams are very close, so if everything goes smoothly then we can be right up there, but small difficulties in any area and you're suddenly much further back. We will know for sure on Sunday. If we're top that's great; if we're not then there's still work to do. I think we have a good package and we have a good chance this weekend.

Romain – How much do you think you have progressed as a driver these past few months?

RG: The more racing I do the more I progress. There is still room for improvement, but racing among top drivers helps me to learn and to develop. Formula 1 is very challenging, and sometimes we don't have much time to get everything right. It's rare to have a perfect qualifying session, a perfect race start, a perfect first lap and then a perfect race… that's why I work on continuing to progress and become a better driver.

Both – Barcelona is the first European race of the season – are you pleased to be back?

KR: I prefer racing in Europe, but I arrived in China on the Thursday morning so arriving for a European race on the Thursday morning is no different really.

RG: It's good to be back in Europe. I've seen a lot of people I know, my old colleagues from GP2 for example, and there are a lot of media attending this first European race. It's also great to see the many Spanish fans. We're looking forward to the weekend here and hopefully it will be a good race.

Kimi – You didn't test at Mugello as apparently the team hadn't brought major modifications, but for this race there are a number of upgrades; do you think the E20 can maintain the same level shown in the opening rounds?

KR: The team is happy with what they achieved in Mugello and I didn't need to be there. There were some question marks in certain areas of the car and the test allowed the team to sort these areas out so it was worthwhile. We'll see how much of a step forward we have made once we take to the track here in Barcelona.

Romain – Are you hoping for the weather to stay sunny and warm like it is right now in Barcelona for the race?

RG: There's nothing we can do to impact on the weather! If it's raining we'll have the wet weather tyres on the car but I think that broadly speaking everybody prefers sunny weather – even the fans that come to watch the races. We've seen that the E20 works well in more suitable conditions like what we have right now and I hope that it stays the same. If it rains, then it rains. The car's not bad in those conditions either!

Keep in Touch!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest paddock news as we continue our countdown to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Check This Out!

Missed the Spanish Grand Prix preview Q&A with Renault Sport F1 Team Support Leader Ricardo Penteado? Fear not! Just click here.

A Clean Fight – The RS27 in Barcelona [Q&A]

2012-05-10T14:28:21Z

Following on from the engine supplier's best overall result in 15 years at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Renault Sport F1 Team Support Leader Ricardo Penteado talks us through what's required from the RS27 in Barcelona, team rivalries, upgrades and fresh engines…

What are your thoughts after the podium in Bahrain?

It is a great feeling – a podium is always special, but a double podium is particularly satisfying. For everyone at Renault the result was also fantastic, with four Renault engines in the top four for the first time in 15 years. To be honest though, from a personal point of view, you can never be completely pleased until you get the top step. Kimi was particularly close, which has made us re-assess our expectations for this weekend.

How difficult is it to manage an internal battle between team mates and also another Renault-engined team?

Actually when you're inside the team, it's not that difficult. The drivers and engineers have a big strategy meeting between qualifying and the race where two or three scenarios are studied for each driver based on their respective pace during the weekend. If the strategies are different for the two drivers, there is no problem, but there is a mutual understanding that they will not hold each other up and compromise the overall result of the team. However, if they are on the same strategy, they will be aware that they may be racing each other at some point. In this case they are free to fight on track as far as it's a clean battle. It's pretty stressful for us, but no more than when you're fighting for position with another team or driver!

You know Barcelona like the back of your hand from testing; the programme for tomorrow must be relatively simple…

It's true that we know the track very well from the hours of winter testing we do here. We already have some important numbers such as minimum oil level, cooling spec, fuel consumption, top speed, ratios, etc. Even when corrected with the current weather conditions and track temperatures these should not change too much. That said, we still have to validate this data and do all the usual tuning on the engine maps (injection, transitions, torque shape, and so on). I'd say that the advantage here is that we will get through the tests much sooner than at any other track, but the tests we conduct are the same.

Why is Barcelona always used for testing?

The main reason that we come here pre-season is that you can get the hottest track temperature at the time of year. Of all the European F1 tracks on the calendar, Catalunya experiences the warmest climate during the winter, which is more representative and useful for the coming races. We did try to test outside Europe in the past (Sakhir and Sepang in 2007), but logistically speaking Barcelona is “only” 12hrs from any F1 team's factory, which gives us much more flexibility on the testing programme. There's also no guarantee we will get better conditions outside Europe – in Sakhir in 2007 there was a sandstorm and we couldn't run!

Barcelona is where teams traditionally introduce new aero and mechanical parts ; does this have an effect on your workload here?

Yes. When we have new aero parts to test we usually do lots of constant speed tests with that funny green paint we call flo-vis that allows the aero engineers to correlate the data simulated in the wind tunnel with the real air flow “printed” on the bodywork.

Are new engines being used at this race?

Yes, for both drivers. We are introducing the third new engine for both Kimi and Romain so far this year. We are exactly on target for Kimi's engines at the moment but we have a bit more margin on Romain's as he has done fewer race kilometres.

Keep in Touch!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest paddock news as we continue our countdown to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Check This Out!

Missed Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane's guide to the Circuit de Catalunya ? No problem ! Just click here

Battling Barcelona – The Circuit de Catalunya Track Guide

2012-05-10T10:58:03Z

Round 5 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to Barcelona, Spain for the first European round of the season. Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane talks us through the challenges of the Circuit de Catalunya

The Venue

The Circuit de Catalunya is highly familiar to the teams, with a significant portion of pre-season testing undertaken here in addition to the race. 2012 will mark the 22nd time that the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the circuit, and the 54th time that the country has hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix overall.

The track itself contains a mix of high and low speed corners, with an abrasive track surface and varying temperature providing a good setup challenge to the engineers. Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver here with 6 victories, although Lotus F1 Team driver Kimi Räikkönen has also taken 2 wins at the 4.655km circuit, and currently holds the lap record with a 1:21.670 set in 2008.

The Circuit

Turns 1 & 2 form a quick part of the circuit with a swift change of direction in between the first two bends. Turn 1 is one of the few corners on the track where overtaking is possible. Carrying high speed from the exit of turn 2, combined with a good line heading into the very fast turn 3 is crucial to a good lap time.

The high speed nature of turn 3 itself puts a lot of stress through the tyres, especially the front left. Similarly, turn 4 is another which places heavy demands on the tyres (again predominantly the front left), with the car turning and braking from high speed into the tight bend.

With downhill braking into turn 5 corner it's very easy to lock the front tyres – as the driver brakes and turns inwards the road falls away from the car, so the inside front tyre can easily lock.

The slowest corner on the track, turn 10 is a good test of the car's traction. With high fuel loads this will be taken in first or second gear, followed by a wide exit into turn 11 which is taken flat out.

Turns 14 & 15 provide a more technical part of the track, with some large kerbs which drivers are advised to avoid as the car is not set-up to handle them. It's essential to have a good car through Turn 16 to maximise the run down the long straight. In qualifying it's taken pretty much flat out, but with high fuel and a bit of tyre degradation it becomes trickier.

The track surface is quite abrasive, meaning the tyres get a double whammy as the circuit layout puts them through their paces too.

The Car

Similar levels of downforce are required to those seen in Bahrain, which are a little bit higher than Shanghai. A reasonably long straight here means an effective DRS systems helps, even though the straight isn't as long as that seen in China. Sufficient front wing is required to eliminate understeer through the first and final turns.

In terms of suspension, there is no particular kerb usage so the car can run lower than otherwise. Turn 16 is the essential corner; if you have a good car through here it maximises the run down the long straight. In qualifying it's pretty much a flat out corner, but with high fuel and a bit of tyre degradation it becomes a bit trickier.

There are no real issues with braking at all here. The demands are not great and testing here means we know what to expect. It will be a case of tuning our front and rear ducts to achieve the correct temperatures for best braking performance, with no particular concerns over wear.

Pirelli's P Zero Yellow Soft and P Zero Silver hard tyres will be nominated for this race. Barcelona can be tough on tyres due to the circuit layout and track surface abrasion. The long, fast turn 3 puts a particularly heavy load on the left front tyre. Turn 5 can also present locking of the front tyres caused by braking and turning into the corner as the road falls away from the car.

This is a track we know well from testing, but the main difference with the race is that the track temperatures will be much higher, meaning the tyres will work differently. Set-ups used in winter testing to make the tyres warm-up quicker will not be needed.

Regarding the engine, good all-round driveability is needed, particularly during the lower speed corners in the second half of the lap.

Keep in Touch!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest paddock news as we continue our countdown to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Check This Out!

Did you know that Lotus F1 Team first entered the Formula 1 World Championship as Toleman Motorsport? Check out part 1 of our Team History section to find out more about the Toleman era.

Spanish Grand Prix – Lotus F1 Team History

2012-05-09T16:46:41Z

To kick off our build up to the 54th Spanish Grand Prix, we take a look at the team's history at the various venues to have hosted the event

In the Beginning…

Lotus F1 Team made its Spanish Grand Prix debut in 1981 under the Toleman name, with British drivers Derek Warwick and Brian Henton at the wheel. That year, the race was held at the Circuito del Jarama.

Winning Ways

In its various guises the team has taken two Spanish Grand Prix victories; both came at the Circuit de Catalunya, and were courtesy of Michael Schumacher (Benetton, 1995) and Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2006).

Podium Potential

Despite having achieved just two victories in Spain thus far, the team has taken fourteen Spanish Grand Prix podiums; the first in 1988 (Alessandro Nannini, Benetton, Circuito de Jerez) and the most recent in 2007 (Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault, Circuit de Catalunya).

Qualifying Kings

The team has also taken a total of three pole positions for the Spanish Grand Prix; all three came at the Circuit de Catalunya, via Michael Schumacher (Benetton, 1994/1995) and Fernando Alonso (2006).

Kimi's Credentials

The Circuit de Catalunya is one Kimi knows well, having achieved the double at the 2005 Spanish Grand Prix (pole & win) and the treble during the 2008 race weekend (pole, win & fastest lap). The Finn also currently holds the circuit lap record, which he set in 2008.

Romain's Record

While Romain will be making his Spanish Grand Prix debut, he does have a good record at the Circuit de Catalunya; the Frenchman took pole, victory and the fastest lap during the 2009 GP2 race here. He also has experience of the track during his time in the Formula 3 Euroseries, and as a Formula 1 test driver for both Lotus F1 Team (at the time know as Renault) and Pirelli.

Keep in Touch!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest paddock news as we continue our countdown to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Check this Out!

Did you know that Lotus F1 Team first entered the Formula 1 World Championship as Toleman Motorsport? Check out part 1 of our Team History section to find out more about the Toleman era.

James Allison on the Spanish GP - "We will have to wait for the E20 to score a maiden win, but I think we can do it”

2012-05-08T17:00:32Z

Out of the box the E20 has been good, but time waits for no car in F1, and the man charged with pushing forwards the development of Lotus F1 Team's charger speaks on the topics of the podium performance, Mugello test and the all-important tyre performance question…

Looking back, how close do you think the team came to taking the win in Bahrain?

When Kimi got past Romain he was clearly faster than Sebastian (Vettel) thanks to having new tyres vs. Vettel's scrubbed set. It was very exciting watching him close the gap, and he came very close to pulling off a pass, but it was not quite enough. With slightly better grid slots and no front wing damage for Kimi then the victory could well have been ours. As it was we had to settle for a really dominant P2 and P3. We will have to wait for the E20 to score a maiden win, but I think we can do it.

What's in store for Barcelona?

We will bring the first tranche of gains from our Windshear programme in addition to some parts from our conventional wind tunnel development. There will be modifications to the front and rear drums, to the front wing and to the floor.

What did the team achieve in Mugello?

We saved for Mugello certain tests that are too elaborate to do on a Grand Prix Friday, because the modifications take too long. On both of the dry days we ran one fundamental configuration in the morning before switching to a different fundamental configuration in the afternoon. Then, within each morning or afternoon session there was a constellation of smaller tests, that could be made independently of the major morning to afternoon assessment. This has allowed us to answer some questions which have been bugging us for a while and it gives us a good direction for our future campaigns. That's the benefit of an in-season test compared with a pre-season test. At the start of the year you are so focused on reliability and getting all the bits ready for the first race that you don't have the breathing space to contemplate a more elaborate comparison of different configurations.

Tyre performance seems to be a topic of the moment; what are your thoughts?

All you can try to do is to have as wide an operating window as possible in which the car performs well, to make best use of the tyres available. All tyres have an operating range and if you are lucky, or if you've got a good car, then it's possible to get the tyres in their operating range most of the time. The type of things that allow you to be in the operating range are: having good usable downforce, having a mechanical suspension package that's not abusive to the tyres, and having drivers who are very sympathetic to the needs of the tyres and don't damage them unnecessarily. Every team is trying to achieve all those things, and we're no different. I take some comfort from the fact that in the first four races this year, with the exception of Friday morning in Shanghai when it was really quite cold – we seem to have been sensibly inside the working range of the rubber. That's four quite different tracks with a range of track temperatures and roughness's - so we're fortunate that the window seems quite broad for the E20.

Every team knows Barcelona so well – does this have an impact on how we approach the weekend?

Although we know it like the back of our hand, the race is always a little bit different from winter testing because of the change of temperature from February to May. The tyres will behave a little differently with more than ten degrees added to the asphalt temperature. In addition, the car has come on quite a lot since we last tested there, so the race team will still have a busy weekend to make sure we get the most out of the car.

Barcelona is the next stop on the Formula 1 calendar as the European phase of the season gets underway later this week. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest from Enstone as we look ahead to the Spanish Grand Prix.

Missed the feature on the Lotus F1 Team motorhome? Just click here.

The Travelling Circus – Lotus F1 Team on the Road [Feature + Pictures]

2012-05-07T11:29:16Z

Lotus F1 Team Head Motorhome Technician Thomas Fusseneger and his crew are some of the true unsung heroes of the Formula 1 paddock. With the season entering Europe for the first time this year, we discover just what it takes to welcome more than one hundred guests to your home each weekend

DIY is something most people tend to love or loathe; the concept of spending the weekend making a few home improvements is perceived by most as being pretty low on the Sunday agenda. There is however one select group who will never be heard grumbling about putting up a shelf; the Lotus F1 Team motorhome crew.

Thomas Fusseneger and his team go somewhat beyond the call of duty with their weekend hospitality; erecting and subsequently deconstructing an entire living facility for the benefit of others on a regular basis. We're not just talking about a makeshift marquee either, with the process beginning days in advance of the first guests stepping over the welcome mat, as Thomas explains:

“The first step is to collect the trucks from their base in Stuttgart, Germany; with five vehicles in total, it's quite a convoy. Unless repairs are required, from that point they will be unlikely to return until the European season has finished, as it makes more sense from a logistical perspective to park them up at the next venue until they are next called into action.”

The motorhome team covers quite a number of miles over the course of the season to say the least. After the test in Mugello last week, the trucks departed the Italian hills early on Friday morning for the sixteen hour trek to Barcelona, arriving around midday on Saturday.

Upon arrival, the trucks are washed down and the team takes a break until construction commences early on Sunday morning. The build itself involves a full two days of tireless work to ensure that the main structures are in place, all before every area is cleaned from floor to ceiling and the finishing touches added by the hospitality crew on Tuesday.

“The first task when work gets underway on Sunday is to mark out our allotted area and park the trucks up accordingly. This is not an easy task, as the trailers need to be in the correct position to allow everything to fit together as it should. The motorhomes themselves must be exactly the right width apart, allowing us to construct the two atriums between them.”

“The atriums themselves come packed down in two trucks, and are completely assembled by hand. This takes up most of the Sunday, with Monday used to set up the roof-mounted solar panels from Trina Solar, as well as the kitchen, dining areas and offices – all of which are transported in the third truck.”

Although the motorhome vehicles themselves are self-contained and raise up from the truck bed to create office space and living areas, a significant effort is also put into ensuring these areas fulfill the tough demands of a modern Formula 1 team:

“The marketing motorhome is relatively easy to put together; the trickiest element being the setup of IT facilities, with which we have a great deal of help from the team's travelling IT Technician. The other side by contrast – which contains the driver's rooms – is a lot of work, as we have to assemble the beds, living spaces, bathrooms and so on, which is all more time consuming than you might imagine.”

A dedicated team of seven people work on the build, travelling to every European race. The only circumstance under which the crew changes is when there are back-to-back races; in which case new drivers are brought in to save the team from total exhaustion. In any case, there's no time to relax and celebrate after a successful weekend on track, with the team's home-from-home preparing to hit the road again almost immediately after the chequered flag drops:

“We begin packing up almost as soon as the race finishes, especially during back-to-back events where we're working to very tight timelines. During a race weekend this will generally start at about 18:00 Sunday evening, finishing for the day at around midnight and kicking off again at 06:00 on Monday morning. We'll generally have everything ready to go by around 14:00 that afternoon, and once we've recovered enough we're straight on the road to our next destination. Luckily it's much quicker taking everything down that putting it up!”

Hearing all this, we'll certainly think twice about how much effort it takes to hang a picture next weekend…

Missed Eric Boullier's Spanish Grand Prix preview? Just click here.

Eric Boullier on the Spanish GP - "I like the fact our drivers weren't fully happy on the podium; they knew we could have won”

2012-05-06T10:36:59Z

After a strong Bahrain Grand Prix with both drivers on the podium, Eric Boullier reflects on the result and looks ahead to what could be possible for the rest of the season…

Eric, what image spontaneously comes to your mind when thinking about the Bahrain race?

First of all, the joy of the race team when looking at the podium. The guys had not seen our two drivers up there since 2006. But, most of all, I remember the face of Kimi and Romain. I liked the fact that they were relieved, but not fully happy. We had just achieved a great result, but they already wanted more. They knew we could have won. Instead of simply enjoying the moment, they were trying to figure out what went wrong and why they were not standing on the first step of this podium. It says a lot about our team's spirit right now.

Were the last three weeks busy?

Quite busy, yes! First of all, we got all the chassis' back in Enstone for the first time since they'd left for Australia. They deserved a full service, including respray. They're like new now. We then had to prepare ourselves for our full scale wind tunnel session in the United States, as well as for the Mugello test. We've also started calibrating our new simulator which is another exciting development for the team.

Are you looking forward to racing in Spain?

The first race in Europe is always the start of a new adventure. In this respect, yes, we¹re all looking forward to this challenge. It also makes the life of the team easier in terms of logistics: we¹re not that far away from home any more. This said, Barcelona is a special track because we always test there in the winter so it will be interesting to see the gaps between the teams; it might be even tighter than what we have already seen.

Are you optimistic?

Well, we've been able to look after our tyres quite well during the races so far but the Barcelona track is very abrasive, especially for the front left tyre. Maybe we'll do a better job than our rivals in this area. The only question mark is our performance relative to the temperature. A pattern started to emerge over the first four races, where we seemed to be more and more competitive in hot conditions. We'll see.

We were testing in Mugello last week. Has it been useful?

Yes. Even when the weather wasn't great, we were able to try some combinations that we would not normally go for during a race weekend, as they take quite a lot of time to set up. We've learned a lot about the car. Also, our Windshear session had given a lot of positive results. We know that the E20 will be even quicker now. But performance is a relative concept. Let's wait and see how our opponents have improved.

Barcelona is the next stop on the Formula 1 calendar as the European phase of the season gets underway next weekend. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest from Enstone as we look ahead to the Spanish Grand Prix.

Missed Romain's Spanish Grand Prix preview? Just click here.

Romain Grosjean on the Spanish GP - “We Will Have to See What We Can Pull out of the Hat!”

2012-05-05T16:17:49Z

After clinching a podium in just his second Grand Prix finish of the season, Romain's beaming smile could be seen for miles around. Now, the Frenchman looks ahead to the rest of the season confident that his campaign has well and truly begun

The Circuit de Catalunya is a track the team know well…

We know the track well from testing in the winter, it's an even track on its handling requirements from the car, and as we head back to Europe it will be a good benchmark for the rest of the European campaign. Everyone knows Barcelona very well because of testing. The first sector is pretty fast with the first four corners, then a slow final sector between turns 10-15. Out of turn 15 you need a good rear end of the car with strong traction. It's important not to overheat your rear tyres and degradation will be key in Barcelona, as when you reach high degradation on your tyres you are nowhere on lap time. Tyre management will be the key for a good performance in the race. Let's see what the temperatures are like. If it's as hot as Bahrain, the E20 should work well…

How much more developed is the car from the pre season tests in Barcelona?

In the test we attended we were P1 after the four days so hopefully we will be there again! Every team is working very hard to develop their cars. We have a good understanding of the E20 after the Mugello test and we hope to bring some new parts to Spain too. It's always a battle to keep ahead in the race to get faster. As we have seen this season, the competition is very close, and a small improvement can make a huge difference.

Any particular challenges you expect from the weekend?

In Barcelona it will be important to qualify well, and it will be much harder to overtake than Bahrain. Qualifying is an area where we can still improve a little bit ourselves, we have some ideas of how to improve, and hopefully we'll get on to the front row.

How difficult to understand and how critical for performance are the tyres this season?

The difference between compounds is a little bit bigger than it was before. We have seen that it's really difficult on the strategy side to get the best results. You have to strike a balance between taking sufficient risks to beat your opposition but not so much that you encounter difficulties; equally you lose out from being too conservative. You can gain a lot of time from an aggressive strategy, but you can lose a lot of time from an aggressive strategy. Barcelona is the hard and soft tyre allocation. Let's see how it goes, but I think both compounds work very well on our car. It will be harder for qualifying as the lap time difference between the two compounds will be bigger so maybe we will have to use the soft tyre from Q1 onwards.

After a difficult first two races you said that your season starts in Shanghai. Points there and a podium in Bahrain were the result. What can happen next in Barcelona?

We will have to see what we can pull out of the hat! We still need to build step by step. The two last races have been really good, both for the team and for myself. I will give my best in Barcelona and the goal for the next races is to get as far up the driver standings as I can. I still have a lot of things to learn, I've only completed four Grand Prix as a full time driver for the season. It's not too much experience but every Grand Prix I finish is a fantastic experience for me. For sure the podium in Bahrain gives me confidence for Barcelona.

Missed Kimi's Spanish Grand Prix preview? Just click here.

Kimi Räikkönen on the Spanish GP - “Hopefully We Will Be Regular Visitors to the Podium This Season”

2012-05-05T12:28:46Z

Just four races into his F1 comeback and Kimi stood on the second step of the podium. The Iceman however was not completely happy; after all, the victory was so nearly in his grasp. Will Barcelona give him the opportunity to add to his win tally?

It took you four races into your comeback before you achieved a podium – were you surprised at this?

I never had any doubts in myself and it is clear we have a good car so in some ways the podium could have come sooner. We had the car already in the first three races to be up there, but we made some small mistakes and it cost us a lot. I would have been much happier if we had managed to get the victory, but nevertheless it's a good result and the team deserved it for all their hard work. We have been good in every race so far, so hopefully we will be regular visitors to the podium this season.

Are you frustrated not to have taken the win?

I chose the wrong side to make it past Sebastian (Vettel). I didn't make it past and after that, I pretty much knew that was it. Of course, I wanted to win. I would have been much happier with myself after the race.

You did not attend the Mugello test – is this an issue for you?

We didn't have any major new parts to test and we don't race at Mugello so I was not crying when it was decided that I wouldn't test. I know the track well but there was no need for me to drive. I am here to race and that is what I will do in Barcelona.

You must have completed a lot of laps of the Circuit de Catalunya over the years; what are your thoughts of the track?

I have tested there very many times. It's a challenging circuit - great fun with a good car, but not that great with a not so good car. Usually a car going well in Barcelona, goes well everywhere. We had a good car there for the second pre-season test even if the car wasn't quite together for the first one.The car has improved and I feel more comfortable in it.

What are your thoughts on the Pirelli tyres and the strategies needed for the best results?

No matter what the tyres you always have to make a strategy to suit them best. The tyres are fine for me. For the strategy I work with my engineers and we make the best choices we can. Sometimes we get it right, like in Bahrain. Sometimes we get very close, like in Shanghai. After the race in China and after the qualifying in Bahrain, people probably started thinking that we are idiots and cannot do anything right. But we showed in the race why we did what we did. It was close already in China and this time our strategy paid back very nicely for us. It's all part of racing and the same for everyone.

Are you looking forward to racing in Europe again?

I really like racing in Europe. We don't have to travel too far and all the energy is saved for the weekend itself. Traditionally the real season starts while coming back to Europe. For me it's just great.

What do you think can be achieved in the Spanish Grand Prix?

I expect Lotus to be very competitive at Barcelona. It's going to be very, very close between the top teams. This is the only circuit where the teams have already tested with the new cars, and the set up is crucial as the track changes with the wind and temperature. All the teams have updates for the first European race, which makes it even more interesting and even tighter at the top.

You have some good memories of the Spanish Grand Prix?

Yes, I have won there twice, and there's nothing better than winning in any Grand Prix. Those two wins are my only podiums in the event.

Four races completed; what do you want to achieve from the next four?

Let's see what happens. As I've said, the car feels good everywhere we've been so far. I am here to race and I race to win. That is the target for me and the team. We want to win Grands Prix. We have a good car and we saw in Bahrain it is good enough to win. That's the target.

Missed the post-Mugello Q&A with James Allison? Just click here.

James Allison – “The E20 Continues to Show Encouraging Pace” [Q&A]

2012-05-04T17:10:26Z

The three weeks between Sakhir and Barcelona have been anything but a break for Technical Director James Allison, with both the Windshear test in America and of course this week's running in Mugello providing plenty of food for thought over the coming weeks and months

James, starting with last week's Windshear test in America; what are the main advantages of this form of testing over alternative aerodynamic development methods?

Every team is given the option of conducting four days of straight line testing at an airfield or similar facility, but there is also the possibility to trade these days for a full-scale wind tunnel test providing the pre-determined limit on total running time is not exceeded. We've gone for the latter option in recent years and our experience has been very positive. A full-sized wind tunnel allows us to work with a real car – chassis E20-01 in the case of last week's test – and also gives us the ability to alter areas of the car which are very difficult to adjust with the smaller scale models used in a regular facility.

Can we expect to see any further upgrades to the E20 in the upcoming races as a result?

Barcelona will see the first tranche of Windshear upgrades, accompanied by a selection of new parts stemming from our normal tunnel development programme. The package will include revised versions of the front and rear drums, the front wing and the floor. None of these parts were used in Mugello.

Moving on to Mugello; were there particular areas of the car which were focal points for investigation over the three days?

Our principal aim at Mugello was to answer some fundamental questions regarding the suspension layout for the car. By this I don't just mean a spring or a roll bar, but comparing one complete suspension architecture to another to establish whether we're on the right path with the layout of our car.

With that aim in mind, how were the sessions organised to accommodate the programme?

We broke each of the days up such that we ran one fundamental architecture in the morning session, and an alternative architecture in the afternoon using the luxury of the lunch break to implement the alterations. We did run over the allotted one hour break to implement the necessary configuration changes, but we were always aware that this would happen and planned accordingly. Then, within each morning and afternoon session we ran several stand-alone tests that were designed to provide interesting information, but not to conflict with the main focus of the morning vs. afternoon comparisons.

Were you pleased with the overall conclusions taken from the test?

Very. It is near impossible to consider this type of testing pre-season or to attempt it within a race weekend. We were able to answer the questions that had been bugging us for a while and we are able to find some improved configurations for the car.

How do you rate Romain's performance during his two days behind the wheel?

When carrying out testing of this nature, you need a driver who can produce a consistent level of performance at the limit of what the car is capable of. It's essential to have both elements – consistency and speed. The speed ensures that the car is being tested in representative conditions, and the consistency ensures that any variations in performance from the car are down to the changes made in the garage rather than errors from the driver. Romain is very strong in providing both of these characteristics, giving us an ideal baseline to engineer more pace into the car.

Both days of dry running ended with the E20 at the head of the lap times; how much can we read into the performance the car here? Can this test be used as an indicator of potential performance in Barcelona next week?

I wouldn't necessarily say that because we've been strong in Mugello we'll be equally competitive at other venues, as the circuit is quite different to any other track we encounter during the season. Having said that, it's always nice to be nearer the front of the field than the back, and the E20 continues to show encouraging pace at every circuit we visit. We seem to do well on circuits with a good number of aerodynamically demanding corners, an abrasive track surface, and warm temperatures. Barcelona should provide these elements, so we are hopeful of making a good showing.

Missed the pictures and Q&A with Romain from Day 3 in Mugello? Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “If I Could, I Would Be Driving All the Time!” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-04T07:27:48Z

Two table-topping performances in a row for the Flying Frenchman in Mugello this week. We caught up with Romain to talk about the significance of testing results, finding the right setup, and this year's testing schedule

Romain, P1 for the second day running here at Mugello; how significant is that in a testing scenario?

It's always great to see the car performing well and being up at the front, but at the end of the day nobody is here to set the fastest lap time; that's not the point. Formula 1 is a constant development race, and testing is one of the key parts of that race. This week is a chance for everyone to experiment with their cars, and I don't think you can really read much into the lap times.

How useful have the last two days been for you personally?

The more time you can spend behind the wheel, the more answers you have as to how best to set up the car… and how best to drive it! The Mugello circuit is quite different to anywhere else we go during the year, but it's always useful to get some extra laps under our belts and I definitely enjoyed the track itself! It's a very quick circuit, and although I've been here before it's a lot more fun in the E20!

And what about from a team perspective; do you think it's been a beneficial experience?

Definitely. There were a lot of things we wanted to try with the car which weren't possible at race weekends due to the limited time on track and the restrictions on tyre usage. Having the opportunity to test these settings and components allows us to better understand the car, and hopefully find more performance for the rest of the season. There are always areas we can improve, as there are with any team, and any extra track time will help us achieve this.

What are your thoughts on in-season testing in general? Would you like to see more of it, less of it, or do you think the balance with pre-season sessions is right?

If I could, I would be driving all the time! I think it's good to have both like we have now. It's important to have a good amount of pre-season running, as the cars are brand new and you want to make sure everything works and try to develop a good baseline setup before the races themselves. On the other hand, this gives us time to work on developments that maybe wouldn't have taken the same direction at the start of the year before we had the data from the first four races, so like I said, I think the balance is about right.

Has this week given you a good baseline setup for Barcelona?

As I said before, the track is quite different to the other circuits so it's difficult to say just how close a good setup here will be to the next track. The main thing is that we have a good understanding of how the car works, and now we can combine that with what we found during the first four races to hopefully be on the pace straight away at the next race.

Missed yesterday's reports? Just click here for the morning session summary, or click here for the afternoon review.

Double Whammy – Mugello Test Day 3: Afternoon Report + Pictures

2012-05-03T17:18:52Z

Romain rounded off the final day of testing at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello by setting the best time of the session for the second day running, as the team gathered a host of data to carry forward into the rest of the season

Romain Grosjean, E20-02

Position: P1
Best Time: 1:21.035
Laps Completed: 66

Having missed out on top spot by a whisker during this morning's session, there was no holding Romain back as he flew to the head of the standings as the chequered flag dropped to bring the team's brief stay in the Italian hills to an end.

A raft of setup changes dominated the team's afternoon, as engineers, mechanics and driver alike sought to glean every last scrap of information available from the final bout of free running this season.

Red flags; a car stopped at turn 1. Not the E20, she's safely tucked away in the @Lotus_F1Team garage #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 3, 2012

Numerous red flags and two lengthy periods spent in the garage while the mechanics made significant alterations to the car meant that the Frenchman did not complete as much running as many on the grid; the team opting to focus on quality rather than quantity, as Race Engineer Simon Rennie explains:

Simon Rennie, Race Engineer
“As mentioned this morning, we changed the suspension over lunch again today and have been working on setup tests since then to establish how to get the best from it. We also trialled some aerodynamic parts which had already been looked at over the last two days to confirm the findings we had attained previously which produced some promising results. After a baseline run, we had another long intermission while a third variation of the suspension was fitted, which again looked positive. Romain went through two sets of hard compound tyres and two sets of mediums, running on scrubbed rubber towards the end to give us data relevant to a race weekend scenario. We may have had a lot of down time this afternoon, but it's been an extremely useful session with a lot of quality mileage preferred to a huge quantity.”

And that's it! P1 for @RGrosjean and @Lotus_F1Team with a 1:21.035 from 66 laps. Nice job everyone! #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 3, 2012

Romain ended the afternoon in P1, with a best time of 1:21.035 from 66 laps – just over 2 tenths of a second clear of the nearest challenger. A positive and above all productive couple of days for the team as the next race in Spain approaches.

Missed the morning report? Just click here.

Laying the Foundations – Mugello Test Day 3: Morning Report + Pictures

2012-05-03T11:25:53Z

An overcast start to the day at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello quickly cleared to reveal glorious blue skies, as the team set about gathering every piece of data available before the final assault on the Italian circuit this afternoon

Romain Grosjean, E20-02

Position: P2
Best Time: 1:21.334
Laps Completed: 31

A somewhat stagnated start to the day in Mugello saw Romain complete a series of short stints as the team evaluated aerodynamic and setup options.

Despite the lack of consistent track time to show his speed, the Frenchman was immediately on the pace, once again putting the E20 at the sharp end of the grid from the outset.

Finally some E20 action for @RGrosjean - P2 on his first run with a 1:21.584 #F1 yfrog.com/ob9czxjyj

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 3, 2012

Two red flag periods further added to the stop-start nature of the session, with the team opting to finish early for lunch to make planned adjustments to the car.

Simon Rennie, Race Engineer
“We spent the first hour this morning gathering further information for the aerodynamic department with a series of very short runs before starting our planned program. It's an unusual circuit with a large proportion of high speed corners, meaning the tyres behave differently to most places we race during the season. Our focus was on setup work to help us get the most out of the tyres and we found some good solutions. We used two sets of medium and two sets of hard tyres to ensure we're in the best position for the rest of the programme. We stopped early for lunch, as we have another suspension change to carry out which will take about two hours as it did yesterday. Everything will be ready to go after the break so we can continue to evaluate setup options.”

Some serious E20 tweaking going on down in the @Lotus_F1Team garage; may be a while before @RGrosjean makes his next appearance...

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 3, 2012

Despite completing comparatively little running relative to his fellow drivers, Romain managed to put in a best time (using the yellow marked medium compound Pirelli tyres) of 1:21.334 from 31 laps to head into the break in P2 overall – just 0.067s away from the best time of the day so far.

The afternoon session gets underway at 14:00 local time here at Mugello. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

Missed the pictures and Q&A with Romain from yesterday's running? Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “The Car is Feeling Better and Better” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-03T06:47:47Z

Romain may have topped the times on day two of testing here at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, but the Frenchman is keeping his head in the game and his feet firmly on the ground

Romain, P1 on the time sheets today in Mugello off the back of a great weekend in Bahrain; it seems things are moving in the right direction…

I hope so! We've shown strong pace in each of this year's test sessions and at race weekends as well so we know the E20 is a good car, but at the end of the day nobody is pushing for ultimate lap times here. It's nice to see our name at the front but the priority is to experiment with setup changes we may want to use at the coming races, which is exactly what we've been doing. We feel there's more to come from the car, and the idea is to find where that will come from.

The team worked through quite a number of setup variations today; how much has this affected the car throughout the session?

The car is feeling better and better as we continue to work on it, which is obviously great as it means we're on the right track with the changes we're making. We also have a far better understanding of how the E20 works now than we did earlier in the season, which gives us a clearer idea of what will help get more pace out of it. The main positive for me is that the car feels good with a range of different setups as well as in varying conditions; it's easy to drive and that makes everything else much easier too.

Has the team been testing any upgrades here or is the focus purely on gaining a better understanding of how to set up the car?

It's more been about getting to know as much as possible about the way the car behaves with different setups. During a race weekend it's hard to try everything you want to due to the limited running time and tyre allocations, so this is the ideal opportunity to put those ideas into practice without potentially wasting valuable track time. The data we get here will give us a much better platform for the rest of the season.

If the car keeps improving the way it has so far, do you think the team has a realistic chance of fighting for the World Championship?

Honestly we're not thinking about that right now; our target is fourth in the Constructor's Championship and that's what we're focused on. There are some big teams in the sport, and of course we want to be fighting among them, but it's never going to be easy in such a competitive field. For me personally, it's my first full season in Formula 1 and my priority for this year is to get good points for the team and build from there. If we find ourselves on the podium again that would be fantastic and of course if we go one step further then even better, but there's a long way to go and a lot of work to be done.

The final day of testing here at Mugello gets underway at 09:00 local time this morning. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

Missed yesterday's reports? Just click here for the morning session summary, or click here for the afternoon review.

Romain on Rails – Mugello Test Day 2: Afternoon Report + Pictures

2012-05-02T17:22:30Z

The sun continued to shine on Lotus F1 Team in Mugello this afternoon, as Romain retained his position at the top of the time sheets on a productive afternoon for both team and driver

Romain Grosjean, E20-02

Position: P1
Best Time: 1:21.603
Laps Completed: 97

This afternoon's running at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello concluded in very much the same fashion as the morning session for Lotus F1 Team, as Romain's fastest time from earlier in the day remained unbeaten at the head of the standings.

More importantly, the Frenchman completed a good number of laps in the E20 to give the engineers a vast amount of data to analyse overnight before tackling the final day in the Italian hills tomorrow.

Finally we're back in action, as @RGrosjean screams out of the pit lane for his 1st run of the afternoon #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 2, 2012

Setup changes were in abundance as the mechanics worked tirelessly through the lunch hour and beyond to make the necessary adjustments, with the priority being on finding pace from the car in a variety of scenarios as Race Engineer Simon Rennie explains:

Simon Rennie, Race Engineer
“This afternoon we tried some different suspension settings; hence the slightly longer break over lunch while we made the changes. With that, the focus has been on investigating different setup solutions with the altered suspension to compare data with what we ran this morning. We also conducted high fuel runs to see how the car behaved and observe how the setup changes affected the car with different fuel loads on board. There's a huge amount of data to look through tonight; after the weather yesterday we're effectively squeezing a three day programme into two, so we're trying to prioritise what changes we think will bring the most benefit.”

Job done @RGrosjean : P1 by the smallest margin imaginable! Less than 1 thousandth of a second! #F1 yfrog.com/kf4m6xmtj

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 2, 2012

A good day all round for both team and driver, with competitive lap times and significant mileage under the wheels of the E20.

The final day of testing here at Mugello gets underway at 09:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

Missed the morning report? Just click here.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines – Mugello Test Day 2: Morning Report + Pictures

2012-05-02T11:28:47Z

Day 2 at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello started on a positive note for Lotus F1 Team, with Romain Grosjean taking the wheel and consistently topping the time sheets throughout the opening session

Romain Grosjean, E20-02

Position: P1
Best Time: 1:21.603
Laps Completed: 47

After the washout of day one in the Italian hills, a slightly overcast but dry start was a welcome sight as the teams returned to the paddock, with clear skies and sunshine providing further cause for optimism as the green lights came on.

Romain slid into the cockpit of the E20 for the first of his two days running at the Mugello circuit, and was clearly in a determined mood; brimming with confidence from his first Formula 1 podium in Bahrain, the Frenchman dominated proceedings to sit comfortably at the top of the time sheets throughout the morning session.

Back out on track, @RGrosjean is racking up the laps and cutting down the times! #F1 yfrog.com/kl8iqghj

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 2, 2012

With a busy schedule set out for Romain during the first half of the day, Race Engineer Simon Rennie runs us through what the team has accomplished so far:

Simon Rennie, Race Engineer
“Today started with collecting data to correlate with our simulation work. We then worked on tweaking the baseline from Jérôme's dry running yesterday to find the best setup for the circuit. From there, the morning has been focused on testing parts we can't really try during race weekends due to the limitations on tyres. In testing we can use lots of new sets, giving us clear answers on things that aren't always black and white during a race weekend. So far Romain has used one set of medium tyres and four sets of hard tyres, giving us plenty of comparable data. We'll be making changes to the suspension over lunch, with the afternoon focus being optimisation work with that package.”

And that's it! The chequered flag drops with @RGrosjean sitting in P1 at the midway point of the day. A good start for @Lotus_F1Team #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 2, 2012

As the chequered flag dropped at the halfway stage of today's running, Romain occupied P1 in the standings with a best time of 1:21.603 from 47 laps – just under 0.4s of his nearest challenger.

Missed yesterday's session reports? Just click here for the morning report, or click here for the afternoon report.

Jérôme D'Ambrosio – “The E20 Really is a Fantastic Car” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-05-02T06:34:06Z

A frustrating day for Jérôme at the Mugello circuit, as torrential rain halted his Lotus F1 Team debut in its tracks at the halfway stage of the session. Nevertheless, the Belgian driver was upbeat about his day's work; as usual looking at the bigger picture…

Jérôme, a disappointing day with the weather unfortunately working against the team; what can you take from your time in the car?

It's a shame that today's running was so limited. We had a busy programme planned, and while this wasn't completely aborted we were certainly limited in what we could achieve. On a personal level I still learnt a lot today in terms of getting a feel for the car and all the procedures, including practice starts and pit lane routines. Any time in the car is going to benefit me, and I'm pleased the team gave me this chance. At the end of the day the weather is the same for everyone and there's nothing we could have done to change it.

You mentioned that the team had a full schedule planned; what were the initial intentions for you today?

The first thing was obviously to give me time to get used to the E20. Apart from that, there were a few setup variations we wanted to test once I had got up to speed. There are always things you want to test during a race weekend but simply don't have a chance to try due to the time it takes to change elements of the car. This was meant to be our main focus today, but unfortunately there was not enough dry running time to make it happen.

From the limited running you did manage to complete, what did you make of the E20?

Although I only completed 40 laps, 20 in the wet and 20 in the dry, I instantly had a great feeling out on track. The E20 really is a fantastic car; totally different to anything I've driven before. In the dry especially it was immediately obvious just how good the car is in terms of stability and predictability; it's just a very easy car to drive. The team has been doing this for years with a great history of success, and you can feel that not just in the car, but in the way the whole team operates.

What was behind the decision not to run in the afternoon?

If we could have gone out on the slick tyres again, or even the intermediates, then for sure it would have been worth running as we would have been able to compare the data from the morning session and analysed what effects the changes were having. The problem was that the conditions were so extreme we would have learned very little from going out on track, as we wouldn't have been able to get any kind of comparable information.

It must have been frustrating from your point of view to have the day cut short?

Of course it's disappointing; I was scheduled to do around 100 laps in dry conditions and as a driver you want as much time in the car as you can possibly get. Even at lunch I was expecting to go out again as the rain was easing off, but then the downpour came and ultimately it's what's best for the team that's the most important thing, no matter how much you might want to just get out there and drive. As I said, we would have gained very little by going out in conditions like that; in a race situation there would definitely have been red flags. It's not just disappointing for me; the team wanted to try out some new things, and unfortunately we couldn't do that. Ultimately, the risks outweighed the benefits, so we made the right decision by staying in the garage.

Missed yesterday's session reports? Just click here for the morning report, or click here for the afternoon report.

Day 2 of the 3 day test here at Mugello gets underway at 09:00 local time this morning. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

It's a Washout! – Mugello Test, Day 1 Afternoon Report + Pictures

2012-05-01T15:53:55Z

Lotus F1 Team opted against running during the afternoon session on day 1 of testing at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, as persistent heavy showers prevented the team from continuing with the planned programme in Italy

Jérôme D'Ambrosio, E20-02

Position: P4
Best Time: 1:24.048
Laps Completed: 40

A deluge in the Italian hills brought the Formula 1 paddock to an almost complete standstill during the afternoon session at Mugello, with few teams venturing out onto the circuit, and those taking to the tarmac returning somewhat promptly.

It's now gone from a bit damp, to soaking wet... no running for the time being... #F1 yfrog.com/mgtdxfyj

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 1, 2012

It was an unfortunate set of circumstances for Jérôme, who had settled in well during his first run in the E20 earlier in the day, only to be denied a chance to further test the limits of Enstone's latest creation.

The Belgian driver therefore ended the day in the same position occupied at the halfway point, sitting in a highly respectable P4 with a best time of 1:24.048 from 40 laps.

Missed the morning report? Just click here.

Day 2 of the 3 day test here at Mugello gets underway at 09:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

Belgian Bow – Mugello Test, Day 1 Morning Report + Pictures

2012-05-01T11:24:19Z

Hosting many of the current crop of Formula 1 drivers for the first time, and also the first official in-season test since 2008, the Mugello circuit would witness another landmark event this morning, as Lotus F1 Team third driver Jérôme D'Ambrosio made his team debut in the E20

Jérôme D'Ambrosio, E20-02

Position: P4
Best Time: 1:24.048
Laps Completed: 40

A wet and misty Mugello circuit greeted the teams as dawn broke over the Italian hills – a spectacular sight, but not one that will have been overly welcome in the paddock.

One man however was not bothered in the slightest; a certain Jérôme D'Ambrosio, who had been itching to get his first taste of the E20 around the 5.2km circuit.

And we're off! @thereal_JDA heads out of the garage for his install lap #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 1, 2012

After the standard install lap and oil dip, a break of 1 hour ensued as the team set about tweaking the setup of the E20. It has been hoped that by the time the Belgian re-joined the circuit a dry line would have appeared, but unfortunately the track remained in a damp state despite no further rain having fallen.

The slippery conditions persisted throughout the morning session, which while not providing the ideal environment for Jérôme to get a feel for the E20, gave the team valuable time to analyse how best to handle the green marked intermediate Pirelli tyres.

The team's third driver showed solid, consistent pace from the outset; racking up the laps despite most teams opting to run limited stints due to the unpredictable weather.

Short interruptions caused by red flags (brought out by not one, but two cars stopped out on track) and a brief shower caused yet more stagnation to the session, in what was proving to be a frustrating morning for all involved.

Red flags; 2 cars stopped on track, neither of them @thereal_JDA who is back in the garage after a 5 lap run #F1

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) May 1, 2012

With an hour left to run however, the sun came out and a clear dry line emerged which allowed Jérôme to get into his stride. Sporting a brand new set of the white marked medium compound tyres, the Belgian finally got a real taste of life inside the cockpit of the E20.

A couple of short stints towards the end of the session saw the team's third driver finish the morning in P4 with a best time of 1:24.048 from 40 laps.

With the wet weather seemingly behind us and Jérôme now acclimatised to the car, the afternoon schedule will involve running a range of setup variations from the initial base information gathered late in the first half of today's running.

The afternoon session gets underway at 14:00 local time. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

Benvenuti in Mugello – Welcome to Mugello [Blog]

2012-05-01T06:35:38Z

After successive back-to-back flyaways to kick off the season, few would begrudge the teams a few days or so to recover and recharge. The world of Formula 1 however never sleeps, with this week bringing the circus to Italy for the final test session of the season

Having left behind an unexpectedly warm and bright day at Enstone on Monday morning (particularly puzzling after the monsoon-like conditions of the weekend), landing at a decidedly damp Bologna airport felt as if our journey had somehow been reversed.

While the weather conditions may have thrown a curve ball, the 60 minute journey to the Mugello circuit more than compensated. The winding roads and plunging tunnels which carried the team through the Italian hills provided some spectacular scenery and a real reminder of the countries traditional, rural roots.

Arriving at the track, what instantly strikes the observer are the severe undulations throughout the 5.2km circuit. While not having forming a regular part of the Formula 1 calendar in previous years, the appeal of the layout certainly highlights what makes Mugello a popular venue for many other forms of motorsport.

Unpacking the somewhat ‘compact' hire car which would be ferrying us around for the next 3 days proved almost as messy an affair as attempting to squeeze everything into the vehicle in the first place. Travelling light is unfortunately not an option in this game!

Meanwhile as some were arriving, there were a few tired faces among the night shift crew simultaneously departing the venue, having worked solidly through the evening to ensure the cars were ready to go first thing in the morning – time for a well-earned rest!

Of course, the main point of interest on the first of the 3 days here in Mugello is a debut appearance in the E20 for Jérôme D'Ambrosio. The ever-enthusiastic Lotus F1 Team third driver will be taking the wheel for the full day's running – probably fair to say that he's been quite looking forward to jumping in the car!

Excitable Belgians aside, the team will be keen to garner as much information as possible in terms of setup and upgrades before the Spanish Grand Prix next week, with the next few days providing a final opportunity to perfect the finer elements outside of a competitive race weekend environment.

The action gets underway this morning at 09:00 local time. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for live updates throughout the session and all the latest news from the paddock.

Paint the Town Black & Gold – Keeping the E20 Gleaming [Technical Feature]

2012-04-30T16:00:09Z

Prior to the Mugello test, the E20s returned to Enstone last week for a number of routine checks and maintenance. One element of this was to repair any parts which had incurred paintwork damage; a far more complex process than meets the eye. We caught up with the composites team to find out more…

The E20 always looks immaculate out on track; how different is paint used to spray a Formula 1 car compared to that of a regular road car?

The paint itself is actually very similar; it's just a 2 part epoxy, which is what you would use on a standard road car. The main difference is the amount used; we make every effort to keep the weight down to an absolute minimum, to the extent of trialling potential paint shop facilities to establish who can provide the finer finish.

What about in terms of surface preparation? Is this also similar to that of your everyday vehicle?

Again it's relatively comparable, but only at a basic level. We use a base coat and a lacquer as would any paint shop, however the initial preparation of the parts is fairly involved. We use a very lightweight surface filler to remove any blemishes before sanding down, followed by a primer coat which is sanded right back using grit paper until it's almost completely gone. On a regular car you would be building up the thickness at this stage, but here we are removing as much as we can. We then apply the colour and finally the lacquer on top.

Is the process any different depending on colour?

The process is the same, but surprisingly the weight can vary quite significantly. Depending on the colour, this could be anything between 250-350gsm (Grams per Square Metre) – which is of course very light even at the upper end of the scale – but it all makes a difference. We're lucky with the E20, as black is the lightest of the lot!

Obviously there is often damage to the paintwork when the cars run off track, or simply from general wear and tear; how easy is this to repair?

This is actually the other main difference between a Formula 1 car and a regular vehicle. Every part has to be look pristine for each race, so we frequently need to carry out re-sprays to ensure that everything is as it should be. We can't just keep adding new layers to damaged areas, as this would create slight visual differences and above all else, added weight. We therefore have to remove all the existing paint from the part and start again.

What is the technique used for this? Is it difficult to do?

It's actually quite a painstaking process. We can't sand the paint down or use any sort of solvents as you would with a regular job, as this would run the risk of damaging the carbon fibre underneath. Instead we have to use handled razor blades to get between the top coat and the primer, and delicately lift the top coat away. It's a highly skilled job, and not something you could do on a regular car due to the extra thickness of the paint.

So re-sprays don't have any effect on the weight of the car?

Actually, this can throw up a few surprises. When the chassis comes back from the paint shop after its initial coat at the beginning of the season, we'll measure its weight to establish a base line. However on some occasions, once the car has returned from a re-spray later in the year, it actually weights in fractionally lighter than before. This can occur when the top coat is removed and the primer sanded down slightly further than previously; so in fact as parts get older, they can actually get lighter! It doesn't happen every time, but it's always a possibility.

So overall then, slightly more complex than spraying your garden fence…

You could certainly say that! Quite a lot more interesting too!

Testing at Mugello gets underway tomorrow morning, Tuesday 1st May. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from the paddock.

On the Road Again – Lotus F1 Team Heads to Europe [Q&A]

2012-04-30T08:08:18Z

With the Formula 1 circus now heading into the first European races of the season, Race Team Co-ordinator Geoff Simmonds talks us through the challenges of moving the Lotus F1 Team show around the continent; starting with this week's test in Mugello

Geoff, now we're back in Europe after the first round of flyaways, what's the process for moving the team and equipment around Europe?

First things first, the support crew will have started prepping the trucks immediately after returning from winter testing, the last time they were used, to make sure everything is in order. We then have to transfer the initial batches of equipment from the flyaway freight cases to the trucks; this began between Malaysia and China. From the moment we landed back from Bahrain last Tuesday, it was a manic rush to get everything sorted and packed for when the first trucks departed on Thursday evening. It's a short space of time when you consider we're transferring 30 tonnes of freight from the cases into the trucks!

How long will it take to get everything down to Mugello?

It's a long way to Mugello – just over 1,000 miles – so much further than you might think. As mentioned the first trucks left at 18:00 Thursday evening, and arrived on Saturday afternoon. We have two drivers per vehicle, who drive for 20 hours between them before having a break and getting back on the road for the final stretch. To put it in perspective, we allow 22-24 hours for a van to get down there with any late deliveries, and the trucks are not quite as nippy to say the least!

As you've mentioned, it's a very tight turnaround after the last Grand Prix; would it not be better to leave things a bit later?

We try to leave it as late as possible to release the trucks, as it's tough going for the guys to get everything turned around so quickly having just got back from a tiring double-header, but it's still very tight. For example; the mechanics have to get all their equipment ready to go on the trucks but they've also got to build the cars, while the support crew need to empty all the freight boxes as well as prepping the trucks. There's also a lot of equipment we take to Europe but not to the flyaways, so we have to make sure it's all available and ready to go; it all adds up very quickly.

How many trucks do we take to the European rounds? Will these be exactly the same as when we saw them at the winter tests?

We have 5 trucks in total which go to the European races, in addition to an engine truck and 5 motorhome vehicles. The trucks are the same, but will have had work done to incorporate a number of upgrades planned after their first use in winter testing. The motorhomes in particular will have been given an overhaul in line with our new branding and new features we wanted to include this year; this is done over in Germany, where they are kept when not in use.

Does the motorhome have its own team?

Yes, the motorhome is managed by a separate team to our Enstone support crew. They will already be down at Mugello setting up, and once the test is finished they'll drive themselves over to Barcelona. They're very self-sufficient; we liaise on planning etc. but other than that we know we can trust them to get the job done without any real input from our side, which they do to a very high standard. Once the motorhomes have left their base for Mugello they pretty much won't go back until after the last European race of the season; it just makes sense from a logistics perspective to keep the show rolling!

What about all the sea freight we took to the flyway races? Will this come back to Enstone?

Yes, the sea freight will return in batches. For instance; the cargo from Malaysia will be back this week. Again it's a pretty quick turnaround, as the cases for Canada will set off on 10th May. The equipment from Australia, China and Bahrain will also be here with us soon; everything needs to be checked and stocks replenished over the next couple of weeks, so it's a busy time.

How early do the support crew need to be down at the track to get started?

Normally the support crew would have flown down on Friday, but after such a busy few weeks we decided this time to move their flights back to Saturday morning so they could have an extra evening at home. They were then in for half of that day before being joined by the electronics, radio, and IT guys early on Sunday to get the garage set up. The garage plan for Mugello is quite simple, similar to the winter testing layout, so this didn't take us too long. On top of this, there aren't as many restrictions during testing as there are at race weekends – you're allowed to bring as many trucks as you can physically fit into your paddock space – which makes things easier to plan.

What about the rest of the team?

The mechanics flew out on Sunday with the engineers, with the night shift team heading straight to the circuit to start building the cars and fitting any upgrades. To make sure they can do this, the support crew had to ensure the garage and trucks were fully functional and ready to go by 18:00 yesterday evening (Sunday). The night crew have now been replaced by the day crew, with the two due to switch back again tonight. The guys will then work right through until Tuesday morning to make sure the cars are ready to head out on track.

What happens after the test is finished on Thursday? Will everything be coming back to Enstone?

Not on this occasion, no. We'll have a complete pack down on Thursday night, but because of the distances involved we'll have a few vans to bring the turnaround cargo back to base while the trucks will head straight for Barcelona. This makes sense from a time point of view as well, as it allows us to bring everything a day forward and begin setup on the Monday of the Spanish Grand Prix Weekend. It also gives the mechanics an extra day to complete a rebuild of the car, which is a big advantage. This is slightly different to what we've done over the last few years; effectively we're treating the two events – Mugello and Barcelona – as one long event covering two locations, with all the equipment relating to each having to depart the factory at the same time.

So what about the team? Will they head straight to Spain as well?

No, the guys will be heading back home for the weekend. We'll have contracted drivers fly in to drive the trucks to Barcelona; because there's no particular rush we'll only need one per truck and they should still arrive on Sunday, which is ideal as it means we'll be all ready to get started on the Monday. The engineers will head straight back to Enstone on Thursday evening as soon as the test has finished to go through all the data and see what we can find from the car. The rest of the team will fly back on the Friday morning once everything's packed up. The first support crew will then be heading back out for Barcelona on the Sunday, with the second crew travelling on the Monday and the Mechanics / Engineers on the Tuesday. There's never a dull moment!

Testing at Mugello gets underway tomorrow morning, Tuesday 1st May. Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from the paddock.

Romain Grosjean – “I Hope the Next Step Will be Wins, and then Maybe More…” [Video Q&A, Part 1 & 2]

2012-04-27T15:13:27Z

With that trademark smile still on full display after his first Formula 1 podium in Bahrain last week, Romain took a few minutes out from catching up with the team to film a short video interview back at Enstone

After a career best performance in Sakhir, Romain talks us through his emotions on the podium, the post-race atmosphere in the Lotus F1 Team garage, fighting for World Championships, and his relationship with his team-mate in Part 1 of a two part interview.

Part 1

In Part 2 of Romain's interview from Enstone, the Frenchman talks us through his schedule during the 3 week break, his relationship with the engineers, upgrades for the European races, and the return of the French Grand Prix.

Part 2

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we look ahead to the Mugello test on May 1-3.

Gunning for Glory – Jamie Skinner, Wheel Man [Q&A]

2012-04-26T17:53:19Z

Jamie Skinner has one of the most crucial roles in the team on a Sunday afternoon. The 27-year-old talks us through the adrenaline rush of being on the front line when Kimi and Romain charge down the pit lane for their fresh rubber

Jamie, how did you get involved in the team?

I guess it started off back in college, where I studied a 4 year course in Motorsport Engineering. I got my first job in motorsport working in the Formula BMW series during the 2006 season, and from there moved to the Carlin Motorsport team; first of all in Formula 3 from 2007-2009 and then in GP2 for 2010. I got the job here at Enstone in 2011, when the team was known as Lotus Renault GP.

What is your role within the team during a Grand Prix weekend?

I'm officially the floating mechanic on Kimi's car, which involves helping out on both the front and rear end of the car and any other necessary tasks around the garage. On top of that, I also operate the right front wheel gun during pit stops.

When was your first pit stop? Did you feel any pressure?

My first stop was at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2011; my first year with the team. Before that I was just involved in practice stops, but then a position became available. I remember the guys coming over to me and saying ‘Jamie; you're ready… time to go!' There was a lot of pressure but luckily it all went smoothly!

How much pit stop practice do you do during a race weekend? Do you see a significant improvement over the three days?

We do between 15-20 minutes of simulations every morning, so around 20-30 pit stops. You don't necessarily get quicker, but you get more consistent each time which is equally as important.

Is each wheel change timed individually? If so, what's your personal best time?

We can time each corner of the car using the traffic light system. My best time on the wheel gun during a race is 2.3 seconds. Practices and a race scenario are very different; you can be much quicker in practice. My best time during the simulations is 1.7 seconds.

It there a competitive edge within the team to get the best time?

[laughs] Yes definitely! We have something called the eliminator, where we compete between corners of the car. Whoever is fastest sits out the next stop, taking it down to 3 guys. Then the same again, down to 2, until we have just 1 left. Whichever gun man is last then has to change the wheel on their own, which is good fun to watch!

What does it feel like to have a Formula 1 car hurtling straight towards you at 100km/h? Are you ever slightly nervous that the car could hit you?

First of all, it's just a big rush of adrenaline. Your mind almost goes blank, and your instincts just kick in; then before you know it, the car is gone! Having a car hit you is pretty unlikely for me being at the front; it's the guys at the back who are more in the firing line, as they're right in the path of where the car swings in!

Is the first pit stop of the race generally a bit slower than the others? Almost like a warm-up?

I wouldn't call it a warm-up, but yes that's generally the case. You usually take it a bit easier on the first one just to get the feel of things and to learn exactly where the driver is going to stop; although the drivers are amazingly accurate, they can still stop long, short, or slightly further towards one side than the other. Once they've made the first stop, they usually hit the same marks in the following stops, so after that it's a bit easier.

Is it difficult to cope with the heat from the car when it's sat next to you; even if it's only for a few seconds?

The heat is quite intense, and the carbon powder from the brakes is another thing to watch out for. That's why we wear the visors, overalls and gloves to make sure we don't injure ourselves.

Are there any tricks of the trade you use to help improve your speed?

There are a few; we have marks on the sockets so you can visibly see when the wheel is tight. Having said that, a lot of it is down to feel; after a while you can feel when the wheel is tight. You also have to follow the car in with your line of sight and obviously with the gun, as the car can stop slightly off the marks and catch you out. There are a few others, but i'll keep them to myself!

We know the team work long hours during a race weekend; what motivates you to keep pushing through the late nights?

The hours can be pretty long. Things really kick off first thing on a Thursday, and from there we're usually in the garage around 20 hours a day for the rest of the weekend. We have a great bunch of lads which helps a lot, and you can actually see the physical result of what you're doing progressing over time which is a big motivation. When you've spent hours building the car up, watching it head out of the garage and round the circuit is very satisfying. Of course results help too; when you see the car perform well, it gives you an even bigger boost. Suddenly you don't notice being tired anymore!

What do you back at Enstone?

To be honest the race team don't spend much time back at the factory. We attend every race and every test, so we spend most of the season out of the country. When we are at Enstone, it's mostly turning the cars around and preparing the parts for the next race.

What are the best and worst things about your job?

The highlight for me is definitely doing the pit stops. It's the best moment of the weekend for sure, and it's where you can directly make a difference to the outcome of the race. The worst thing I suppose is the long hours, but it's worth it believe me!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we look ahead to the Mugello test on May 1-3.

Kimi 100, Sebastian 0 - Ask Kimi! Part 2 [Q&A]

2012-04-26T10:56:45Z

Over the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Lotus F1 Team invited fans to ask their questions to Kimi via the official team website. Part 2 sees the Finn answer the second half of the best queries we received, including his thoughts on caps, sunglasses, social media, Sebastian Vettel and taking risks to win...

Essi Kimi: Why do you always wear a cap and sunglasses, even when there is no sun?

KR: I like caps and I like sunglasses. I have very sensitive eyes so I have to protect them with the sunglasses.

Noémi Kovács: Have you ever got something special from your fans?

KR: I receive a lot of gifts from fans… they can be really inventive and it makes me smile. They remember my birthday, they send their congratulations and their supporting slogans in Finnish. That's something special, isn't it?

Prakasita Nindyaswari: Why you don't have a twitter account?

KR: Well, I don't really like twitter... or facebook. I prefer privacy.

Cindy Idier: What will be your revenge against Sebastian Vettel after what he did on the podium? Did you see the pictures?

KR: Yeah I saw that, it was funny. The revenge will come soon enough, I hope! Getting on the first step of the podium would be a good start.

Lisa Munro: Who's better at badminton, you or Sebastian Vettel?

KR: I keep on winning! It's something like 100 to 0 so far...

Steve Jones: What is your favourite activity outside of Formula 1?

KR: I like a lot of things… all kinds of sports and games where there is an element of competition. Ice Hockey is my current favourite while it's still time for winter sports.

Anastasia Kozlova: What would you choose: a guaranteed 2nd place (which definitely brings you a Constructor's Title) or a risky strategy with a 10% chance for 1st place? (Let's say the race is taking place at Spa)

KR: I think it's more exciting if you have to battle and take some risks to obtain the top spot. I'm here to win!

Oszter Tamás : What situation makes you nervous on the race track?

KR: If somebody is doing something really stupid. But luckily right now the grid is very talented!

Divine Y. Lopez: You're always so calm and collected. How do you do manage that being involved in a sports that's, to my mind, frequently tension-filled and highly stressful?

KR: I just focus on racing and don't let other things bother me. I have been in racing for two thirds of my life now; you just get used to being in this environment.

Sarah Moreau: Can you explain why you always perform so well at Spa?

KR: I really like the track so I guess that helps. I'm looking forward to racing there again and hopefully come home with a good result for the team.

Missed part 1 of the Ask Kimi feature? Don't stress! Just click here.

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we look ahead to the Mugello test on May 1-3.

#GreatFans – @Lotus_F1Team Twitter Feed Reaches 100,000 Followers [Blog]

2012-04-25T17:20:42Z

There are many ways to judge Formula 1 – technical excellence, athletic prowess, competition and so on – but ultimately, the sport exists to inspire and entertain; it exists for the fans...

In January of this year, Lotus F1 Team made the decision to focus on bringing fans closer to the team using our existing social networks as a platform. Beyond simply pushing web content, the philosophy has been focused on increasing engagement with our fans through a humanistic approach; replying to messages, listening to suggestions, and getting both genuine enthusiasts and casual observers alike involved in the sport from a behind-the-scenes perspective.

Via the team's Twitter and Facebook profiles, we've introduced a variety of features; the most popular being real-time drawings during live session feeds (provided by the ever-popular Cirebox) and unique hashtags during the week of each race (the most successful so far being #SepangSundae, which was one of the top trending tags worldwide during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend).

I just like love every single second you tweet. ♥ your allowing us to be there at every race with you! X

— Victoria Chapelow (@PecanPie1) April 25, 2012

Favourite twitter moments? When you talk to us :) and when we get updates! Oh, and the race weekend hashtags! :D

— Andreaaaaaaa. (@thedementor) April 25, 2012

From a starting point of 61,000 Twitter followers on January 1 2012, the team has today reached the milestone figure of 100,000 – just under 4 months later. Since that same date, we've also had over 41,000 mentions, more than 40,000 re-tweets, and have had the 2nd fastest growth in followers.

@Lotus_F1Team It is fun to feel involved, included, informed. I enjoy tweets that are funny, informative, and give "live" info. Pics r great

— Patricia(@glmtant) April 25, 2012

@lotus_f1team LOVE your interaction with fans, LOVE the inventive GP hashtags, LOVE Kimi & Romain on the podium #keepitup

— Donna Kelly (@Donz358) April 25, 2012

The team would like to send out a huge thanks to all the devoted fans who have helped make this possible. Far beyond simply hitting a number, we have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with our community and look forward to sharing many more moments over the course of the season and beyond.

Earlier today we invited Twitter followers to send us a message to celebrate reaching the 100,000 mark; we received lots of great feedback, some of our favourites are included in this article.

The team is always looking for new ways to interact with our fans, so if you have any suggestions for features you'd like to see, feel free to let us know!

@Lotus_F1Team Following since Robert joined Renault F1 but the love stays here! Great PR action with those Ice Creams #GreatFans

— Enstone F1 Fan (@EnstoneF1Fan) April 25, 2012

@Lotus_F1Team #GreatFans I follow you because although I'm a McLaren fan, your tweets are the funniest! Genuinely make me chuckle. #goodwork

— Jen (@Lags_lola) April 25, 2012

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we look ahead to the Mugello test on May 1-3.

Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry? - Ask Kimi! Part 1 [Q&A]

2012-04-25T12:59:14Z

Over the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Lotus F1 Team invited fans to ask their questions to Kimi via the official team website. Part 1 sees the Finn answer the first half of the best queries we received, including his thoughts on driving styles, team-mates, first cars, helmets and of course… ice-cream!

Irati Fujimoto: What ice cream flavour do you like most?

KR: [smiles] There is no specific flavour… vanilla, chocolate, strawberry the traditional Finnish ice cream flavour – whatever is available.

Hubert Boroń: How do you relax after a race?

KR: I like to chill out with my close friends. Sometimes, I have a couple of my Finnish mates with me in the paddock and I like it a lot. It's just nice to chat with them in Finnish, to think about something else than racing.

Michael Kearns: What was your first car and what do you have in the garage these days? Have you still got the Enzo?

KR: It was a Lada, a used one. I had good fun with it. I haven't got the Enzo anymore but I have a nice Lotus Evoras S, which is a really good compromise.

Tania Dhaliwal: What kind of music do you listen to and who is your favourite singer / band?

KR: Most of all I like the music the Finns play. I also like Linkin Park, I think they're cool.

Maki Fujita: Do you think a hat trick (pole + win + fastest lap) could be possible in the E20? If so, at which circuit will it be?

KR: That would be nice! After our performance in Bahrain, I know that we can do even better. The win was very, very close. We'll have to see at which circuit that will be… but keep in mind, you don't gain any extra points for poles and fastest lap times!

Vinay Pothnis: How would you know if you have done a perfect lap?

KR: There is not a perfect lap, only in dreams. You can get a great lap without any mistakes, but you can always improve it, believe me!

Vinay Pothnis: How do you improve on a lap by lap basis in a race?

KR: With brand new tyres, you always go faster compared to used ones. Also, the car gets lighter and lighter in the race. While the new tyre drops off, there is no way you can improve your times after a few laps. Normally, you improve the time with the right timing of pits stops and then burning the fuel so the car gets lighter all the time to the Finish.

Rene Speksnijder: We learned that you are a bit more harsh on the engine then Romain. In which way does that affect the car? Furthermore, how do you like the engine to pick-up regarding your use of the throttle?

KR: I have driven the car and used the throttle in the same way all my career. Every driver has his own style of going fast. This is mine. It is maybe a bit harsh, but it remains within the scope of what the Renault engine can take.

Horváth Levente: What's the red motif on your helmet and what does it symbolize?

KR: There is the number 9 in red as that's my number in the championship. But the helmet design is just a design, it is not trying to symbolize anything special. I like to change the design each year. So it's easy to remember afterwards which season relates to which helmet.

Horváth Levente: Who has been the strongest team-mate in your F1 career?

KR: Almost of all of them have been very competitive! But I never focus on them, I just concentrate on my own doings with my crew. That's the only way to beat them and the rest of the field.

Part 2 of the Ask Kimi feature is coming up tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 26/04/12), so keep your eyes peeled to see if your question has been answered by the Iceman!

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we look ahead to the Mugello test on May 1-3.

Symantec Extends Deal with Lotus F1 Team

2012-04-25T11:59:39Z

At Lotus F1 Team, information is the true currency of business, but the by-product – data – is gold bullion

Many say that a company's most valuable asset is its human capital. But a strong workforce without ideas is not really strong, or much of a force. So we would say human capital is nothing without information or to put it another way, knowledge. And it's generally accepted that knowledge is power.

Power is the currency traded at Lotus F1 Team - a company that Symantec is proud to have worked in partnership with for over 15 years and an affair set to continue into the foreseeable future. When we say power, we're not just referring to the engines in its cars, though for sure they are some of the most powerful in the world. But before an engine makes it onto the track, hundreds of engineers and scientists pour thousands of hours into engineering & testing designs before completing a final blueprint. The blueprint is the real prize. It forms the basis of the most valuable asset a business can possess – Intellectual Property. This is the stuff that sets your business apart from competitors, which can be sold or licensed, providing an important revenue stream.

But the kind of innovation taking place on a daily basis at Lotus F1 Team produces a by-product: Data – reams of it. Anything not directly related to racing and winning is going to be a distraction but get sloppy with how you keep and manage data and you may as well hand over the blueprints to your competitor in person. Lotus F1 Team has for example developed Wind Tunnel technology used by the company in the development and measurement of aerodynamic forces – known as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This is an area of research not only important to car racing but also to the aerospace, road and wind turbine industries and one pioneered and perfected by F1 over the years.

As well as building and driving fast cars, there's also a commercial and business side too – all of which produces more data and business processing that needs to be managed effectively, efficiently and securely. Ultimately, the organisation needs to know its power (information, knowledge, deals and ideas) are safe and subject to the highest integrity.

This is why we work with companies like Lotus F1 Team – because we are in the business of protecting and managing data at every level so that innovators can focus on the business they are in.

Jérôme D'Ambrosio – “The E20 is a Great Car; I Can't Wait to Drive It!”

2012-04-24T15:03:08Z

At next week's test in Mugello, Jérôme will get his first taste of the E20 as he takes the wheel for the first session of the three day event. Needless to say, the team's ever-enthusiastic third driver is keen to grasp the opportunity with both hands…

Jérôme, you've been travelling with the team all season helping to develop the E20; you must be pleased to finally have the chance to get behind the wheel?

“It's an amazing opportunity for me, and I'd like to thank Lotus F1 Team for giving me the chance to experience the E20; it's a great car and I can't wait to drive it! I know the team from my rookie day in Abu Dhabi in 2010, and I've felt very comfortable at Enstone this year which I'm sure will be a big help. I've said all along that a third driver position with a top team would be much better for my career this year, and I'm starting to see the benefits of that strategy. I've learnt a lot so far with Lotus F1 Team, and this is just the beginning.”

The timing of the test at Mugello this year has worked out well for you, as effectively it's provided an opportunity to drive the car which you may not otherwise have had…

Yes, exactly. The fact that the test comes four races into the season means that the race drivers are already familiar with the car and all the procedures. Of course, Kimi and Romain had been out of Formula 1 for two years, so it was important for them to get the most track time possible during winter testing. Now though, they're fully up to speed and it's great that we get one day each to help the team find some extra performance from the car.

From a personal perspective, how beneficial with this day be for you in your day-to-day with role with the team?

It's going to be very valuable for me. This will be the first time I've been in a Formula 1 car for six months, which feels like a long time, and also I'll get to try out the E20 which will help me to get a feel for how the car handles, and therefore improve my ability to help the team with developments in the simulator.

Have you spoken to the engineers about the programme you're going to run during the session?

Not yet no. We've only just got back from Bahrain and there's a lot of work to do analysing the data from the race. I know we have some new parts to test, but other than that we're waiting for the chance to draw up a schedule. We'll sit down and go through it in the coming days.

A great result for the team in Bahrain; have you noticed a difference in the atmosphere back at Enstone since your return?

It's great to be part of a team that's moving upwards. Ever since the first test it's been clear to see how motivated everyone around the factory is, and this result has given the whole place an extra boost. We've felt all year that the car was capable of making the podium, but somehow things hadn't quite fallen into place until Bahrain. Finally, everything came together in the last race and we didn't just achieve a double podium, but also came very close to the win. I believe if we keep pushing then Kimi and Romain can be standing on the podium again this season, hopefully even on the top step.

Stay tuned to the official Lotus F1 Team website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we look ahead to the Mugello test on May 1-3.

Eric Boullier – “There's More to Come, I'm Sure”

2012-04-24T07:40:58Z

Three races into the season, Eric Boullier cut a figure of frustration in the Formula 1 paddock. With round four finally providing the reward the team deserved for their efforts, the Team Principal takes great satisfaction in proving just how competitive the Lotus F1 Team package can be

Eric, a very good result in Bahrain; was there a specific element of the team's performance that stood out to you as the key?

It was a great team performance and I'm delighted for everyone involved, both within the race team and back at Enstone. I wouldn't pick out a single factor; it's more the culmination of a few small details where perhaps we haven't got things quite right in the first three races, which was incredibly frustrating, but we managed to put them right at the weekend. Everything ran very smoothly with no major glitches, and with a bit of a strategy gamble that eventually paid off.

What do you think made the difference last weekend after what you've frequently described as a ‘frustrating' start to the season?

I think it's a combination of things. The weather for a start was much more suited to the E20's strengths in Bahrain than at previous races. It's always difficult to start a new season with such a large amount of changes as well; the car is very different to last year's, we have an all-new driver line-up, and moulding those things together can take time. Now, we've really gelled into a strong unit; the drivers are fully up to speed after a long break from the sport, and we're starting to look like a complete package.

After three races where the E20 hasn't quite fulfilled its potential, do you feel a sense of relief to have this result on the board?

Yes, definitely. It's so frustrating when you see the whole team back at Enstone putting in such a huge amount of effort over the winter, especially after a difficult season last year, and you don't get the results you know you are capable of. It's more than relief, it's a sense of pride because no matter how confident you are in what you've created, it's never proven until you get results. Thankfully we've achieved that, and it's a real credit to everyone involved.

You must be pleased with the performance of the drivers at this early stage in the season having only come into the team so recently?

Both drivers did a very, very good job out there and it's especially satisfying to have two cars not only on the podium, but also so evenly matched in terms of pace. Kimi has obviously been competing in a totally different category, and Romain had a difficult experience with us back in 2009; seeing how quickly they've got to grips with the car shows what a strong line-up we have in them.

Are you surprised that the race played out the way it did after qualifying? The car seemed to go from having decent pace to being the quickest package out there on the day…

I think we had the speed all weekend, but the grid is so tight this year that even a few thousandths of a second can make a big difference, and one slight mistake can be very costly. While qualifying was not perfect, everything in the race was very good; the car itself obviously, the pit stops, which the crew had put hours of work into making more competitive, our strategy, which may have looked like a risk on the surface but which played out just as we'd hoped, and of course the drivers who drove flawlessly. It was a fantastic all-round performance, and there's more to come, I'm sure.

For a full run-down of the Bahrain Grand Prix standings visit our results page.

A well-earned break for the team this week before we head off to the Mugello test on May 1-3. In the meantime, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

James Allison – “There is No Reason Why We Can't Deliver Even Better Results”

2012-04-23T14:51:35Z

Technical Director James Allison has been open from the outset about his faith in the E20, and yesterday in Bahrain his confidence was justified for all to see. Fresh from the engineer's office, James talks us through the race from the other side of the pit wall

James, a great result in Bahrain must be a huge boost; did you feel from the start of the weekend that the team had the pace to get this result?

I'm very pleased with our performance, and it's a good base for the rest of the season. On Friday and Saturday I felt good about the car, and was a little bemused by our less than stellar qualifying performance. Overnight strategy simulations showed that a podium was possible but only if both cars made good starts and subsequently revealed the extremely quick race pace that we had seen on Friday. Fortunately, that is exactly what happened. Three places for Romain at the start and four for Kimi followed by fast, consistent lap times in keeping with our expectations.

How close do you think the team came to taking the win?

When Kimi got past Romain he was visibly faster than Sebastian (Vettel) thanks to having new tyres vs. Vettel's scrubbed set. It was quite enthralling watching him close the gap, and he came very close to pulling off a pass, but it was not quite enough. With slightly better grid slots and no front wing damage for Kimi then the victory could well have been ours. As it was we had to settle for a really dominant P2 and P3. We will have to wait for the E20 to score a maiden win, but I think we can do it.

Were there any moments in the race where you were slightly nervous?

There were a couple; Kimi gave us a scare in the opening laps when he lost a place to a much slower Felipe (Massa) and in doing so also damaged his front wing. We could see from the data that this impact lost us some aerodynamic performance which Kimi then had to carry for the remainder of the race. Then of course there was the battle between our own drivers; never an easy thing to watch from the pit wall! As expected, with new rubber on every stint, Kimi was devastatingly fast and was able to close down both Romain and Sebastian (Vettel). Romain was doing an extremely good job, only slower as a result of running scrubbed tyres to Kimi's new rubber. Luckily both drivers behaved themselves!

What were the real highlights for you of the team's performance from your perspective?

Aside from the obvious satisfaction of watching our drivers sail past the traditional front runners, I took huge pleasure from watching our pit crew deliver 6 really good quality stops to ensure that we could let the pace of the car speak on the track. We have made several improvements to the pit stop kit since the early races, but it is still very difficult for the crew to make a good job of changing our wheels in a competitive time. When we get some wheels / nuts / sockets that allow us to compete with the front runners our crew is going to be mighty – they have been altitude training so far this year, once we get them down to sea level I think we are going to see some really excellent times.

Overall then a satisfying weekend all round…

We can come back to the factory happy in the knowledge that we have finally turned potential into proper points. We are now third in the Constructors' Championship and there is no reason why we cannot deliver even better results than this if we keep our eye on the ball for the remainder of the year. We have a Windshear test next week, and Mugello the week after; hopefully both go well and we can pick up in Spain where we left off today.

For a full run-down of the Bahrain Grand Prix standings visit our results page.

Capturing the Moment – The Best of the Bahrain Grand Prix [Slide Show]

2012-04-23T12:11:32Z

The 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix was a great day for Lotus F1 Team, as the Enstone family celebrated a strong performance to really kick-start the season. In this article, we've compiled a collection of pictures highlighting the key moments.

Sunday's race at the Bahrain International Circuit can be noted for many reasons; the team's first podium since April 2011, the first double podium since Japan 2006, Romain becoming the first Frenchman to finish in the top 3 since Jean Alesi in 1998, and a champagne celebration for Kimi just 4 races into his Formula 1 comeback to name but a few.

Ultimately, the most satisfying element of all was seeing the culmination of months of hard work from the Enstone family come to fruition. A season of thus far unfulfilled promise finally being realised, and a real cause for optimism for the rest of the season and beyond.

Below is a compilation of snapshots from the race. Enjoy!

Win Kimi Räikkönen's Podium Watch! [Competition]

2012-04-22T18:34:20Z

Kimi clinched his first podium of the 2012 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and now you can get your hands on the very watch worn by the man himself during the podium celebrations!

Lotus F1 Team Official Partner TW Steel is offering the chance for one lucky fan to parade around sporting a fashion accessory money simply can't buy; an original TW Steel watch as worn by Kimi Räikkönen at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

You could be just one simple question away from owning this exclusive prize. All you have to do is head to the TW Steel Facebook page and tell the team what model of the brand's watches Kimi is wearing on the podium.

Click here to submit your entry now!

For a full run-down of the Bahrain Grand Prix standings visit our results page.

A well-earned break for the team next week before we head off to the Mugello test on May 1-3. In the meantime, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

Romain Grosjean – “This is Much More Like It!” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-04-22T17:47:30Z

Backing up his first Formula 1 points last week in China with his first podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix this afternoon, Romain is flying high, and aiming even higher…

Romain, your first Formula 1 podium and it's only the fourth race of the season; you must be over the moon?

For sure it's great. It's a strange feeling so far, I don't think it's quite settled in yet. I'm very proud of the team and all we did in the race. We knew we had a good car but I think we were surprised at the beginning by how quick we were. We chose a different strategy to Kimi, but it turned out to be not too bad at the end. Our car is very competitive in what so far has been a very tight season. I'm very, very happy to be on my first podium. It's quite a good feeling I have to say!

After a difficult start to the season, you must be happy to follow that up with two strong results?

Absolutely, this is much more like it! I was saying the goal was first to get points, then finish in the top five, then get a podium, but I jumped one step. The next step will be victory, but that will take time. For now I think we can be happy to use the week off to enjoy this result and get to work back at the factory to find the six or seven second gap there was to Sebastian.

Another fantastic start for you today, it must have given you a real boost for the rest of the race?

Yeah, it was! We've been getting some pretty good starts so far this season, except of course in Melbourne. In Malaysia, China and now here we have some very good starts. I think it was important for me to be straight up to the front. I have to say that I really enjoyed the first stint, the car was fantastic on the option tyre and I could overtake Mark (Webber) and Lewis (Hamilton) without too much trouble which is a strange thing to say!

Was there a point in the race where you thought you could challenge for the win?

I thought I would come back a little bit on Sebastian (Vettel), and then we chose to go for the prime on the second stint which appeared to have a little bit less grip. It was difficult to close the gap and Kimi was starting to move up behind me. He passed me and then unfortunately the tyres went away. I think the last two stints were pretty good and I was very comfortable with the car. Maybe with a fresh set of the options we could have been closer to the lead, but I have to be happy with P3.

Two cars on the podium is a great result for the team…

The team can be proud of what we achieved today because the field is so tight that it's very difficult to be at the front, but we have two cars on the podium which is extremely good. We're working very hard as well, trying some new upgrades, mixing the old and new parts to see what works best, but it's always difficult; every small detail makes a huge difference. I think we can be very happy with the result, and look forward now to building from here.

For a full run-down of the final standings from today's race, visit our results page.

Kimi Räikkönen – “We Weren't Far Away From the Win At All” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-04-22T16:29:28Z

Kimi clinched his first podium in only his fourth race since returning to Formula 1 this season at the Bahrain Grand Prix this afternoon. Despite the result however and in typical fashion, the Finn was left thinking about the victory that might have been

Kimi, your first podium of the season here in Bahrain today; you must be delighted?

I am very happy. At last, we made the podium after a few missed opportunities. We had the car already in the first three races to be up there, but we made some small mistakes and it cost us a lot. Of course I wanted to win today, and I would have been much happier if we had managed to get the victory, but nevertheless it's a good result and the team deserved it for all their hard work. Hopefully we can put ourselves in this position more often.

How close were you to taking the win?

We weren't far away from the win at all. I had one chance, but my move on Sebastian (Vettel) did not quite work. That was my only opportunity but I couldn't take it as I chose the wrong side. Then, my tyres dropped off and that was it. I pretty much knew that was my only shot. Hopefully we can put ourselves in this position more often to have a chance. We have to work hard and improve certain areas of the car and I'm sure we can be up there more often and try to get the win.

Did you have any problems during the race?

We gave ourselves a chance at least and it's a bit disappointing that we didn't manage to win, but I made a small mistake at the beginning and lost one place to Felipe (Massa). I had to re-overtake him and that took a little time. Then, I could pass the people quite easily but ultimately it still look too long and as a result we couldn't win the race.

Is this result a relief after a difficult Chinese Grand Prix last week?

After the last race, when we tried hard and then we failed, I think people probably thought we were a bit stupid. They must have thought the same after yesterday, but our decision turned out to be right one. The team deserves what we achieved here. We have been working hard in the background and I have not been 100 per cent happy with how the weekends have gone so far, but we finally got a proper result for the team so it is an important step.

Did you lose time when trying to overtake Romain early in the race?

Maybe, but there are no team orders and we know the rules - I tried to get past as quickly as I could, but it is difficult with two similar cars. It's always easy to say what we should have done afterwards, but in the end we were not fast enough to win, so we had to take second.

Got another question for Kimi? Then head to our community section, where the man himself will be answering your questions from this weekend. Just click here.

For a full run-down of the final standings from today's race, visit our results page.

Double Delight – The 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix [Report + Pictures]

2012-04-22T14:43:53Z

The atmosphere in the Lotus F1 Team garage and back at Enstone was one of absolute delight this afternoon, as the team celebrated its first double podium finish in over 5 years at the Bahrain International Circuit

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Grid: P11
Race: P2
Best Lap: 1:37.116

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Grid: P7
Race: P3
Best Lap: 1:36.928

For a full run-down of the final standings from today's race, visit our results page.

The heat of the desert was broken only by a smattering of rain drops as the teams lined up on the grid for the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The pair of E20s began the race on the yellow marked soft compound tyres, a fresh set for Kimi after his unorthodox qualifying strategy and a scrubbed set for Romain.

#Cirebox live cartoon - 5 minutes to go... Kimi and tyre management #Whereismypodium #F1 twitter.com/Lotus_F1Team/s…

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) April 22, 2012

As the green lights went out, both drivers got off to a flying start. Romain moved to the outside of the slow starting Rosberg, moving up to P4 by the end of the first few corners. Kimi also jumped 3 places to P8, quickly taking yet another position through the middle sector with a brilliant move to hold off Rosberg whilst making a move past Massa and up to P7.

The Finn would then be re-passed by the Brazilian at the first turn on lap 3, as the Ferrari man used his KERS to pull down the inside. A tight battle then ensued through the following few bends, as Kimi eventually got squeezed out and had to concede the place.

By lap 4, Romain had moved up to the podium places by pulling off a fine pass on Webber down the straight, and the proceeded to hunt down Hamilton in P2, closing the gap by almost half a second in that same lap. Kimi meanwhile continued his tussle with Massa, passing his former team-mate on lap 5 and setting off after Button in P6.

The flying Frenchman was in fantastic form in the early stages, surging past Hamilton with a DRS-assisted pass on the pit straight on lap 7 to take P2. Kimi then used the same method to oust Button from P6 just a short distance behind. Quickly pulling away from the Brit, the Finn was quickly onto the back of Alonso and pulled another pass at the same place a lap later to move into P5.

Romain pulled in for his first pit stop of the day on lap 10, opting for a set of the white marked medium compound tyres and re-joining well in front of closest rival Hamilton who had suffered from a slow stop. Kimi followed suit on lap 11, and emerged sporting another set of the soft compound. Both drivers easily maintained their places during the stops, with Kimi moving in front of Hamilton.

On lap 13, Webber became the Finn's next victim as he sliced up the inside into the left-handed turn 11 to take P4 from the Australian. Romain meanwhile was closing in on Di Resta at between 1-2 seconds per lap, the Scot having yet to stop. Passing through the final turn, the Frenchman regained his rightful P2 position.

On lap 15 Kimi set the fastest time of the day so far, as both drivers continued their impressive charge around the 5.4km circuit. By this stage, Romain occupied P2 with his team-mate close behind in P3.

The field then settled down for a few laps, with both Lotus F1 Team drivers holding station in podium positions; keeping a steady distance behind leader Vettel and edging clear of Webber in P4. By lap 22, the extra pace of Kimi's soft tyres started to tell, as he closed down on the back of his team-mate (running the slower medium compound), passing the Frenchman on lap 24 using the familiar DRS overtake technique down the pit straight.

No sooner had he got into clean air, than the Finn dived into the pits for his first stint of the day using the medium tyres. Romain followed one lap later on lap 25, taking on another set of the same compound.

Despite now running the theoretically slower white marked tyres, Kimi immediately punched in another fastest lap of the race; closing the gap to Vettel (sporting the soft compound) down to just over 2 seconds. By lap 34 the Finn was within the 1 second DRS zone, and unsettling the German with dummy moves through lap 35.

Seb and Kimi out front... Let's have a cheer to get Kimi past #WhereIsMyPodium

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) April 22, 2012

On the following lap, Kimi made a move down the inside into the first corner, but Vettel defended well as the pair went wheel to wheel and remained in their respective positions. With all the dicing going on ahead Romain had started to close the gap in P3, with less than 10 seconds now covering the trio.

The leading pair dived in for their final stops on lap 40, both electing for a set of medium compound tyres. It was the Red Bull driver who maintained the lead, with Kimi in hot pursuit as they charged out of the pit lane. Romain followed a lap later for the same rubber, and immediately started to pull further in front of closest challenger Webber over the subsequent laps.

With 10 laps to go Romain was running a lonely race in P3, while Kimi maintained the gap to Vettel. As the laps ticked away, the tension in the garage was unbearable until the drivers finally crossed the line; the first podium for the team since Malaysia last year, and the first double podium in over 5 years.

Romain Grosjean – “We've Proven Already that the Speed is There” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-04-21T16:41:51Z

Four trips to the pole position shootout out of four races would be considered a good start to the season by most people, but as always Romain is aiming higher and higher up the grid

Romain, you've now made it through to Q3 at every race weekend so far this year; that must be a good feeling?

It's a good feeling and I'm happy for the team because we've all worked very hard to get here, even when it may have looked less likely after the practice sessions, like in China for example. To be honest though I feel like we could have done more today; after the first two sessions I felt we had the pace to be in the top 5, but I made a small mistake in turn 4 on my Q3 lap which lost us a couple of tenths. In a way it's good to be disappointed with a result like this, as it shows how far up the grid we can be if everything goes to plan.

How were the conditions out there today, and how might they affect the race?

It didn't feel quite as hot as yesterday but the track is still very warm, and getting the right setup to manage the tyre degradation in the race will be the key to a good result. The wind could also have an effect; it wasn't as bad today as it can be out here in the desert, but it seems to be changing quite a lot which creates a few uncertainties. As long as it doesn't get strong enough to start blowing sand all over the tarmac it shouldn't be an issue.

Once again all the talk is about tyre degradation; how much of an effect will this have on your strategy for tomorrow?

Dealing with the degradation will be the main factor in the race. There will be quite a few pit stops for most of the teams I think, but we'll need to analyse the data overnight to work out what our best strategy will be. If it stays this hot then some cars might struggle to make the tyres last, but we did a good job of this in China where the E20 was not meant to be as strong so hopefully ours won't be one of them!

How significant is the difference between the two tyre compounds here in Bahrain?

It's difficult to say. I don't think we've got the most of out the soft tyre so far this weekend, but our pace on the medium compound has looked very promising with both cars easily making it through to Q2 without having to make the switch. During practice as well our speed on the long runs with the medium was also encouraging, so I think that's a good sign for the race. In terms of life time I think we'll be able to get a decent amount of laps out of both compounds, but it's a balance between losing time in the pits and losing it on track if you push them too far. We'll just have to make the best predictions we can and take it from there.

Any predictions for tomorrow's race?

It's impossible to make predictions with such an evenly matched and competitive grid as we have this season. I think we've proven already that the speed is there in the car, so with a decent start and a clean first lap who knows where we'll end up. I'm looking forward to it.

For a full run-down of the today's final standings, visit our results page.

The main event – race day – is next up from the Bahrain International Circuit at 15:00 local time tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout the race.

Kimi Räikkönen – “I Think We're in a Pretty Good Position” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-04-21T15:08:53Z

Qualifying may not have gone exactly to plan for Kimi at the Bahrain International Circuit this afternoon, but as the man himself states, the most important factor is being in the best position for the race…

Kimi, an unexpected result in qualifying today; what was the thinking behind your chosen strategy?

We could easily have gone through to the final session with another run; the pace is there in the car and it felt good to drive. However, managing the tyres will be the key tomorrow so we thought it was worth taking the risk to only do one lap in Q2 and save fresh sets of tyres for the race. It was a gamble that didn't get us through to the final session, but it will hopefully be a strategy which pays off after 57 laps tomorrow.

Were you confident after your flying lap that you would make it through to the pole position shootout?

We knew it was going to be close and of course we would ideally have liked to have been in Q2; we always want to be as high up the grid as possible. We were fairly certain that we would make it, but at the end of the day there were two options and we went for the one which we believe will deliver the best result on Sunday. Looking at the pace on the soft tyres I don't think we're at a big disadvantage starting further back. There are no points for qualifying, so let's see what happens tomorrow.

Is there a noticeable difference between the fresh rubber and a scrubbed set of tyres?

You can definitely feel the difference, although it's difficult to say exactly how much it's worth in terms of lap time. It will give us an advantage off the line and through the first lap especially, so we have a good chance to make up the places we may have lost in qualifying at the start.

Does having a grid position which is slightly lower than you would have expected alter your strategy for the race?

Of course, we have to adapt our plans according to where we are but this is also something that changes throughout the race depending on our pace, what the cars around us are doing and of course things like weather and safety car periods. Strategy is never set in stone, so we have to have the flexibility to make to most of each situation. The good news is that starting outside the top 10 we can choose which tyres we start on which will also help.

Do you think the E20 can manage the degradation on the soft tyres better than some of the cars in front?

It's hard to say. We have a rough idea of where we are compared to the other teams from testing yesterday but you never know what programme they were running so it's all just speculation really. We came very close to pulling off a longer stint than anyone around us in China and our car is more suited the warmer weather here, so hopefully that's a good sign. Obviously we took a risk there that didn't pay off, but we now have a very good understanding of the tyres. I think we're in a pretty good position.

How are you feeling about the race tomorrow?

I'm feeling pretty good. The thing about this season so far is that it's been so close and so unpredictable that it's pointless making any kind of guesses. Anything can happen out there, so we'll just get our heads down and make the most of the options we have. We're just as competitive here as we have been so far this season, so let's see what we can do.

Got another question for Kimi? Then head to our community section, where the man himself will be answering your questions from this weekend. Just click here.

For a full run-down of the today's final standings, visit our results page.

Touch-and-Go – Bahrain Grand Prix, Qualifying [Report + Pictures]

2012-04-21T12:16:10Z

A mixed result this afternoon for Lotus F1 Team during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, as Romain once again demonstrated his raw pace and Kimi found himself out of position on the final grid for tomorrow's race

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Position: [Q1] P9 [Q2] P11
Best Time: [Q1] 1:34.552 [Q2] 1:33.789
Laps Completed: [Q1] 3 [Q2] 3

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Position: [Q1] P4 [Q2] P3 [Q3] P7
Best Time: [Q1] 1:34.041 [Q2] 1:33.246 [Q3] 1:33.008
Laps Completed: [Q1] 3 [Q2] 7 [Q3] 3

For a full run-down of the session's final standings, visit our results page.

A two hour break following this morning's free practice session provided a good opportunity for the drivers to relax and shelter from the intense Bahrain heat.

As Q1 got underway, rival teams flooded out onto the circuit to complete early runs in the session. The E20s by contrast remained firmly parked in the Lotus F1 Team garage until the mid-point of the session; a tactic that certainly proved successful.

With a single flying lap each, Kimi and Romain leapt straight to the summit of the leader board; the Finn taking top spot briefly before the Frenchman eclipsed his team mate's time by an impressive 0.4 seconds.

Despite completing just one run apiece on the slower, white marked medium compound Pirelli tyres, the team decided that both drivers had set sufficiently competitive times to see them through to Q2. As the chequered flag flew, both Romain and Kimi had in fact done more than enough; sailing into the second session in P4 and P9 respectively.

With 3 minutes elapsed in Q2, Kimi flew out of the box for his first single lap run on the soft compound tyres. The Finn was clearly pushing hard, and went fastest momentarily before gradually slipping to P6 as others improved on his time. Romain completed a 2 lap stint, but was not as happy as his team-mate; finishing his initial run in P11.

Both drivers returned immediately to the garage for a fresh set of soft tyres as the team weighed up whether a second run would be required. Satisfied with his pace, the Finn remained parked for the remainder of the session. Romain on the other hand was keen to improve on his initial showing, and emerged with just 3 minutes of running time remaining.

The move paid off for the Frenchman, who produced a stunning lap to jump 8 places up to P3; easily making it through to the pole position shootout. Kimi by contrast was an unfortunate victim of the final cut, missing out by fractions of a second as his time was bettered at the very last minute to demote the Finn to a starting slot of P11 for tomorrow's race.

And so the final showdown arrived, with Romain the last Lotus standing. The Frenchman chose to complete just a single run, surging out of the garage with 3 minutes to run on the soft compound tyres. As the second hand ticked down to zero, the reigning GP2 Champion crossed the line to take P7 on the grid with his best time of the day; a 1:33.008.

Clear the Air – Bahrain Grand Prix, Free Practice 3 [Report + Pictures]

2012-04-21T09:15:06Z

With one final chance to get the cars up to speed before qualifying, Free Practice 3 at the Bahrain International Circuit was a busy 60 minutes for the team. Setup tweaks, practice pit-stops and analysis of the different tyre compounds kept the crew busy, while the drivers put in a solid performance to see both cars into the top 10

Kimi Räikkönen, E20-03

Position: P7
Best Time: 1:33.976
Laps Completed: 14

Romain Grosjean, E20-04

Position: P9
Best Time: 1:34.401
Laps Completed: 16

For a full run-down of the session's final standings, visit our results page.

Another warm start at the Bahrain International Circuit with a slight tail wind down the main straight as Kimi and Romain departed the garage for their install laps. As usual, the team opted to head out as soon as the green flags were waved, aiming to maximise track time before qualifying begins this afternoon.

Both E20s were sporting matching sets of the white marked medium compound Pirelli tyres, with a single lap to test the systems followed by the customary oil dips upon their return to the pit lane. With a fair amount of dust hanging in the air, the crew were out in the boxes with ‘leaf blowers' removing the sand to give the drivers more traction for any practice pit stop pull-aways.

With just under 15 minutes elapsed, Kimi lead Romain out onto the circuit for the first runs of the day, beginning with practice starts at the end of the pit lane. Scrubbed mediums were the rubber of choice for both drivers as Romain set the early pace with his first flying lap, narrowly edging out his team-mate who had previously topped the times. Not to be out done, the 2007 World Champion immediately responded with an improved time as the pair traded places at the sharp end of the leader board.

Returning to base after a pair of initial 4 lap stints, it was the Frenchman who sat atop the standings with the Finn just behind. Kimi will have been glad for the dust removal strategy as he carried out a practice pull away before being wheeled back into his garage. Minor setup tweaks to both cars as the team experimented with different settings for the morning's conditions.

At the halfway stage in the session, Romain sat in P2 with Kimi P5; just 0.8s covering the top 8 in a tightly packed field. After a quick turnaround, the Finn charged down the pit lane for his second run, followed shortly afterwards by his opposite number. 4 and 5 lap stints respectively for Kimi and Romain on medium tyres this time around, with data and setup analysis the main priority.

Another set of practice pull-aways for both drivers, before a short break to take shelter from the sun and make a few final setup adjustments. With just over 10 minutes left to run, the track transformed from a deserted stretch of tarmac to a hive of activity as the teams pushed for a final few laps and the all-important data that goes with them.

Kimi and Romain were two of the first to emerge, with both trying out the yellow marked soft compound tyres for the first time during the session. Their final stints included two practice pit-stops for each car; one mid-run and one at the end of the run, putting the mechanics through their paces before Sunday's race. Meanwhile on track, the pace of both drivers was solid, as both E20s nestled themselves inside the top 10.

As the chequered flag dropped, Kimi finished the session in P7 with a fastest time of 1:33.976 from 14 laps, while Romain's best effort of 1:34.401 from 16 laps saw him lie in P9.

Qualifying is next up from the Bahrain International Circuit at 14:00 local time this afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout the session.

Romain Grosjean – “I'm Sure There is More to Come” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-04-20T19:04:28Z

Brimming with positive energy after his first points finish in Formula 1 last weekend, Romain talks confidence, upgrades, and temperatures after a productive first day at the Bahrain International Circuit

Romain, how would you sum up today's running?

Overall it was not too bad. I think it's been difficult for everyone here with the heat; it was quite cold in Shanghai whereas it's very hot here in Bahrain so it's a bit of a contrast. The team is working very hard as always to get the best out of the car; hopefully after analysing all the data tonight we can come back tomorrow and be even better; the E20 has a very good base line, and I'm sure there is more to come from it.

You took your first points of the season and of your Formula 1 career so far last week in China; has that helped you feel more settled coming into this weekend?

In this sport you are always under pressure to perform. Getting points on the board has given me a confidence boost after two disappointing races in Australia and Malaysia, but the most important thing is to keep scoring points for the team as we have high hopes for a good position in the Constructor's Championship this season and everyone is giving their all to achieve that.

This time last week in China the team trialled an upgrade package but decided to revert back to the original setup for the race; are you testing those new parts again here?

We've tried a few new things and we'll look at the results overnight before deciding which setup to run tomorrow. Within the next few hours we'll have a good idea of what the best option for this circuit will be. The car was performing well already, and with different tracks and different weather conditions it's hard to compare how much of an effect the new parts will have as these variations will affect the how the car feels. We're making small steps in a number of areas, so hopefully this will benefit us over the weekend.

Do you think adapting the car setup to cope with the heat here will be a key factor this weekend?

It's certainly a major consideration for sure. Coping with the heat, and in particular managing the tyre degradation will be the most important element to a good performance. It's difficult to tell during testing how the tyres will behave during the race; we can make pretty accurate predictions but we'll have to wait and see what happens over the 57 laps.

After the low temperatures in China, the general consensus was that the E20 performs better in warmer conditions; do you think this has been proven from what you have seen today?

I think so, but as always practice is not really an indicator of true performance; we'll only know for sure where we stand once we get to qualifying and the race. Every team will have been running different programmes today so it's difficult to compare. I'm looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow and we'll take things from there.

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Bahrain International Circuit at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout the session.

Kimi Räikkönen – “I Think the Grid will be Very Tight Again” [Q&A + Pictures]

2012-04-20T16:13:47Z

Fresh from the cockpit, Kimi gives us his thoughts on tyre degradation, track conditions at the Bahrain International Circuit, and his predictions for qualifying on Saturday.

Kimi, first of all it seems tyre degradation has been a key factor already; how did you find it out there today?

It's probably higher than we've seen in other places but of course it's the same for everybody. It makes things a bit tricky and managing the tyres will be important, but we'll just have to work around it. The soft tyre is clearly faster over a single lap but in terms of a race distance I think it's too early to say which will be more useful; we'll have to look at all the data to see how it will play out.

Is there anything you can do from inside the cockpit to help preserve the tyres?

As a driver there are some things you can do to help keep the tyres in good condition in terms of your driving style, but it's mainly about the setup of the car. Unfortunately when they go they go, and there's not a lot you can do about it. No matter how you drive you can't suddenly make them last a significant amount longer than they're designed to; small differences over a long run have more an effect, but it's not like night and day.

The team had some issues with the tyres on the cooler days in China; are the conditions here better suited to the E20?

I think we prefer to have these kind of temperatures, but then again so will most teams. In China we had a few issues getting the tyres working when it was colder, the main thing now will be almost the opposite; managing them over the longer runs. We would rather have it this way though, for sure.

What about the track itself? Do you think there will be much surface evolution over the weekend?

The track was surprisingly good, even from the early laps. There wasn't much change during the day so I think it will stay reasonably stable through the weekend. The main thing that could affect it is if the wind changes direction.

A look at the time sheets seems to suggest there is still work to be done here; are you feeling confident for tomorrow's qualifying session?

Our pace today doesn't look that great if you look at the times, but then we were in a much worse position this time last week and still had decent speed so I wouldn't ready too much into that. I think the grid will be very tight again like in China, but we'll do our best as always and see where we end up.

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Bahrain International Circuit at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout the session.

Going the Distance – Bahrain Grand Prix, Free Practice 2 Report

2012-04-20T12:35:25Z

The Lotus F1 Team drivers put some good mileage under their wheels in the second of today's sessions this afternoon, with setup work the order of the day under the blistering Bahrain sun

At 14:00 local time on the dot, the pit lane opened for the second round of Formula 1 action here at the Bahrain International circuit today. Both drivers completed short first runs on the white marked medium compound tyres, Kimi notching up 4 laps and Romain 3 tours of the 5.4km circuit before heading back to base for practise pull aways.

15 minutes and a few setup tweaks later, the pair were back at out on track on the same tyres as used in the previous run. This time Romain put in the most laps of the two, racking up 5 in comparison to Kimi's 3.

The Finn's third run of the session saw the first appearance of the yellow marked soft tyres as he emerged from the garage with just under an hour left to run. Romain followed 10 minutes later, again on the softer of the two tyre compounds, with each driver recording 3 laps apiece.

At the halfway stage of the session, Romain sat just inside the top 10 in P8, with Kimi down in P18. Setup changes had been the order of the day thus far, with a variety of different options being assessed.

Entering the second half of running and it was Kimi who once again lead the team back into the on track action, completing a 4 lap stint on the soft tyres and improving his time in the process. Romain, having been in deep discussion with his engineers, waited patiently for his next opportunity to throw his E20 around the circuit, emerging with just over 30 minutes left to run sporting the same compound of tyres.

Kimi's was only a brief break, with fresh rubber bolted on – medium compound this time – and a practice start as he re-joined the fray. Longer stints this time around for both drivers; 11 and 15 laps added to the Finn's and Frenchman's totals respectively before diving into the pits for a pair of pit-stop simulations.

Each driver headed straight back onto the track having put the mechanics through their paces; Kimi on another set of soft tyres and Romain on the medium compound. As the session entered its final 10 minutes, this would prove to be the final chance for the team to analyse the E20's performance this afternoon.

As the timer counted down to zero, Kimi and Romain brought the cars home for a well-earned break after an intense work out in the heat of Bahrain. With Friday running now concluded, Romain rounded off the day in P9 with a fastest time of 1:34.615 from 32 laps, while Kimi's best effort of 1:35.183 from 33 laps was good enough for P13.

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Bahrain International Circuit at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout the session.

What a Difference a Week Makes – Bahrain Grand Prix, Free Practice 1 Report

2012-04-20T08:47:05Z

After the trials and tribulations of last week's corresponding session in China, the clear, dry and very warm start to the weekend's on-track proceedings this morning at the Bahrain International Circuit were a welcome sight, as Round 4 of the Formula 1 World Championship got underway

No sooner had the green flag dropped to start the session at exactly 10:00 local time than Romain hit the track, completing a single install lap on the white marked medium tyres before returning to base to complete an oil dip and take refuge from the sun.

Kimi would then run an identical first run on the same compound tyres with 5 minutes of the session elapsed; both drivers remaining in the cockpit of their E20s to pump the brakes as the mechanics set about carrying out a brake system bleed on both cars.

With very little wind and an impressive job from the circuit's surface cleaning equipment, Kimi and Romain reported good track conditions after their initial runs as the pair patiently awaited the chance to get back out and really put the cars through their paces.

With just over an hour remaining, Romain was the first to re-emerge from the Lotus F1 Team garage for his first flying run of the day. The Frenchman had a few tense moments out on track as he explored the limits of grip available in the early stages but was quickly up to speed, putting together a string of strong laps to top the initial times.

As the session time dipped below an hour, Kimi joined his team mate on track to put the E20 through its paces. With relatively few competitors having taken to the tarmac thus far, both drivers had a good amount of space to play with and an ideal opportunity to acclimatise themselves with the medium compound Pirelli tyres.

As Romain returned to the box having completed a 7 lap stint, Kimi immediately put himself at the top of the standings with his first timed effort; edging the Frenchman down to P2 by two tenths of a second. By the end of his initial 6 lap run, the Finn was sitting in P2 behind Sebastian Vettel.

At the halfway stage in proceedings, Kimi occupied P4 and Romain P6 on the time sheets, as the Frenchman returned to the track once more on a scrubbed set of medium compound tyres. Only a brief run of 4 laps for Romain this time, as he swung the E20 back into the garage for a break and some data analysis with the engineers.

Kimi emerged once more with 30 minutes left on the clock, again on a set of used medium tyres. The Finn returned to the pits immediately, suspecting a left rear puncture, but after thorough checks from the mechanics on both the rubber and the suspension, nothing was discovered and the 2007 World Champion immediately returned to the action.

Kicking off with a practice start at the end of the pit lane, Kimi completed 4 laps before returning to base once more for a practice pull away and switch off. The mechanics jumped into action straight away, adjusting a host of set-up options in line with the Finn's feedback.

With all of this taking place in the background, Romain charged down the pit lane for his next taste of the Bahrain circuit; once again on a used set of mediums. 6 laps this time for the Frenchman, returning just as his Lotus F1 Team counterpart was preparing to begin his next charge around the circuit with the same tyre choice.

With just 5 minutes of the session remaining, the track became a flurry of activity. Romain emerged almost as soon as he had returned from his previous run, completing 2 more laps before pulling in for a practice pit stop. Kimi meanwhile ran a longer sting, racking up 6 laps to round of the session with another round of wheel change practice for the crew.

As the chequered flag dropped, Kimi finished the session in P9 with a fastest time of 1:34.609 from 18 laps, while Romain's best effort of 1:34.847 from 20 laps saw him lie in P10.

Free Practice 2 is next up at the Bahrain International Circuit at 14:00 local time this afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout the session.

Bahrain Grand Prix - Tear Up the Form Book [Blog]

2012-04-19T17:12:46Z

Lotus F1 Team takes a look at how the Formula 1 grid is shaping up going into Round 4 of the Formula 1 World Championship in Bahrain

From a fan's perspective, the Chinese Grand Prix was one of the most entertaining races in recent memory. With a variety of strategies, wheel-to-wheel racing throughout the field, a plethora of overtakes and a closely bunched grid few could have expected more from Round 3 of the World Championship.

And so we move on to Bahrain, and an interesting prospect in store once more. Starting with the front-runners last time out, Mercedes were dominant in Shanghai and will look to continue that form. The German marque proved doubters wrong by managing their tyres well in the warm conditions, although here in Sakhir the temperatures are much higher so it remains to be seen how well they can make the Pirelli rubber last. Schumacher in particular will be out to make up for a disappointing end to his last race after early retirement.

McLaren had another strong result with two drivers on the podium, and still remain in the majority of minds as the team to beat. Red Bull managed to put a disappointing qualifying session behind them to bring both cars in the top five, and while a double points finish may be the bare minimum expected from the World Champions, it would be foolish to write off their chances at any venue.

Once again Lotus F1 Team demonstrated that even at circuits which don't necessarily suit the E20 we have a competitive package; one which could well have come away with a podium if things had gone according to plan in China. The team is pushing harder than ever to demonstrate that potential with a clean weekend.

Both Williams and Sauber will no doubt feel highly satisfied after the last two races, with a good haul of points for both and some encouraging showings from their drivers. While neither has shown blistering pace in qualifying, their pace over long runs and ability to manage tyres is putting them in contention for top ten finishes on a regular basis.

After the shock win in Malaysia, Ferrari's struggles became apparent once more in China. Despite mixing it with the pack as the field bunched up mid-race, a single top ten finish between the two drivers was all the prancing horse could muster. Ferrari being Ferrari, it will surely only be a matter of time before their car is up to speed; the question is merely when it will happen.

Force India were solid if unspectacular last time out, but the consistency of their drivers means they are always in there or thereabouts come the end of the race when those with a more aggressive strategy may start to fade.

Toro Rosso had a tough weekend in China, with a surprisingly out of character showing in qualifying compounded on race day where neither driver mounted a serious challenge on the team ahead. With Shanghai providing one of their best results last season, they will be looking to bounce back from that disappointment.

Caterham seem to be in a battle by themselves at the moment; not quite at the level of the midfield teams but still a good distance ahead of the tail-enders, they will be even more determined to escape from the wilderness and realise their potential from last season.

Marussia are making big leaps forward, cutting the deficit between themselves and the leaders by around two seconds per lap between Rounds 1 and 3. With both cars once again making it to the end of the race, reliability and speed seem to be progressing well and they have clearly leapfrogged closest rivals HRT.

The Spanish squad by contrast look to be struggling somewhat. Well beaten by Marussia in Shanghai, the positive to take will be a two car finish, but there is still some work to do for the back markers.

French Finesse, Finnish Ferocity – The RS27 in Bahrain

2012-04-19T14:55:19Z

Fresh from an incredible race in China, Renault Sport F1 Team Support Leader Ricardo Penteado talks us through what's required from the RS27 in Bahrain, the effects of the blown diffuser ban on engine set up and the contrasting driving styles of Kimi and Romain

Are you reusing the engines from Shanghai in Bahrain?

Yes, we are running exactly the same Friday and race engines here as we did in Shanghai on both cars. We are on target with our engine use plan so far; we used the same engine in Australia and Malaysia before introducing new units for China. There are certain units that will be used for three events, but we will keep these for the low mileage events such as Monaco.

What can you do under the regulations to update the unit for this track after the race in Shanghai?

There is no mechanical change required for this track as actually the percentage of wide open throttle time placed on the units over the two tracks is pretty similar. However in Shanghai this percentage is concentrated into one long straight, and in Bahrain this is split over four shorter ones. Bahrain also has a greater concentration of slower corners, rather than two very low speed turns. Before coming here though we made sure that the engine maps and settings were validated on the dyno back at Viry, particularly with regards to the change in weather conditions. In Shanghai the air was relatively cool and the relative humidity high, whereas here the air is incredibly dry and much hotter. Sakhir is on the extreme top of all tracks in this respect, so one of our main areas of work will be tuning the ignition maps to avoid internal build ups of pressure when the air is very dry and hot.

This year, without the blown diffusers, it's been reported that getting the right settings for each corner is much more difficult. Is this the case?

Engine wise I would say it's much easier for us to map the engine when not using a blown diffuser, but having said that it's also true that not having the extra-grip from the blown diffusers makes engine pick up a very important point to get the maximum traction in each corner.

How does this affect your run plan for a Friday?

There aren't any specific tests to get the best pick-up response, but it does mean that we need to work very closely – even more closely than last year – with the drivers to understand what they need from the engine. This requires very clear feedback on changes and fine tuning tweaks; last year the blown diffuser made the cars a lot less sensitive.

At this stage in the season can you see any difference in the way that Kimi and Romain use the engine?

They are both the kind of drivers that understand how an F1 engine works when going from full lift-off to full-throttle and they push us a lot to have what they need to be confident when exiting a corner. I'd say that Romain's engines have a bit of an easier life than Kimi's. The French side of Romain is just amazing when he is upshifting – he is very smooth! His engines spend almost half the time at the limiter than Kimi's units, make of that what you will about Kimi's character…!

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we continue our count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Succeeding in Sakhir – The Bahrain Track Guide

2012-04-19T08:07:36Z

Round 4 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane talks us through the challenges of the Bahrain International Circuit

The Venue

Welcoming the Formula 1 circus for the first time in 2004, the Bahrain International Circuit played host to the first ever Grand Prix to be held in the Middle-East.

Located in Sakhir, which lies around 30km to the South-West of capital city Manama, construction began in November 2002, and was completed with just days to spare before the gates opened for its first event.

Another Hermann Tilke designed venue, the circuit can adopt any one of five different layouts within the one complex, with around a third of the 12,000 tonnes of stone used in the construction being Welsh granite; chosen for its strong adhesive qualities.

The Circuit

Heavy braking into turn one means a good overtaking opportunity. There is no real penalty for overshooting the corner so over-optimism is not unduly punished. The exit of this corner calls for driver delicacy on the throttle when tyres are worn.

The more kerb you can take at turn two, the more speed you can carry down the straight which follows. The next major feature is turn four, which is another overtaking opportunity with heavy braking from the straight before, a wide entry and plenty of space on exit.

Turn five is more of a small kink, but the front wing must be set to balance the car through turns six and seven, which are fast sweeping corners.

Skipping a few corners now, we come to turn ten. The entry here is difficult. You need to be in the correct track position after turn nine and the unweighted inside wheel can easy lock up. Sufficient speed needs to be carried through turn nine for the entry, but it's easy to outbrake yourself here. There is a long serrated kerb at the exit to turn ten which is best avoided.

There's another heavy braking zone into the final corners, with the following straight meaning that any mistakes on entry are penalised by reduced exit speed on to the main straight. Snap oversteer is a possibility through here, which can also damage pace potential on the straight.

Last but not least, we come to the straight itself. Gearing is always a difficult call in Bahrain, as the wind can affect matters here. It's also the first time that DRS will be used here as there was no race in 2011.

The Car

Relatively high levels of downforce are required for Bahrain so the car runs with a lot of rear wing. Not to Monaco levels, but comparable amounts to Australia and Malaysia. Front wing settings are optimised for turns six and seven.

In terms of suspension set up, there are reasonable traction demands so the suspension needs to be compliant to these requirements. The traction demands from lower speed corners mean a focus on enabling maximum usage of the mechanical grip from the tyres.

Now that Bahrain has returned to its original configuration (as opposed to the longer version used in 2010) it becomes the first proper test of braking systems of the season. Long straights lead into slow corners, meaning brake temperatures and wear levels need close monitoring.

Pirelli's P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft tyres have been nominated here. There is a very small risk of rain, meaning that the Cinturato Green intermediate and Cinturato Blue full wet are unlikely to be used. Despite the circuit's desert domain, the track is not as sandy as you may expect – due to the circuit's impressive track cleaner! The asphalt is medium aggressive which gives good grip.

Sand and speed summarise Sakhir from an engine point of view. Dust from the desert is blown onto the track; having too high a concentration of sand in the engine can cause significant wear to the engine internals. The four straights also demand good top end power.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we continue our count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Bahrain Grand Prix – Lotus F1 Team History

2012-04-18T16:23:07Z

As part of our build up to the 8th Bahrain Grand Prix, we take a look at the team's history at the Bahrain International Circuit

In the beginning…

Lotus F1 Team entered the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004 under the Renault name, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Italian Jarno Trulli at the wheel

Winning Ways

In its various guises the team has taken 2 wins at the Bahrain International Circuit, both with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2005 / 2006)

Podium Potential

Those 2 wins for Alonso (Renault, 2005 / 2006) have proven to be the only Bahrain Grand Prix podiums for the team thus far…

Qualifying Kings

2006 proved to be a successful year all round for the team in Bahrain, with Fernando Alonso (Renault) also claiming the team's only pole position to date at this venue

Kimi's Credentials

The Bahrain International Circuit is one Kimi knows well having achieved four consecutive podium finishes between 2005-2008

Romain's Record

While Romain will be making his Bahrain Grand Prix debut, he does have some prior knowledge of the circuit having raced here in GP2 (2008) and tested here with Pirelli (2010)

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we continue our count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Enstone's Pit Stop King

2012-04-18T12:43:28Z

He's completed more pit stops than any of our race drivers, racking up 40 over each race weekend and a grand total approaching 3000, but not many people outside of the team have heard of Kevin Watts

Kevin, whose main job is in the IT department providing support and infrastructure at events, is the man who sits in the team's race cars when the pit stop practices are conducted in the pitlane at Grand Prix weekends.

The raw stats are pretty impressive. Kevin's ‘driven' for the team at 56 races, including the latest Chinese Grand Prix, with 40 practise stops per event, 400 completed over the winter period, and around a further 200 over the years at Enstone, meaning a current total of 2840, and counting.

So, what does the side-job of pit stop practice ‘driver' entail?
“My role in the pit stops is to sit in the car and literally steer it and brake it,” says Kevin. “It sounds a lot simpler than it is, because it's all too easy to get it absolutely level and stop it at the exact point that the gun men would prefer you to be - but that's not the point.”

"The idea is to stop long, stop short, be a bit left, a bit right. Mix it up a bit. The one the crew really hate, which we occasionally throw in, is when you start to brake and then at the point where they are expecting you to stop, you release the brake a little bit, and then smash it down. A double-stop sort of thing. That does happen in races, especially if it's wet and the pit lane is slippery.”

“There was no extensive training programme for Kevin to get the role, and he didn't have to go through a progression of being a pit stop practice driver in GP3 or GP2, rather Kevin was in the right place at the right time.

“The first time I was asked to do it was at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2008. I was there as an IT assistant. The guy who should have done it asked me if I wanted to stand-in as a one-off and I jumped at it.”

Just as with race drivers, there are the occasional mistakes made by Enstones' pit stop king.
“The first time I was given the role properly was for the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008. I accidentally stood on part of the bodywork getting back out. It was only a small piece and easy to replace - and it was the last race - but when I got back to the track the next day I found the bit had been cleaned up and placed on my laptop as a souvenir.”

I wasn't part of the race team then, I was only in Brazil helping out, and I got both drivers to sign it. It sits on my mantelpiece at home as a little trophy. Every time I see that it reminds me of standing on a Formula 1 car and breaking it!”

So what's the feeling behind the wheel of the E20?
“Sitting in an F1 car feels claustrophobic, and the E20 probably more so than any other car I've sat in to be honest. This year it is noticeably narrow and enclosing around your shoulders. I don't have a proper seat, so maybe I'm not in the normal position. It's quite strange.”

“Pit stop practice is a regular part of the daily routine at Grands Prix. “It's a case of practice makes perfect,” explains team manager, Paul Seaby. “It doesn't matter how much training we do, it's all about doing as many pit stops as possible. Since refuelling was stopped in the sport, the speed of wheel changes in the pit stops has become a crucial performance aspect of the race, so it's an area where we place an enormous amount of attention.”

“Kevin's job is unusual, as we ask him to be inconsistent in what he does how he lines the car up and how he stops. Every pit stop in a race is different, so we have to ensure that every practice one is too.”

So, fast approaching 3,000, is it time for Kevin to stop pit stops?
“When I worked out that it's around 40 stops per weekend, initially I thought it doesn't sound that much. Then I added up the number of Grands Prix, plus all the stops between seasons and how long I've been doing the job. It was just under 3,000 I think! It doesn't feel like it and I'm ready for the next 3,000!”

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we continue our count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

We Have a Winner!

2012-04-18T08:15:03Z

Thousands of entries flooded in for last week's competition to win an exclusive prize; one that any avid Kimi Räikkönen fan would be keen to get their hands on. With four runners up also in the frame to receive an alternative reward, it's time to find out who are among those fortunate five…

Over the course of the Chinese Grand Prix Weekend, Lotus F1 Team held an online competition run via the team website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page.

The Task…

Answer three simple multiple choice questions based on information from recent articles published on the team website.

The Questions…

Q1: The Chinese Grand Prix first appeared on the Formula 1 Calendar in which year?
Q2: In which year did the team (at the time known as Renault) achieve it's only Chinese Grand Prix victory to date?
Q3: What is the highest G-Force experienced under braking at the Shanghai International Circuit?

The Answers…

Q1 – 2004
Q2 – 2005
Q3 – 5G

The Prize…

A pair of OMP racing gloves as worn by Kimi during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, and signed by the man himself. Four runners up will also receive official Lotus F1 Team caps signed by Kimi and Romain.

The Winners…

Congratulations to the following lucky winners!

1st Prize:
Péter Végvári

Runners Up:
Hsin Chi Liao
Reno Reginato
Howard Lo
Virginia Evans

If your name is among those listed please be sure to check your email account for further details of how to claim your prize. Don't forget to check your junk mail box in case the message has been filtered out!

Congratulations once again to the winners, and thank you to everyone who took part. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we build up to Round 4 of the World Championship in Bahrain.

Romain Grosjean – “Next time is going to be even better”

2012-04-17T17:45:36Z

Romain achieved the best result of his Formula 1 career in China; just the tonic after a difficult start to the season. Now, the Frenchman is looking to carry that momentum to Bahrain

How did it feel to score your first points in Formula 1 last weekend?

I'm very pleased for myself, for the team, for all the hard work we've done. We deserved finally a good result. We did an amazing job to recover from our free practice pace, which was not that good, but at the end of the story we got back where we should be.

As Kimi showed, it was a strategy which was very marginal on tyres, how was that from behind the wheel?

I knew it was going to be tight for tyres and did my best to save them. It's always difficult when you are on a risky strategy to the cars coming from behind you. The McLarens and Red Bulls were attacking with new tyres so I wasn't sure what to expect.

How nervous were you at the start of the race?

My start was very good, but then Fernando (Alonso) went on the right side and I was blocked behind him. I couldn't do much. Then unfortunately Felipe (Massa) came from the outside, a good move from him, and got in front of me. He held me off for all the first stint, which was not very good for me or my race, but then the second stint was amazing.

What about the rest of the race?

The pace was really good. I started the third stint the same and then we caught back to Felipe (Massa) again. Kimi was behind Sebastian (Vettel) and myself and then Jenson (Button) joined. It was very tight between us and difficult to overtake. And then the guys with new tyres came in the middle. You can always say that without Felipe (Massa) holding us maybe it would have been a different story, but anyway we knew we had to take care of the tyres. The car felt very good today and it gives me a lot of confidence for Bahrain.

You seemed to be in traffic a lot of the time in Shanghai?

It's really frustrating not to be able to overtake! I think overtaking was quite tough on Sunday, even with the very long straight. It was really difficult for everybody. I was blocked behind Kamui (Kobayashi) and I think my pace was much better than what I was doing, but this is part of the race. You know sometimes you will have some traffic and sometimes be in free air. The strategy guys do their best to give you some free air and some laps to do by your own.

Overall, how do you assess your first points finishing performance in Formula 1?

I think we had more or less everything right with just some small mistakes. Next time is going to be even better.

You've experienced Bahrain before in the 2008 GP2 Asia series; does it bring back good memories?

Definitely. I raced there with the ART Grand Prix team and we took pole position, fastest lap and the win – it's always nice to get a full house! I've also got quite a lot of experience there from 2010 when I was a test driver for Pirelli, so hopefully this will help me get up to speed quickly in the E20.

The layout of the circuit has been altered since you last drove there, so there will surely be some learning still to do…

It's true that the configuration has changed, but the 2010 layout was only used for that season, and will return to its previous format for this year. I guess I'm quite lucky really, as I've driven the track in both forms so there will be no problem at all there.

Do you think you will enjoy racing a Formula 1 car at the Bahrain International Circuit?

Whether you enjoy driving at a track depends on the car. With a good car you enjoy the track, with a bad car you don't! Bahrain is a good track. It has some big braking which I quite like, some interesting changes of direction like the double-left in the middle of the racetrack… I think the E20 will be nice there. The balance we have is pretty good and I'm sure we can achieve something strong.

What are you hoping for at the next race?

I want to be able to put a proper qualifying and proper race all together. I think the car will be good there. The weather should stay the same throughout the weekend - hopefully! Let's see what we can do.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Eric Boullier – “We have a car that can compete for podiums”

2012-04-17T15:42:31Z

Frustration has been the theme of the season so far for Team Principal Eric Boullier; but behind that is a strong belief in what we could achieve

Eric, what is your view on the Chinese GP?

It was a tough weekend for us. It started right from the free practice sessions, when our new aerodynamic package did not perform 100% as expected. Because the track time is always very limited during a Grand Prix weekend and because we did not know if the situation was the result of the low temperatures or a problem with the package itself, we took the decision to go for a compromise between the new parts and our older configuration after Friday. We then probably lost performance in comparison to our rivals. We made it to Q3 without any problem, but then the race did not develop as expected. Kimi put on a strong performance, but our strategy did not allow him to get onto the podium. We still believe that a two stop plan was good for us but in retrospect, we stopped him slightly too early after his second stint. That was a real shame. Romain on the other hand has been able to put his bad luck behind him. He finished sixth and could have been even higher. Also, his fight against Pastor Maldonado was great to watch, although maybe a bit stressful from the pitwall!

What's your mood, then, ahead of Bahrain?

I spoke about frustration before China and I think this is what I feel the most at the moment. We've only been scoring with one car in the first three races. When you look at the classification in Shanghai, McLaren, Red Bull, Sauber and Williams all had both their drivers in the top ten. This is really what we should be aiming for in Bahrain. I believe the Constructors' Championship classification does not reflect our true level of performance. Ten laps before the end of the race in China, we were still 2nd and 6th, and looking quite strong. We need to keep this level of performance until the chequered flag.

Any positives?

Of course, there are some. Kimi's position on the grid was his best so far, and there are more developments to be added to the car soon. Also, despite some tricky conditions and a track that was not supposed to suit the E20, we managed to fight at the top once again. We were well beaten by Mercedes in China and McLaren have a little bit on us still, but we have a car that can compete for podiums. We just have to make sure that we don't miss any opportunities.

Kimi and Romain have both lost places during pitstops since the beginning of the season. Is it a concern?

We know where the problem is coming from. Our guys have little to do with it. In order to improve our pitstops, we'll have to re-design and manufacture some parts of our equipment. This won't be ready for Bahrain but we will make a step forward in Barcelona for sure.

The expectations for Bahain are clear, then…

Yes. I would say these expectations are a copy and paste from China. Our aim will be to have a troublefree weekend and show what we can do with the E20. This is the minimum, and unlike what happened at each of the first three races, there should not be any rain to make our life difficult in Bahrain! Having both cars in the top ten would be a nice improvement. Our potential is plain to see. I don't like being in 6th position in the Constructors' Championship, but we should not remain there for too long!

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Happy Birthday Romain!

2012-04-17T11:53:31Z

On the day of Romain's 26th birthday, Lotus F1 Team would like to wish our flying Frenchman ‘Joyeux Anniversaire'

The entire Enstone family wishes Romain many happy returns. We hope that he'll share a piece of his birthday cake!

Want to get to know Romain better? Check out his page in the driver's profile section of our website, which includes his career CV, a pre-season Q&A, and an A-Z of his key facts! Just click here

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Kimi Räikkönen – “A podium should be possible”

2012-04-16T15:09:48Z

After a weekend which came agonisingly close to producing a real result for Kimi in China, the Finn puts the past behind him and looks ahead to his next opportunity for glory at the Bahrain Grand Prix

The Chinese Grand Prix was full of action; how was it from your position?

It was good racing but we ran out of tyre performance during the final stint. I felt comfortable in the car and I could push well, but we lost out in the end. I was not able to get past Felipe (Massa) in the middle part of the race, and I wasn't able to keep Sebastian (Vettel) behind me, but there is still good speed in the car.

What happened when Sebastian got past you?

I had been keeping him behind me, but finally my tyres were too far gone for me to keep him there. I went wide and then I was on the marbles. I had very little traction on the loose stuff and because it was so close a lot of cars went past me. It was then too late to make another stop so it was frustrating. It was the strategy we chose, and I wouldn't have been fighting for second if we'd gone for a three stop. Maybe we should have run a longer second stint, as that worked for Romain. We learnt a lot about the tyres.

Are you frustrated the strategy chosen didn't work?

It looked the best one for us and it worked for Romain. If we had the same information again, we'd probably try the same approach. It didn't work, but you don't know these things unless you try them. We will now know better for next time. We were pretty close to finishing on the podium. We didn't. That's racing.

You were racing wheel-to-wheel at times during the race. How was that?

It is what I missed when I was rallying, and it's good to be racing against other cars like that. It was very close at times, but it's called racing so that's what you do. I thought it must have looked good on television for anyone watching. I look forward to racing more like that this season.

The team wasn't able to maximise the latest upgrade package at Shanghai – how frustrating was that for you as a driver?

We had a lot of parts but it was wet on Friday morning and very cold in the afternoon. We went back to most of the old spec for Saturday as we knew how it worked. Qualifying was okay, but there was a bigger gap to pole which wasn't what we wanted. We didn't make the car faster which some others did with theirs. The E20 still feels good to drive, but we just need to get a little bit more speed. Hopefully we will find it in Bahrain.

What are your thoughts of the Bahrain International Circuit?

I don't think it will present any particular problems for us. It's likely to be quite hot and our car didn't like the cold so much when we were in China so maybe the heat will suit us better. The track has a mixture of corners and it's quite fun to race on. There are some opportunities to overtake so let's see what happens.

It's another circuit where you have finished on the podium…

I have had a second and three third places in Bahrain which is okay. It is good to race there. We won't know how strong the car will be until we get there. Maybe we will get the upgrades on the car to work properly and we will be able to go faster than in China. Let's see.

How have you enjoyed the first three races?

It's not that different to what it was like before. I don't like the travel so much as the first races are so far away from home, but soon we will be racing in Europe. When you're at the track and in the car you know what you have to do, so it doesn't matter so much about the other stuff. When I'm in the car it feels good, and we're all working to get faster.

Do you think the team is capable of a strong result in Bahrain?

A podium should be possible and I think it has been at all the races we've been at so far. We won't know exactly how good the car is until we get there, but we don't expect any problems.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

James Allison - “We are going to start scoring points in a decent way very soon”

2012-04-16T10:06:49Z

Technical Director James Allison reflects on a mixed weekend in Shanghai, and looks ahead to the challenges of Round 4 of the Formula 1 World Championship in Bahrain

What are your thoughts after the Chinese Grand Prix?

I'm sure people are going to get bored of us saying ‘so near, yet so far' or ‘if only' or ‘it's going to come good'. Nevertheless this weekend just reinforces the feeling we've had in the first two races, that there is a lot of goodness to come this season with this car. We are going to start scoring points in a decent way very soon. We were very, very close to it in China and although we didn't quite make it stick, we chose the right strategy for the day and we very nearly turned it into an excellent result. The only thing that undid us I think was probably not going quite long enough in the second stint with Kimi, which left him with just a little bit too much to do at the end. There are good positives to take, though. Both cars were well balanced throughout the race. Both drivers were competitive. We were well beaten by Mercedes, but so was everyone else.

Why weren't we able to get a handle on the upgrade package taken to China?

We weren't able to unlock the pace we thought we had brought with the upgrades and that was frustrating. It was a very awkward weekend and not just for us. We were dealing with a tyre that was just popping in and out of the edge of its operating window from a temperature point of view. That made it ever-so-hard to make coherent decisions about whether what you had done to the car was a good thing or a bad thing. That was confusing for us, but we pulled everything reasonably back together. The car was very well balanced in the race. You could see from Romain's results that it ran its tyres very nicely. You could also see from Kimi's first stint, where he was right on Button's bumper for the whole of that period, that our wear and degradation on the option was strong. We very nearly made a two-stop race stick for a strong result.

Should Bahrain present a better opportunity to unlock the pace?

We go to Bahrain knowing that we're going to have more consistent temperatures with the tyres! That will allow us to assess the upgrade package with a more level set of conditions. We'll get as much of it on as we can prove is good. There are a couple of new bits coming for the car, such as a new pushrod. We will benefit from more time with the bits we took to China but ultimately didn't use for the race.

What challenges does the Bahrain track present for the E20?

We're racing back on the original configuration as last used in 2009. It'll be the first proper test of our braking systems for the year. We don't anticipate any problems, but it will be one where we need to pay a little bit more attention to wear and temperature. It's also a circuit where we need good traction – turn 1 for example and turn 10 especially as it's very slow speed. We have identified this as an area where the E20 needs some work so it will be interesting to see how we perform.

How do the team prepare for a track with high braking demands?

We do track comparisons, so from knowing the demands of Jerez for example we can calculate how the brakes should work at Bahrain. We do work on a brake dyno, where we simulate the loads which the brakes will experience at a circuit and this helps evaluate wear and cooling. We don't think there will be any dramas; of course we could get a surprise. Last time out in Bahrain, the track was longer – meaning fewer laps – so there were less occurrences of heavy braking zones, and more time between them.

After the recent protest decision is the team developing a ‘double-D' RS?

We are at the point of making estimates of how big the gain might be and assessing the difficulty in actually realising that gain. It's anyone's guess how powerful any existing system is, but that's not the issue; it's how powerful we think we can make any system which we can develop now we know how the rules can be interpreted. There are systems like Mercedes has, but the interpretation allows other permutations too. So it could be an interesting time for developments in this area.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook throughout the week as we count down to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Kimi Räikkönen – “We Definitely Had the Speed”

2012-04-15T16:55:14Z

A valiant drive from Kimi saw him gamble on a strategy which came so close to producing a great result, but ultimately resulted in a disappointment. The Finn talks us through his thoughts on risk taking, the E20's performance, and a tough race in China

Kimi, with about ten laps to go things were looking so promising; it's amazing what difference a couple of laps can make...

It's a shame the race ended the way it did. We tried to run a two stop strategy as in theory it was the fastest option, but we just ran out of grip at the end as the tyres faded away. We spent a long time stuck behind Felipe (Massa) and just couldn't get close enough down the straight to pass. In the end I don't know how different the result would have been as once the tyres fell away it was difficult to stay on track, but it was a risk we took and it unfortunately it didn't pay off.

Do you think it was worth taking a risk like that when you found yourself at the front of the field to try and potentially pull something out of the bag?

Taking chances can go one way or the other, that's why it's a risk. We had two options and we opted for a certain strategy which we thought would work out and potentially bring us a good result but it didn't work out that way. We knew it was going to be a close call and maybe it wasn't the right decision, but that's just the way things go sometimes.

It was heartbreaking watching the events that unfolded in the final stage of the race; talk us through it from your view

Up until the last few laps things were going well; we had good pace and a chance for a good result, but when the tyres give up it's almost impossible to compete at the same level. When Sebastian (Vettel) got past it all went downhill very quickly; I got out onto the marbles and had no control of the car. From there it was just a case of trying to stay on the road. I think we lost something like ten places in one lap; unfortunately there was nothing we could do to stop it.

Your pace at the start of the race, and even on the worn tyres before they faded away seemed to be strong; how did the car feel today?

The car was very good which is the encouraging thing we can take from today. We definitely had the speed and if we hadn't been caught up behind other cars it could have been a different story, but you never know. There's always room for improvement and we'll learn from this weekend to go for a better performance at the next race.

It's been a weekend of mixed emotions as we bid farewell to the Shanghai International Circuit for another year. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout next week.

Today is your last chance to check out our latest competition, where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. To submit your entry, Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “It's a Great Starting Point”

2012-04-15T15:52:06Z

Romain produced a superb performance to guide his E20 from P10 to P6 in a frantic race at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Frenchman speaks of his satisfaction after grabbing his first points of the season, and his best result in Formula 1 to date

Romain, first of all a huge congratulations; from only having done a handful of laps to not just finishing the race, but finishing it in style and achieving your best result in Formula 1 so far. It must be a great feeling?

I'm very happy, both for myself and for the team. Everyone has worked extremely hard and deserved a good result. We had to wait a bit to get it but now we have that in the bag and some good points on the board. There is still more to come from both myself and the guys and we have some work to do before we have a completely clean race, but I'm really proud of how we recovered from Friday's pace and very happy with what we achieved today. It's a great starting point.

Speaking of starting points, before the weekend you said you wanted to draw a line under the first two races and that your season starts here; you've certainly kicked it off with a bang!

Yes, for me the season has finally begun! Racing is all about ups and downs; we've certainly had the down side already and hopefully that is behind us now. I think we can be very happy with what we did today and hopefully that form will continue in Bahrain and for the rest of the season.

You made a bold strategy call but it turned out to be the right one; at one stage of the race it must have been difficult to know where you were! How nerve-wracking was it towards the end with everything changing so much?

We had to fight in different parts of the field all through the race and it was quite hard to know where I was! For example when Jenson (Button) overtook me, I didn't know whether we were racing for position or what was going on! It was tough for everybody out there and we saw huge tyre degradation; when they start to let go it's really difficult to recover. The last stint was very long so we had to take care of the tyres; those last six laps were probably the longest of my life! I knew the tyres were on the edge for everybody and if they drop off then its game over. Luckily I kept them going until the end and it was nice to finish that way. P6 is a good result starting from P10.

You had a big moment towards the end where you went wide tussling with Mark (Webber); do you think you could maybe have caught up to the cars in front if that hadn't happened?

You never know. Maybe I was a bit too ambitious against Mark and I didn't expect that amount of marbles on the outside line. I just caught the edge of them, and once you're out there you can't do anything. Anyway, it's a mistake I won't make again and this is a very good result if you look at the McLarens and Red Bulls who were very strong but not far in front. Without that mistake from myself and a with a better pit stop maybe we could have done a bit better, so there are still areas where I can improve and still areas where the team can make up some time, but it's looking very positive for the future. The team have given me a fantastic car, and with a few improvements and a decent qualifying position I think we can achieve some great results.

What do you make of the field as a whole? We've got a few new teams competing at the front and a new winner; it looks a lot closer this season than in previous years...

Today's race was fantastic; it was tough but I really enjoyed myself on the track. We've never seen a Q2 session that tight before and in the race there were battles right through the field. It wasn't easy for us in the cars but it's fantastic for the fans and for Formula 1 as a sport. I'm really excited for the rest of the season, it looks like it's going to be very close and very competitive; I can't wait for the next race already!

It's been a weekend of mixed emotions as we bid farewell to the Shanghai International Circuit for another year. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout next week.

Today is your last chance to check out our latest competition, where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. To submit your entry, Just click here.

So Close, Yet So Far – Chinese Grand Prix, Race Report

2012-04-15T11:29:36Z

Another promising but ultimately frustrating weekend for Lotus F1 Team saw Romain produce a fine display of finesse to pick up his first points of the season, while Kimi was unfortunate to fall foul of the infamous tyre cliff

A warm but overcast start at the Shanghai International Circuit was a much more welcome sight after the cooler conditions that had hampered the E20's performance throughout the weekend thus far. With both cars starting in the top 10 the team were eagerly awaiting the start.

When the lights went out, Kimi got a flying pull away from the line passing Kobayashi into turn 1, but was then immediately usurped by the flying Button around the outside of the first corner dropping the Finn back to his starting position of P4.

A good getaway from Romain was undone as he got boxed out by the two Ferraris into turn 1, forcing him to lock up and fall one place to P11. Once things had settled down, Kimi was taking the challenge to Button in P3, while Romain was left tussling with Massa for P10.

In the early stages Kimi was right on the pace of the leaders, being narrowly shaded my Rosberg and swapping times with the McLarens and Red Bulls around him. The team decided that the 2007 World Champion was being held up by the McLaren, and brought him in for his first stop on lap 10 to make the switch onto the medium tyre.

As his E20 dropped from the jacks, Kimi found himself side-by-side with Hamilton in the pit lane, who had the line and took the place as the pair re-joined the track. Webber, who had pitted earlier, also managed to jump the Finn but the battle did not end there.

An intense duel ensued throughout the following lap between the Finn and the Australian, with amazing skill on display from both drivers as they came within millimetres of each other at times, Webber first darting down the inside into turn 3 only for as Kimi to come back around the outside, before finally conceding the place.

One lap later Romain came in for his first set of medium tyres, and with the retirement of Schumacher found himself back in the points. With the order reshuffled following the pit stops, Kimi sat in P5 while Romain had jumped 2 places to P8.

The Frenchman showed great pace after the first round of stops, often running quicker than his team more experience team-mate and charging straight up to the back of Kobayashi, where he would agonisingly remain for a number of laps, forming the meat in a Sauber sandwich with Perez behind.

By lap 20 Romain was putting severe pressure on Kobayashi for P7, and with Kimi sandwiched between Webber and Alonso it was looking like a frustrating stage of the race for the team. Webber finally pitted on lap 22, releasing Kimi to stretch the E20's legs.

Both drivers remained on track for long second stints, with Romain in particular doing a great job to maintain his tyres at a manageable level. Kimi was unfortunate to be passed again when he pitted on lap 28, this time by Alonso.

Romain meanwhile was clearly far quicker than Kobayashi at this stage of proceedings, but being held up and unable to get past proved costly. The Japanese driver pitted earlier than the Frenchman, allowing Vettel to also get the jump in the next round of stops on lap 32.

When the order shook out after the second tyre changes, Kimi sat in P5 with Romain in P9 as differing strategies created a very unpredictable order. On a 2 stop strategy, Massa had been holding a train of cars up in his wake, including both Lotus F1 Team drivers, until he finally pitted on lap 41.

Now released from the shackles of the Ferrari, Kimi put in his personal best time on lap 42 and found himself promoted to P2 after opting to run deep into his stint. Similarly, Romain had jumped to P5 on another long run.

Webber put a good move on Romain on lap 45, and as the Frenchman tried to come back at him he ran wide onto the marbles and lost places to Hamilton and Senna. Subsequently being passed by Maldonado into the hairpin, Romain hit back with a brave move on the exit of the corner and regained his place, quickly pulling away from the Venezuelan driver.

With both drivers now having converted to a 2 stop strategy, the remainder of the race was all about tyre management. On lap 48 Kimi ran deep into turn 3 as Vettel made his move, with Button following through. With dirt on his tyres The Finn then went wide and onto the grass as his tyres faded away, subsequently being passed by 7 cars in 1 lap including Romain who moved up to P6.

With his Pirelli rubber now well and truly finished, Kimi dropped to P14 – where he would eventually finish – as even his abundant skills struggled to keep the car on track.

Romain, having benefitted from his team-mates issues, drove a superbly smooth and calculated last few laps to bring his E20 home in an impressive P6, and in doing so mark up his first finish and indeed first points of the season.

It's been a weekend of mixed emotions as we bid farewell to the Shanghai International Circuit for another year. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook for updates throughout next week.

Today is your last chance to check out our latest competition, where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. To submit your entry, Just click here.

Kimi Räikkönen – “Hopefully We Can Move Forward in the Race”

2012-04-14T15:55:30Z

Despite achieving his best qualifying result of the season so far, Kimi feels that the E20 could be further up the order here in China; the Finn gives us his thoughts on qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit this afternoon

Kimi, today saw your strongest qualifying result of the season to date; how are you feeling after that performance?

Qualifying in P5 is ok but overall our pace is not as good as we had hoped. We'll start in P4 after Lewis (Hamilton) takes his penalty so the result isn't bad, but the time could have been better. I tried to improve after my first lap but got a bit wide through one corner, so maybe we could have been a bit closer to the front but really I think we got the maximum from the car today. In a way it's not too bad, but we're disappointed with the gap to Nico (Rosberg). Anyway that's how it goes sometimes; hopefully we can at least keep our position at the start and try to move forward in the race.

You've mentioned that the car hasn't quite lived up to expectations so far this weekend; where do you think improvements need to be made?

We seem to be losing time on the straights and through the corners, but the main thing we're lacking is downforce. More downforce means more grip, and although the handling is fine we can't push as hard as we'd like. The colder weather didn't help us, and the temperature dropped quite a lot in Q3 which made a difference to our speed. It should be warmer tomorrow which will help, but then again it will help some of the other teams too. So far our car has had good race pace, so hopefully we'll see that again tomorrow. Of course, if it rains then we have a level playing field as everyone will need to start from scratch.

How much of an effect do you think the upgrade package brought in for this weekend has had on the car's performance?

We've tried some new parts which unfortunately haven't worked as we expected, so the car is now more or less back to the set-up we ran in Malaysia. Hopefully we'll get the updates working soon so we can keep moving forwards; we don't want to get into a situation where the others are improving and we're staying where we are. Our pace is not as good as it was in the last race, but I'm sure we'll get there once we find how to get the new parts working.

Tyres seem to have been the big topic of the weekend, with high wear at the front and difficulties getting the rubber up to temperature being a common complaint in the paddock; what are your thoughts?

I didn't have any major issues with the tyres. There is clearly a difference between the compounds, but it's the same for everybody and again the weather will affect this. It's hard to say how the tyres will perform during the race as we haven't done any particularly long runs. Again it depends on how hot it is; when it's cooler we can't quite get them working how we would like, but once the track warms up we're fine. A positive from qualifying is that we didn't set a timed lap on the last set of tyres so, while they're not brand new, they have very little wear which should help us at the start.

You set the fastest time in the first sector today; despite not being entirely happy with the car, does this give you some optimism for the race?

I'm surprised we were fastest in the first sector as it didn't feel particularly quick. In a way we can look at today in a positive light; the fact that we qualified in P5 even though the car isn't performing as we'd like is actually quite encouraging, especially as we're not as strong around this track as we were at the previous circuits. Not counting the pole time, we're not far behind the cars in front of us either so we can be pleased with that. I'm not sure we're in such a strong position as in the first two Grand Prix – which is strange to say when we have our highest grid slot so far – but we'll see what we can do.

The main event – the Chinese Grand Prix – is next up from the Shanghai International Circuit at 15:00 local time tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “The Team Did a Great Job to Turn Things Around”

2012-04-14T11:24:18Z

Romain put in a strong performance during his first ever qualifying session at the Shanghai International Circuit and will start in P10; but in typical fashion the Frenchman is already aiming further up the grid for tomorrow's race

Romain, after a difficult day yesterday you must be pleased to have made it through to Q3?

To be honest, I have mixed feelings after today's session. We struggled a bit on Friday so from that perspective it's great to have both cars in Q3, but unfortunately during my first run in Q2 I overheated the rear tyres which made the car difficult to handle and lead to a poor lap time. I was expecting more grip from the track but it got cooler as the day went on and I just pushed a little bit too much. This meant we were forced to use my last fresh set of tyres to get through to Q3. There was no point trying to set a competitive time on scrubbed tyres in the pole position shoot-out, which is a real shame as our pace in Q2 was good. The positive news is that by not setting a lap we kept some extra tread on the tyres, and they look in good shape for tomorrow's race.

With the car not behaving as predicted and a new circuit to learn, it must have been quite tough going for you this weekend so far?

There have been a few challenges for sure but I'm lucky to have a great group of people around me to make things easier. I feel much more comfortable with the car and I think that showed in the lap times today. The team did a great job to turn things around and get us back towards the top where we should be. I was pleased to be able to learn the new track quite quickly, but of course you always want more. It's not an easy place to get right, especially the first corner which seems to go on forever and closes very tightly. I still have some fine tuning to do but 56 laps in tomorrow's race will certainly help that! I think the main positive we can take is that we're not too far away from the cars in front, which is a good sign for the race tomorrow.

Such an evenly matched grid should make for an exciting race; realistically what would be the ideal result for you?

Well the ideal result would always be a win! This is the tightest battle we've had so far this season to get into Q3. You only have to look at where Sebastian (Vettel) finished to see how close the grid was today. Nico (Rosberg) put in a great lap, but that's not a surprise as the Mercedes has been fast all season. Their problem so far seems to have been overheating tyres, so the colder conditions here will have suited them better. Hopefully tomorrow will be warmer and the advantage will swing back our way. My main priority tomorrow is to get a decent start, overtake a few of the guys in front and take home some good points. We'll be working hard again tonight to make sure the car is how we want it, and hopefully we'll find some more speed for the race.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Bouncing Back – Chinese Grand Prix, Qualifying Report

2012-04-14T07:37:51Z

Lotus F1 Team may not have topped the time sheets during the free practice sessions here in China, but the team once again demonstrated true fighting spirit to end the day with an encouraging qualifying performance ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix tomorrow afternoon

Qualifying kicked off at 14:00 local time today at the Shanghai International circuit. Both Kimi and Romain took to the track early in the first session sporting the white marked medium tyre, and setting solid initial times during 4 and 5 lap stints respectively.

Despite posting respectable laps both drivers opted to head out for a second attempt, with Kimi remaining on the medium tyres (albeit a fresh set) and Romain opting for a set of yellow marked softs with 6 minutes of the first session remaining.

The switch paid off immediately for Romain, as he leapt to the top of the leader board with his single lap effort. Kimi took a steady approach to his second run, as the team monitored the field to assess whether the Finn would need to complete another flying lap. As it happened there was no need, and he duly cruised back to base without improving his time.

Both drivers made it comfortably through to the second part of qualifying; Romain posting a best time of 1:36.343 from 8 laps to finish the session in P3, while Kimi's best effort of 1:36.850 from 7 laps was good enough to progress in P12 – despite not using the notably faster soft compound tyres.

As Q2 got underway Kimi was first to head out of the Lotus F1 Team garage on the soft compound tyres, briefly jumping to the top of the time sheets with the second effort of his 2 lap stint. Romain by contrast had a slightly untidy flying lap at the first attempt, subsequently deciding to pit for a fresh set of soft tyres having yet to set a time.

While Kimi remained in the garage – the team confident that his time would be good enough to progress – Romain returned to the fray with just over 2 minutes left to run. Despite the immense pressure, the Frenchman produced a fine lap to pip his team mate by less than one tenth of a second and join the Finn in the pole position shoot out.

As the final competitors crossed the line it was Romain who lead the team into the final session of the day, with his best effort of 1:35.903 from 5 laps putting him in P7. Kimi's 3 lap run produced a time of 1:35.921 which was good enough for P8.

With both the air and track temperature beginning to drop, it was anyone's guess as to how the final grid would shape up. Kimi was the first driver out on track as the green lights were illuminated; just 10 minutes remaining for the drivers to show their hand.

Not satisfied with his initial effort, the Finn returned to the pits for a fresh set of tyres having set just one flying lap. As his team mate headed back to base, Romain fired his E20 out onto the circuit for his one and only stint. Having used his quota of fresh rubber in Q2, the Frenchman was unfortunately unable to produce his best, ultimately opting not to attempt a flying lap.

Kimi's second run was significantly more productive, with the 2007 World Champion putting the trials and tribulations of Friday's practice sessions well and truly to rest. When the chequered flag dropped at the end of a frantic final minute on track, the Finn found himself in an impressive P5 after setting a fastest time of 1:35.898 from 5 laps.

As mentioned Romain struggled to replicate his Q2 pace on the worn tyres, but will nonetheless start the race in a solid P10 despite not setting a time in the final part of qualifying. With Hamilton taking a 5 place grid penalty, Kimi will be promoted to P4 on the final grid for tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix.

Speaking of the race, the main event is next up from the Shanghai International Circuit at 15:00 local time tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned to our website Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

The Final Countdown – Chinese Grand Prix, Free Practice 3 Report

2012-04-14T04:31:34Z

Friday may not have been ideal for Kimi, Romain and the E20s, but Lotus F1 Team bounced back with an improved performance during the final practice session on Saturday morning, with attention now turning to qualifying this afternoon

With plenty of work left to do after a disappointing first day at the Shanghai International Circuit, Romain and Kimi departed their respective garages in flying formation moments after the green lights went out to ensure maximum track time before qualifying.

With their install laps and oil dips complete, both drivers returned to the pits for a short break while the team analysed the initial data to ensure everything was in order. 12 minutes into the session, Kimi once again followed Romain out onto the track with both remaining on the white marked medium tyres – a fresh set for Romain, and scrubbed set for Kimi.

A more encouraging start to the day saw both drivers sitting inside the top 10 as they brought the E20s home once more with the midway stage of the session approaching – Romain having completed 7 laps overall and Kimi a total of 6 after the first stint.

The warmer conditions allowed the team to gain a better idea of how the upgrades were affecting performance after an inconclusive day's work with the new parts on Friday, hence the decision to remain with a similar set-up to yesterday throughout the morning.

Almost exactly halfway through proceedings, the next stints were underway for Kimi and Romain. Both were clearly pushing hard to find the limits of the E20s around the track, with Kimi sending sparks flying from the kerbs on the exit of the final turn, and Romain having a half spin in turn 2 as he explored the boundaries of grip from the Pirelli tyres.

With 12 and 10 laps down overall for Romain and Kimi respectively, the third and final run of the session saw the day's first appearance from the yellow marked soft compound tyres. This time it was the Finn's turn to lead the Frenchman out onto the circuit with 10 minutes remaining.

After abandoning his first lap following a slide in the first sector, Kimi promptly put his E20 firmly inside the top 10 with his second attempt, improving by almost 7 tenths of a second. Romain meanwhile continued his learning experience at the track, putting together a solid string of laps at an impressively similar pace to his more experienced team mate.

Practice pit stops and a final oil dip rounded off the morning for the drivers, as Kimi ended the session in P10 with a best time of 1:37.061 from 17 laps, with Romain close behind in P12 after setting a fastest time of 1:37.274 from 19 laps.

Qualifying is next up from the Shanghai International Circuit, with Q1 kicking off at 14:00 local time this afternoon. Stay tuned to our website Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Kimi Räikkönen – “The Race is Where it Really Counts”

2012-04-13T16:00:12Z

After a mixed day for the team in China, Kimi remains philosophical about the weekend ahead at the Shanghai International Circuit, and looks forward to the all-important event on Sunday – race day

Kimi, it seemed like the car was not quite how you wanted it today; can you tell us a bit more?

It's not often you have a perfect car on Friday and there are certain things we need to improve which is perfectly normal. It doesn't really matter if you are first or last in testing because that's exactly what it is; testing. We've been trying a few upgrades and some different set-ups to see how the car behaves which was the main purpose of today, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

How would you summarise the two sessions?

We managed to put in a good number of laps, not so much this morning but this afternoon. Of course, we'd ideally like to be nearer the front but like I said it's just testing. The changing conditions held us back a bit in FP1 and unfortunately we lost a bit of time making set-up changes in FP2, but towards the end we decided to stick with what we were running which gave us some good track time. We have a lot of work to do for sure, but it's been the same at each race weekend this season so it's not unexpected.

Do you think the weather today has had a real impact on the set-up of the car? A few drivers were complaining of the front tyres fading quickly…

Maybe, but the weather is the same for everyone – if it rains it rains, if it's dry it's dry. There were a few cold days during testing and we had no problems there. It's just a matter of finding the best setup. The tyres felt ok, but we didn't do any particularly long stints so it's hard to tell.

How did you find the upgrade package for the car?

The conditions in FP1 made it hard to see where we are with the new upgrades which was a bit of a setback. When you make a few changes to the car it's not as easy to go out and push straight away like other teams are able to, but this will improve over the weekend. The car didn't feel too different from where we've been at previous circuits, but obviously the lap times are not as competitive yet. We'll be looking at the data overnight and hopefully we can find some more speed tomorrow.

As you've said it would be nice to sit further up the order even at this early stage in proceedings; what are your ambitions for this weekend?

If you just go by the lap times and nothing else then we haven't looked so fast today, but the race is where it really counts. For sure we have some work to do and changes to make, but this is normal. For the race I think we need to be aiming at improving on the results we've had so far, as we've been strong all year but not managed to get the points we deserved.

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Shanghai International Circuit at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Romain Grosjean – “The Team is Working Hard to Push Us Forward”

2012-04-13T11:42:33Z

China will hold all the more significance for Romain this weekend, as he looks to bounce back from the unfortunate events of Australia and Malaysia. We caught up with the flying Frenchman to gather his thoughts after the first day here at the Shanghai International Circuit

Romain, how did it go today?

It was ok, but not spectacular. It was interesting trying to learn the track this morning in greasy and constantly changing conditions. This made things a bit tricky but I managed to get a few runs in on the intermediates which was good to help build my knowledge both the tyres and the track.

The cold weather here in Shanghai appears to have affected a few of the cars out there, in particular the E20 it would seem; how did it feel out there?

We weren't expecting these kinds of temperatures, and nobody would have wanted these conditions that's for sure, but in any case we need to improve. This is one of the first times we've struggled but the car still feels ok; not fantastic but not bad either. We're lacking some performance and it's now our job to analyse the data and make sure we adjust our set-up to suit the conditions. The good news is we already understand where the time is being lost so we can work on it tonight and hopefully improve tomorrow.

The team has brought a fairly significant upgrade package to the race this weekend; how are these working so far?

Some are working well, while others are not yet producing the results we were expecting. No matter how good simulations can be, it's always a different matter when you take a concept from the wind tunnel to the track. The important thing is that the team is committed and working hard to push us forward.

Would you say your season starts here after the disappointment of Australia and Malaysia?

I wouldn't exactly say that; we've obviously had ups and downs, but that's racing. We're not where we want to be in the standings but when you look at the whole picture it's certainly not a disaster, and we know in different circumstances we could be in a much better position.

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Shanghai International Circuit at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Setup, Setup and More Setup – Chinese Grand Prix, Free Practice 2 Report

2012-04-13T09:16:42Z

After a somewhat frustrating start to the day, returning from lunch to find a dry track was a welcome surprise as the drivers settled back in to the cockpits of their E20s

Both Kimi and Romain departed the garage at almost exactly 14:00 with a busy programme now on the agenda after limited running during the morning session.

Romain opted for a short first run on the medium compound tyre, completing 4 laps before returning to base. Kimi chose a different strategy, with two stints of 4 and 3 laps sandwiching a pit stop simulation with front wing change.

With the lap times tumbling, it soon became clear that the team were placing an emphasis on race pace rather than single lap speed as Kimi and Romain parked up having set the 17th and 21st fastest times respectively.

Romain's second run kicked off with around an hour left to run, the Frenchman using a scrubbed set of medium compound tyres and again focusing on race setup. His reactions were called into play once more to recover from a big moment on the entry to turn 8 – despite taking to the grass there was no damage to the car and Romain went on to complete his 4 lap run.

No sooner had Romain returned to the pits than Kimi made his way back out onto the circuit for a short run of just 2 laps on a fresh set of medium compound tyres. The next stint for both drivers came almost immediately afterwards, with each sporting the soft compound tyre for the first time and producing almost identical lap times.

After a raft of setup changes, particularly for Kimi, subsequent runs saw the drivers once again trading times in very close unison as the session drew to a close. Kimi ended the day in P13 with a best time of 1:37.836 from 30 laps, with Romain close behind in P15 after setting a fastest time of 1:37.972 from 26 laps.

Once again with new parts being tested and race setup the priority, the true pace of the E20 here in China has yet to be demonstrated. All eyes now turn to Saturday's action…

Free Practice 3 is next up from the Shanghai International Circuit at 11:00 local time tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to our website Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Denied by Drizzle – Chinese Grand Prix, Free Practice 1 Report

2012-04-13T04:01:59Z

The first session of the weekend here in China proved to be a frustrating affair, as intermittent drizzle limited useful running time for the team at the Shanghai International Circuit

Tricky conditions greeted the team for the first session of the weekend here in China this morning; a mixture of dry lines and damp patches around the circuit meant that the track was too dry for intermediate tyres, but too wet in places for slicks to be effective as the green lights went out.

Nonetheless Romain launched his E20 out of the garage for an install lap around 3 minutes into the session on the green marked intermediate compound tyres. Upon the Frenchman's return Kimi promptly joined the fray, the Finn opting for the yellow marked soft compound slick tyres as he put the car through an aero run to gather data on the new parts fitted this weekend.

Speaking of new parts, the team has brought a host of upgrades to the Shanghai International Circuit, including the latest iterations of the floor, barge board, front wing, engine cover and track rods.

After two more install laps apiece, Kimi chose to remain in the garage while Romain became one of the few drivers to set an early time, putting together a 3 lap stint on the white marked medium compound slick tyres and returning to the pits having set the 2nd fastest time at that stage in proceedings.

At around the halfway point of the session a light drizzle began to coat the tarmac, with a few drivers being caught out as conditions became increasingly greasy. One of these was Romain, who demonstrated great reflexes to save the car from a big slide through turn 3.

As the slippery conditions persisted, both drivers opted for a switch to the green marked intermediate tyres. Kimi returned to the action to set his first flying lap of the day with 25 minutes to go, followed shortly afterwards by Romain who continued to build on his earlier work.

With the track hovering at an in-between stage in terms of tyre selection, reading anything into lap times during the session would prove futile. Most of the paddock, Lotus F1 Team included, chose to run a limited programme focused on aero analysis and setup changes.

In fact, with 10 minutes left to run both cars returned to the garage and parked up for the morning; the team having decided that there was little more to be gained from running on a frustratingly variable surface.

As the chequered flag dropped, Romain finished the session in P17 with a fastest time of 1:41.204 from 14 laps, while Kimi's best effort of 1:50.465 from 11 laps saw him lie in P24. It must be noted that at the very end of running with a dry line emerging, the majority of teams went out for a last-gasp effort on slick tyres which pushed both drivers right down the field having set their times in damp conditions.

Free Practice 2 is next up at the Shanghai International Circuit at 14:00 local time. Stay tuned to our website Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

In case you missed it, check out our latest competition where we're offering fans the chance to win a signed pair of Kimi's racing gloves. Just click here.

Chinese Grand Prix – What's At Stake This Weekend [Blog]

2012-04-12T17:14:54Z

Lotus F1 Team looks at how the Formula 1 grid stacks up heading into round 3 of the World Championship at the Shanghai International Circuit

It would have taken a brave man to put money on the Formula 1 World Championship table shaping up as it does currently after the first two rounds of the season.

While Australia proved inconclusive, the mixed conditions in Malaysia threw a hefty spanner in the works to provide a result which nobody could have predicted.

Starting at the front of the pack, it appears McLaren still have the edge on their rivals despite failing to capitalise on what should have been a relatively trouble-free race for the team in Malaysia. Barring a combination of pit-stop issues and on-track incidents, the Woking squad would likely have a healthy lead at the sharp end of the standings by now, and will be keen to bounce back in style this weekend.

Closest contenders Red Bull find themselves in a similar situation, with a rare point-less (note the hyphen!) finish for Vettel and a far from straightforward race for Webber adding up to a disappointing weekend for the reigning champions. There is no doubt more to come from the RB8 however, which has yet to show the same form which helped the team dominate in 2011.

Behind these two it really is still anybody's guess. Lotus once again demonstrated very strong potential with Romain's electrifying start and Kimi's fine race performance in difficult circumstances proving that we have the package to challenge at the front. The team are looking for a trouble free weekend to really show what we can do.

Mercedes have shown very good pace in qualifying, but seem unable to sustain that speed over a race distance. No doubt the team will have been assessing how to make the Pirelli tyres work more to their benefit over the break, and now very much have a point to prove this weekend in China.

Alonso's win for Ferrari in Malaysia came as a total shock. Leading the driver's championship after two races may give them a psychological boost, but as the team themselves admit, they are still some way off the pace of the front-runners at present. Having said that, the forecast of wet conditions in China may just provide an opportunity for the Italian squad to pull off another surprise.

Sauber have had a superb start to the season, and P2 for Perez in Malaysia not only underlined his ability behind the wheel, but also once again highlighted the ability of the car to manage its tyres over a race distance. These guys will be aiming for better performances in qualifying to sustain their momentum.

Williams have been the comeback story of the year so far. After their worst season to date in 2011, the turnaround in their fortunes has been dramatic, and a great drive from former Lotus F1 Team man Bruno Senna in Malaysia was a deserved reward after a difficult period in the team's history. They will no doubt be looking to match that level again in China.

Force India and Toro Rosso have once again been solidly collecting points and edging closer to the sharp end of the field, and will both be looking to mix up the order in what remains a ludicrously closely matched midfield pack. Meanwhile Caterham will no doubt be disappointed not to have been pushing for points so far this season, but are clearly making progress and could be on the verge of that goal in the near future.

Marussia will have been encouraged by a strong showing last time out in comparison to their main rivals, and HRT bounced back strongly from the disappointment of Australia to not only qualify with both cars, but also get them to the end of the race – these two teams have a lot of work to do, but have come a long way already after a difficult pre-season.

Truth be told, there could be any number of potential outcomes this weekend – many just as likely as each other – but unpredictability and entertainment tend to go hand-in-hand, and Formula 1 fans have been treated to a healthy dose of both so far in 2012.

Keep up to speed with all the latest news from the Chinese Grand Prix weekend via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Competition - Win Kimi Räikkönen's Race Gloves

2012-04-12T11:04:04Z

Lotus F1 Team is giving away a pair of signed race gloves as worn by Kimi himself – just answer three simple questions to get your hands on them!

Following on from the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Soundtrack competition held over the course of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, we are now offering fans the chance to win an even more exclusive prize – a genuine pair of Kimi's OMP race gloves!

There are also official Lotus F1 Team caps signed by Kimi and Romain up for grabs for 4 runners up; all the more reason to have a go!

There are three ways you can enter the competition. All you need to do is click on one of the following links and answer three simple questions; no headaches, no brain scratching, no catches – simple!

Twitter obsessive? Click here
Facebook fanatic? Click right over… here
Social media not your thing? Click here

Entries close at 12:00pm UK time on Monday 16th April 2012, so be sure to get your entry in on time to have a chance of winning!

Once the excitement has calmed down a bit (we know it'll take a while, don't worry!) you can keep up to speed with all the latest news from both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Talking Torque - The RS27 in China

2012-04-12T08:00:00Z

We caught up with Renault Sport F1 Team Support Leader Ricardo Penteado to discuss time off, hectic schedules, and the demands of the Shanghai International Circuit

What have you been doing since the Malaysian GP? Was it good to have another week to prepare for China?

Generally we would have just two weeks between races, but we had the luxury of three between Malaysia and China. In the week after Sepang we did all our usual race debriefs and meetings on all the positives and the negatives of the first two races to try to prepare for Shanghai. Once these had been done, in the second week we could take some days off to spend time with our families. There hasn't been a lot of time since we got started again during winter testing!

When did you arrive in China and what has the work schedule been so far?

Almost all the crew arrived late on Tuesday afternoon so we could be at the track to start work at 9am on Wednesday. Normally Wednesday is the easiest day of the race weekend for the team since we don't have any meetings and we are not allowed to fire-up. As a result we don't have the timing pressure that is present from Friday onwards so we can take our time to prepare the engine maps, check that all the ancilliary systems are functioning correctly, such as the fuel injectors, trumpets, filters, MGUs, etc, and spend some time in the garage with the team. From Thursday onwards, the workflow is guided by the numerous preparation meetings and to be honest, after some GPs (92 in my case!) it feels good to have a time schedule to give us a good rhythm.

What does the Shanghai International Circuit require from the RS27?

Shanghai has one of the lowest speed corners of the season but also one of the highest top speeds, which means that the engine will be used from very low revs after each upshift. Another important point is that we have lots of radial turns that coil back in on themselves here. This requires engine torque response, specifically engine braking, to be really accurate.

This will be your third race with Kimi now. What are your impressions?

His speed is really impressive! We could have been on pole in the last qualifying without his small mistake on the exit of T9. He is definitely not here to make friends… but to score points in the championship. Having said that, he is a very nice guy, very professional and pushing us in the right direction! In the last couple of seasons I've worked with Robert Kubica and it's funny how two completely different people outside of the car can be so similar on their approach to the car performance… champions!

What is possible this weekend?

Anything is possible, as we saw in the first two races! We have a good new package but the question is how many tenths each team is bringing here. I'm still waiting for my first pole position and victory!

Keep up to speed with all the latest news from both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

A Brighter Future - Lotus F1 Team, AGT & Trina Solar

2012-04-12T04:24:56Z

Lotus F1 Team reiterates its commitment to minimising its environmental impact with measures to reduce and offset its carbon emissions

Through commitment from existing partner Trina Solar and through a new relationship with Emissions Spot Trading organization Advanced Global Trading (AGT), Lotus F1 Team is targeting significant carbon emission reduction and carbon neutral status in 2012.

The new relationship with AGT will see every aspect of Enstone come under greater scrutiny than ever before, with the objective of minimising carbon emissions from all processes and procedures at the race team's base. AGT will also work with Lotus F1 Team partners to help achieve their environmental plans and their Corporate Social Responsibility goals.

Existing Lotus F1 Team partner Trina Solar have committed to the Plant-for-the-Planet Children's Initiative to offset 220,000 kilograms of CO2 a year through the planting of 9,000 trees per year for the next three years – a total of 27,000 trees.

The team expects to be able to announce further actions to cut its carbon footprint in due course.

Patrick Louis, Chief Executive Officer, Lotus F1 Team:
“Lotus F1 Team takes environmental concerns very seriously, and this has long been the case for teams based at Enstone. The site of the team headquarters is itself based in a former quarry with every effort made to limit the impact on the local environment. We are currently scrutinising every aspect of our business, so to have a new perspective from AGT who have the particular objective of minimising our environmental impact is invaluable. Trina Solar have assisted us through their solar power technology for a number of years and we are proud to be part of their commitment to Plant-for-the-Planet Children's Initiative.”

About Advanced Global Trading (AGT):
AGT is one of the world's most dynamic and fast-growing Emissions Spot Trading organisations within the voluntary Carbon Credit market. AGT's passionate team of emissions professionals specialises in the sourcing and trading of Verified Emissions Reduction Carbon Credits (VERs) in the dynamic over-the-counter (OTC) green market. Nominated for Best Sustainable Investment at the 2011 International Green Awards, AGT's specialist commitment to both historically-lucrative Carbon Credit trading for individuals and also encouraging companies to retire Carbon Credits as part of their CSR programmes, has helped it quickly become a global industry-leader, employing over 140 traders in the UAE, UK, Switzerland, USA, South Africa and Spain.

For further information, please visit AGT's website:
http://www.advancedglobaltrading.com

About Trina Solar Limited:
Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) is a leading manufacturer of high quality modules and has a long history as a solar PV pioneer since it was founded in 1997 as a system installation company. Trina Solar is one of the few PV manufacturers that have developed a vertically integrated business model from the production of monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules. Trina Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally-friendly electric power for a growing variety of end-user applications worldwide.

For further information, please visit Trina Solar's website:
http://www.trinasolar.com

About Plant-for-the-Planet:
The Plant-for-the-Planet Children´s Initiative was founded in January 2007 and originated from a school report on the climate crisis by Felix Finkbeiner, who was nine at that time. At the end of his presentation, Felix put forward the vision that children could plant one million trees in every country in the world to balance carbon emissions. In the years that followed, Plant-for-the-Planet evolved into a global movement. Today, some 100,000 children in 193 countries are committed to the goal of achieving an overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a unified distribution of these emissions among all of humankind. Since the takeover of the well-established “Billion Tree Campaign” from the UNEP in December 2011 and therewith the management of the official tree-o-meter of the UNEP, the new goal of the children and teenagers is to plant 1,000 billion trees until the year 2020 worldwide. To date more than 12 billion trees have already been planted in 193 countries.

For further information, please visit the Initiative's website:
http://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/en

Conquering China – The Shanghai Track Guide

2012-04-11T16:09:47Z

Round 3 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to China, where for one weekend only the sound of highly tuned engines drowns out the dense crowds and wailing car horns of this busy nation. Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane talks us through the challenges of the Shanghai International Circuit

The Venue

The Shanghai International circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl, making its first appearance on the Formula 1 calendar in 2004. The layout is based on the Chinese character ‘shang' meaning ‘high' or ‘above', and combines stunning modern architecture with a few more traditional elements, such as the team hospitality suites which are suspended above a lake in the style of classic pavilions.

The past few seasons have seen varying climatic conditions, with a dry race in 2011, a wet / dry weekend in 2010, and heavy wet conditions in 2009. Temperatures can vary between 10-18°C at this time of year, providing a very different challenge to the drivers and engineers after the intense heat of Malaysia.

The Circuit

The circuit layout has two straights and a mix of corners, from tight hairpins to flowing curves and radial turns. The constant changes of direction mean correct engine mapping is extremely important to give the necessary drive out of the corners. Turns 12 & 13, which make up the radial corner leading onto the longest straight on the circuit, demand particular attention.

Turns 1 & 2 can be bumpy which unsettles the car. This makes braking difficult in the entry phase of the first corner. Turn 1 leads straight into Turn 2 and can be viewed as a single, increasing radius corner which places a lot of load on the front tyres. Tyre management in this corner significantly helps with the durability of the tyres over a race distance.

There are high traction demands coming out of Turns 3 & 6 while Turn 4 requires heavy braking. Turns 7 & 8 present a different challenge, with good high speed change of direction needed here. Entry into Turn 9 is tricky as it involves the transition from high speed corners into heavy braking. Exiting is important as it sets the car up for Turn 10, where solid traction is once again required for a strong launch on to the following straight.

As mentioned before, Turns 12 & 13 are a crucial to a good lap time, with the banked Turn 13 in particular providing an interesting challenge for the drivers. This leads onto one of the most high-speed features of the season – the main straight – after which the cars have to slow significantly for Turn 14. Although this is one of a few heavy braking areas around the track, these are well spread over a lap so the brakes have sufficient time to cool. Overall this is not a harsh track on brakes.

The Car

Slightly less downforce is required in Shanghai than at either Sepang or Albert Park in deference to the opportunities for overtaking provided by the two straights. The front wing gives slightly less load than at the previous two circuits.

In terms of suspension set-up, the kerbs here are low meaning that ride height can be lower than would otherwise be necessary. The bumpy braking zone into Turn 1 tests the car's damping capabilities, and the set-up also needs to encourage good change of direction from the car at both high speeds (Turns 7-8) and low speeds (Turns 2-3 and 9-10).

Shanghai is not a severe circuit on brakes. There are some heavy braking zones with up to 5G of deceleration at Turn 1 into 2, as well as Turns 6, 11 and 14 but they are well spread over the lap giving time for the discs and pads to cool.

Pirelli's P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft tyres will be nominated. The asphalt is not especially aggressive and temperatures are not particularly high, so there will not be a lot of degradation. There are however some significant lateral forces on the car in Turns 1, 8 and 13.

Shanghai is roughly in the middle of the table for the stresses it puts on engines. There is one very long straight where the engine is pushed to its most severe usage, but the rest of the circuit features 16 medium to low speed corners meaning that the engine is used at relatively low revs for the remainder of the lap.

The straight between Turns 13 and 14 is the longest on the Formula 1 calendar; gear ratios are therefore carefully calculated to trade off acceleration and maximum speed taking account of aero set-up, engine power, weather, KERS and DRS usage. Short ratios favour acceleration; a longer top gear ratio permits higher maximum speed.

Keep up to speed with all the latest news from both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Chinese Grand Prix – Lotus F1 Team History

2012-04-11T12:17:58Z

As part of our build up to the 9th Chinese Grand Prix, we take a look at the team's history at the Shanghai International Circuit

In the Beginning…

Lotus F1 Team entered the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in 2004 under the Renault name, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Canadian Jacques Villeneuve at the wheel

Winning Ways

In its various guises the team has taken 1 win in China, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2005) leading the field home on the way to his first Driver's World Championship

Podium Potential

The team has also achieved 3 Chinese Grand Prix podiums, with the first coming in 2005 (Fernando Alonso, Renault) and the most recent being a double in 2006 (Fernando Alonso / Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault)

Qualifying Kings

To date, the team has claimed pole position at the Shanghai International circuit on two occasions, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2005 / 2006) heading the grid on both occasions

Fast Flyers

The team has also set the fastest lap in China on one occasion, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2006) posting a time of 1:37.586

Kimi's Credentials

The Shanghai International Circuit is one Kimi knows well having won here in 2007, and finished on the podium in 2004, 2005 and 2008

Romain's Record

Romain on the other hand will be making his Chinese Grand Prix debut. Given how quickly he took to the Albert Park circuit, he should have no problem learning the Shanghai circuit

Championship Chargers

The 2005 season finale in China saw the team claim its second Formula 1 Constructor's World Championship courtesy of a P1 (Fernando Alonso) and P4 (Giancarlo Fisichella) finish for the Enstone outfit, at the time running under the Renault name

Keep up to speed with all the latest news from both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

欢迎到中国来 [Welcome to China] – Blog

2012-04-11T08:52:04Z

Round 3 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, where a cocktail of sights and sounds creates a unique and exciting atmosphere

After the heat and humidity of Malaysia, our next port of call is one of the most vast and populous nations on earth; China. This is truly a country of extremes, with the densely populated cities standing in stark contrast to the isolated mountain-top villages.

China's transformation from rural nation to industrialised superpower over the past few decades has been one of the most remarkable movements in recent history, and the spectacular Shanghai International Circuit stands as a symbol of the country's continuing rise to global prominence.

The thirteen hour flight from London Heathrow to Shanghai Pudong International Airport went off without a hitch; a welcome surprise after the trials and tribulations of Malaysia. Speaking of surprises, a few team members were somewhat taken aback by the crowd of fans waiting in the arrivals area, where a slightly bemused Press Officer in particular seemed unsure how to respond when asked for his autograph!

On arrival at the hotel it was clear that some team members had managed to cope with the jet lag better than others, with a few rather tired looking faces ambling zombie-like around the grounds of the highly welcoming accommodation chosen for the week. Despite this, all were present and accounted for (physically if not necessarily mentally!)

Having arrived over the weekend, the support crew and mechanics spent Tuesday at the circuit setting up the team facilities, while the later arrivals had the chance to catch up on e-mails and get some rest in before the action really begins later in the week.

Wednesday has followed a similar pattern, with the mechanics now busy preparing the E20s for their first fire-up tomorrow. Meanwhile, the drivers have been pacing the Shanghai International Circuit to get their bearings before hitting the track for real on Friday – a particularly important stretching of the legs for Romain, who will be making his first visit to the venue this week.

With all running smoothly on one side of the team, the marketing team by contrast had an eventful start to the morning as the local driver took their hotel departure time of 08:30 as a precise requirement, duly heading off to the circuit with an empty van, and leaving a baffled crew (who had arrived moments later) in his wake!

Thursday is when the paddock starts to come to life, with media appearances and partner events scheduled for the drivers and senior management, including the official autograph sessions with Kimi and Romain. Tyre meetings are also on the agenda, with all drivers invited to attend the session and discover more about what can be expected from the different compounds this weekend.

In the meantime of course, the mechanics will be working flat out to ensure both cars are ready to burst out of the garage early on Friday morning when the on-track action gets underway for Free Practice 1.

As always, the weekend will take its regular format: Free Practice 1 & 2 on Friday, Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday, and of course the main event – race day – on the Sunday.

Keep up to speed with all the latest news from both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Statement

2012-04-10T19:32:53Z

Earlier today, the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) issued a press release attributing quotes to our team showing support for the Bahrain GP. These quotes were part of a full internal and confidential working document, that was also sent on a confidential basis to all F1 team managers last week. Lotus F1 Team is one of 12 contestants of the Formula 1 World Championship and we would never try to substitute ourselves for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which is the only party entitled to determine if a Grand Prix should go ahead or not, and we endorse the FOTA statement that was issued earlier to this effect.

Kimi Räikkönen on the Chinese GP: “Eighteen to go!”

2012-04-10T15:41:42Z

Despite grid penalties and mixed weather conditions, the Iceman kept his cool in the heat of Malaysia to produce another fine performance. Now, Kimi looks ahead to China confident that the E20 can move further up the grid.

Two races in – how does it feel to be back?

Two races done, eighteen to go. So far it has been more or less alright for me and the racing isn't any different than before. The E20 certainly feels good. We're working to get the steering exactly right for me – and we're almost there. The speed in the car is good – and this applies to qualifying and race pace. It's been two frustrating races in terms of where we started. We shouldn't have started so far back in Australia, and the penalty for changing the gearbox before the Malaysian Grand Prix cost us finishing positions too, but that's motor racing.

The E20 certainly seems to have good pace…

We can say it looks good so far. The car was very good in qualifying at both races. Romain was third in Australia then I was fifth fastest in Malaysia. At Sepang it could have been better. I made a couple of mistakes in the final run in Q3. I lost some time there, so it could have been better than fifth, fourth or even third. I felt the speed was there in the car. Obviously, it was a good car to qualify.

Race pace doesn't seem bad either; you're back to setting race fastest laps…

The race was difficult with the conditions and honestly the best approach was to fight to keep the P5 position. When I first went out on the slicks it was so dark that it was difficult to see the dry line on the circuit. Once I could make out the line I drove fast enough to keep the position. I felt that there was more pace possible from the car but I didn't want to take any risks. To set the race's fastest lap is nice, but not as good as winning.

How was the feeling with the Pirelli wet tyres?

It was my debut with the latest wet weather tyres. When the lights went out, I had to take it easy, because I simply didn‘t know how they would behave. Obviously we had done only one installation lap with them beforehand, so we didn‘t even know how to adjust the front wing for the wet race. But the start went okay, we actually managed to gain a few places, but then there was an incident with a couple of cars in front of me, so I had to go on the grass again like in Australia to avoid them. I lost some places, but I made it through the first lap, anyway.

What are your thoughts of the Shanghai International Circuit?

It's just another race track – I don't have particular favourites or anything like that. It's quite similar to Albert Park and Sepang in what it requires from the car so that should be good for us. We have some new parts for the E20 so that should also be good. I'm sure all the other teams have new parts for their cars too, so we won't know where we are until we get there.

You've gone pretty well in China before, you must have a good feeling going there?

I won there in 2007 and that was a good feeling as that was the year I won the World Championship. It's a proper race track and there are good opportunities for overtaking. Our car looks good so let's see what happens when we get out on track.

Are you happy with the development progress of the E20 and the evolving relationship with the team?

The team is working very hard to keep us going to the right direction. Obviously, we have a good and solid car to work with. It has been quick everywhere so far. The weather and other situations at the two races we've had mean we haven't seen the best of it. I feel comfortable with my relationship with the team. It's clear they are racers like me and that is the best way to get the maximum from the season.

Eric Boullier on the Chinese GP: "I'm so proud of what the team has achieved this winter”

2012-04-05T11:55:15Z

Despite the frustrations of the opening two races, Team Principal Eric Boullier focuses on the achievements of the team so far, and a positive outlook for the remainder of the season

Eric, how's your report card for the team now we're two races into the season?

It's been something of what an Englishman might describe as a curate's egg. Parts of the season have been satisfying. They include the pace of the E20, which is clearly there in both qualifying and race trim. Both drivers have put in strong qualifying performances – Romain in Australia and Kimi in Malaysia. Kimi has shown that it's not taken him long to remember what's required of a Formula 1 driver and is right on the pace as shown in two strong races from where he's started on the grid. Also, our tyre degradation looks promising, as well as the car's reaction to set-up changes.

As a counterpoint to this, parts of the season have been bad; Romain has only completed a handful of race laps; Kimi has started from further back on the grid than we wanted at both races for all sorts of reasons – bad timing from the team in Australia and the gearbox change in Malaysia. The upshot of this is we have only 16 points in the constructors' championship when we had potential for far more from the first two races.

From a personal viewpoint, I do feel a bit of frustration that we haven't delivered as well as we should have done. We know we can do better, and we hope to prove that in the next races. On the other hand, I'm so proud of what the team has achieved this winter that I can't help but have a little smile on my face.

So what does the team do now?

The positives we have give us a strong basis to score good points this season, and on the evidence so far we are well placed to fight for our target of fourth place in the constructors' championship. The aero package we're bringing to China is proof that we're leaving no stone unturned. We are focused on developing and improving the E20, while both drivers know their objectives and are working well with the team. We can put down many of the negative aspects of the first two races to bad luck, or factors which we will all learn from. We expect to be securing some more solid points in the near future, with both cars in the top 8.

What's the feeling at Enstone now the E20 has been proven against the opposition in race conditions?

After a disappointing end to our 2011 season, people have pushed even harder in order to create what James Allison describes as the best car ever produced by Enstone. Only a top team is capable of such a reaction. Before the season started, there was a feeling that the E20 had solid potential, and we've seen this proven at two Grands Prix. There is still work to be done of course, but the atmosphere at Enstone has been galvanised by the strong performance of the car seen at Albert Park and Sepang. The E20 is good, but we are all working tirelessly to make it better.

How do you view the performance of the drivers?

Considering that both have come back from two years away from Formula 1, their performances have been strong. Kimi has shown that he hasn't lost any pace. He is both quick in qualifying, and very consistent in the race. His tyre management, also, is quite impressive, while his technical feedback is extremely precise. He performed very well in the two races, with strong racecraft and setting the fastest race lap in Malaysia shows that he can deliver exactly as before. Romain has shown a good pace also. He just needs to get some race laps completed – his season starts in China.

We've seen some big name sponsors announced for the team – how is progress in that area?

That we've been able to add names like Microsoft and Unilever brands Clear and Rexona to the car this year is a fantastic endorsement of what we are doing as a team. These brands not only recognise the value of Formula 1, but they recognise the value of our team. We have a proud heritage at Enstone and we hope to add to that heritage with strong results in the future. Our partners and sponsors are a vital aspect of this and that we are able to attract the names we have in the current economic climate is a fantastic achievement for everyone at the team.

Welcome Back! – Kimi Räikkönen Drops in to Enstone

2012-04-04T17:13:14Z

After a busy few weeks, Kimi returned to the home of Lotus F1 Team today refreshed from the recent break. Aside from catching up with all the latest developments back at base, he also had a glimpse into the future…

Spain, Geneva, Australia, Malaysia, Lebanon and of course the UK; Kimi has been here, there and everywhere already in 2012 and we're barely into April! It was back to work today at Enstone for the 2007 World Champion with an exciting start to the day, as his race engineer Mark Slade explains:

“Kimi's main priority today was to sit in a basic mock-up we have of next year's car. There's some re-thinking in terms of the driver position for 2013, and we wanted to test it out before committing any further to the concept. It may seem early, but it's better to do these things sooner rather than later otherwise it can hold up the whole design process. We're assessing very basic features at this point; making sure the changes we're considering are going to be ok for him and he didn't have any problems with it which is good news! He's a pleasure to deal with, especially on the technical side.”

Next up was a trip to the Design Office to catch up with the engineers in preparation for the Chinese Grand Prix next week, where Mark was once again on hand to run through the key points with his driver:

“We just took the chance to have a brief chat about things before Shanghai. This included discussions over the power steering and what we're planning for that, aero improvements we have coming for the next race, and also some damper mods. We basically just gave him a quick run-down on what to expect in China, and what we're hoping for.”

“Kimi has always gone very well at Shanghai. The last time I worked with him there was in 2006, when he was running in a strong P2 during a wet / dry race until technical problems forced him to retire. That was a real shame, but he had always performed well there in previous years as well with P3 in 2004 and P2 in 2005. Then of course there was his win in 2007.”

To round off the day, the 2007 World Champion dropped in to the team's new Driver-in-the-Loop simulator building to have a look around the facility, which is scheduled for completion in the coming weeks. No doubt he'll be spending a significant amount of time there, so best to get used the surroundings in advance!

As Round 3 of the World Championship in China rapidly approaches, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

Romain Grosjean: "I hope we can achieve the good result we are capable of”

2012-04-04T11:22:08Z

The season has started with a great deal of promise, but ultimately not the results deserved for Romain. With another new track to learn in China, the Frenchman is looking for a fresh start to kick off his season

After some time to pause and reflect, how do you feel things are going now we're two races in to the season?

We can certainly say that we have good performance from the car. We've got through to Q3 at both races so the car is performing very well. We were able to fight for the front row in qualifying and the pace in the race is very good. In China I hope we can have a more standard race with everything in order with regards to the start, the race - and not a crazy amount of water on track as we did at Sepang - and we can finally achieve the good result which we are capable of.

Two short races – is this now an issue for you?

When you make mistakes you have to admit it and not repeat that mistake. When it's not your fault – well it's not your fault. The first two races were tough and we didn't get a result. On the other hand I know that we can do some great things in the future races. My season starts properly in China.

What do you think of the Shanghai circuit?

It will be my first time driving the circuit. I've been watching some on-board videos and it looks pretty nice. I hope it will suit the E20. We have a new package which will hopefully be beneficial. I'm looking forward to discovering another new circuit. There are plenty of good, interesting corners by the looks of it. If we get a good result I'm sure it will become a track that I love.

How excited are you about a new aerodynamic package coming for the E20?

It's great to see how much the factory is behind us and working very hard to give us updates. We've had a promising start to the season and we all want to get the best in every area, so a new aerodynamic package is quite exciting; I can't wait to see how it looks and then experience how it feels on track. Then, most importantly, I want to see the lap time gain.

Now you've had some decent track time at two Grands Prix, how comfortable are you feeling with the car and how close are you to delivering 100% from the interaction between you and the E20?

The E20 gives me a great feeling. We have seen some interesting things in Malaysia and we are always learning more about how it reacts. We gained a very good impression at Australia and Malaysia. We have a few areas where we know what to do and a few areas where we know what not to do in terms of set-up. I'm sure for Shanghai we will be able to find the best set-up quicker than at the first two races. I think there is still scope for me to feel more comfortable and confident with the E20, but it's a very nice car to drive and with the new aero package it should be even better; then with all subsequent packages better and better…

How intense did you find the first two races with your return as a Formula 1 race driver and the back-to-back nature of the two Grands Prix?

A race weekend takes a lot of time and a lot of energy. But when you are in the car, the adrenalin takes over and you never feel tired. When you get back home, you normally need a bit of a rest. You relax and it's then that you feel tired. Over the race weekend there's so much happening that you don't have time to feel tired.

Compared to last year, where do you think we are in the relative order?

We're definitely a step forwards, we just need to be able to show this in a normal race. We've seen that we are looking good in qualifying where we've been either the second or third fastest team which is very good. There are a few areas we need to improve in the race but we are definitely on course this season.

As Round 3 of the World Championship in China rapidly approaches, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

Kimi Räikkönen: “I Feel Comfortable With the Team”

2012-04-02T17:18:07Z

A three week gap between Malaysia and China comes as a welcome break for the drivers. We caught up with Kimi to hear what the 2007 World Champion has been up to, his thoughts on the season so far, and the ‘New Kimi' who seems to be the talk of the paddock…

Kimi, after a busy start to the year it must be good to have a break before the next race; what have you been up to?

I went straight to Beirut from Malaysia for the Lotus Cars Lebanon dealership launch event which was a good evening. I haven't had much time back home yet, but I'll be making the most of it to catch up with people and have a bit of fun. We have to keep training hard to maintain good fitness for every race, so there's still that to consider.

Now that you've had time to reflect on the first two races, how has the season been for you so far?

I think we've got off to an encouraging start. It's been frustrating sometimes with the chassis issues in testing, the qualifying mix-up in Australia and the gearbox change in Malaysia, but we've shown we can deal with any problems and come back stronger. It feels like I've never been away; the team has done a good job and I'm working well with them which makes things easier. The car feels good and we clearly have the pace to be at the front; we just need some better luck.

There's been a lot of talk about the ‘New Kimi' this season; do you think you've changed since you left the sport?

Not really, I'm still the same person as I was before. Maybe people see me as more relaxed, which I think is down to the team. It's a different atmosphere to what I've experienced before; everyone is very open and laid back but at the same time they work extremely hard and pay a lot of attention to detail. I feel comfortable here which helps me to focus on racing; I guess that's why people seem to think I'm a different person, but I'm just as focused and motivated as before.

As Round 3 of the World Championship in China rapidly approaches, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

Keep Left! – Kimi's Steering Issues Finally Resolved

2012-04-01T06:54:43Z

After weeks of changing steering racks, power steering systems, steering wheel heights and a host of other settings, the Lotus F1 Team design office engineers have found the solution to Kimi's steering issue

From the very first test at Jerez, Kimi and his engineers have been working on improving the Finnish driver's feeling with the E20 steering system. After hours of hard work in the garage and hundreds of kilometres on the track, the solution it seems was staring the team in the face all along.

While it may come as a surprise, the 2007 World Champion is in fact the first left handed driver to pilot an Enstone car. This has subsequently had a profound effect not only on Kimi's use of the steering wheel, but also on his perception of grip levels through the corners, as Technical Director James Allison explains:

“This is something we should have picked up on at an earlier stage, but having never dealt with a left-hander before it didn't cross our minds. Drivers naturally have a tendency to ‘feel' grip levels of a car predominantly with their stronger hand, as this is the side which will do the majority of work in guiding the car through the corners. Not only does this explain Kimi's concerns with the E20's steering, but it also makes it all the more impressive that he has managed to get the hang of the controls using what is, in theory, the wrong hand.”

As a result, from China onwards Kimi will benefit from a brand new steering wheel on which every single button has been reversed, as James confirms:

“We naturally tend to put the more important switches on the right. They have now been moved to the left and we're confident that this will solve Kimi's issues.”

Kimi, meanwhile, is pleased to have the issue resolved, and is already feeling confident for the next race in China having tested his new steering wheel layout back at Enstone:

“It may seem like an obvious thing to miss, but with all the time spent focusing on setup I just forgot to mention it to the engineers. It makes a big difference to the way the car feels and also how I use all the dials and buttons. I think with the new wheel we can push even harder in China; I'm confident we'll get a strong result”

As can be seen from the pictures below, Romain and Kimi will use very different steering wheels from this point onwards. The Finnish driver will test his new device for the first time in Free Practice 1 during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.

As Round 3 of the World Championship in China rapidly approaches, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

With a Little Help from Our Friends…

2012-03-30T17:12:14Z

The fire which destroyed the Lotus F1 Team hospitality suite in Malaysia last week was a fantastic example that, behind the competition on-track, the camaraderie in the Formula 1 paddock really is unique

It may have been said before, but everyone at the team would once again like to express our deepest gratitude to the men and women of the Formula 1 paddock who helped turn a disastrous event into a true demonstration of unity.

Night shift security staff from up and down the paddock bravely pitched in to help salvage the situation, while in the aftermath the help and support provided with catering, hospitality, and so on was quite simply staggering.

As a lighter twist on things we would particularly like to thank Red Bull for the following letter, which we think sums up the atmosphere amongst the teams perfectly:

NB: This is of course, not a genuine invoice as the ‘Business terms' suggest!

Invoice

Fire services 2012

To: Alan Permane
Cc: Paul Seaby, Geoff Simmonds
From: Red Bull Racing
Date: 24th March 2012
Invoice Number: 001/12
Subject: Fire services

Dear Alan,

Please find below our invoice for outsourced fire services 03.30am 24.03.12:

Item	Quantity	Cost per unit	Total
Labour	x 6	$180	$1,080
Out of hours supplement	x 6	$100	$600
Personal alert service	x 2	$30	$60
Overseas roaming surcharge	x 2	$15	$30
Water extinguisher depletion	x 3	$60	$180
Foam extinguisher depletion	x 2	$80	$160
Annual services subscription	x 1	$1,000	$1,000
Laundry	x 15	$120	$1,800
Total			$4,910

Business terms: Cash within 30 days of receipt, used notes delivered in the normal manner.

Jonathan Wheatley
Fire Control Officer

Shear Power – Chassis E20-01 Returns to Base

2012-03-29T18:35:24Z

As the most seasoned of this year's Lotus F1 Team chassis arrived back at its birthplace on Wednesday evening, Race Team Manager Paul Seaby talks us through what's in store for the first of Enstone's 2012 creations over the next few weeks

The E20-01 took a fair bruising at the Sepang International Circuit last weekend, courtesy of both the gravel trap at turn five and a collision with a certain seven-time World Champion. For this reason, Romain's weapon of choice over the first two rounds was selected to be the subject of a series of tests over the coming weeks, as Race Team Manager Paul Seaby explains:

"We always planned to send a chassis back after the last race as we have a seven post rig test to do in the Research & Development centre, in addition to a wind shear test in America. The chassis we have back here now is Romain's car from Malaysia, chassis E20-01. We didn't originally intend to bring this car back, but after the events of Sepang and the damage incurred it made sense bring it back for repairs as well as getting everything else we need done.”

“We will still have three cars to work with at the coming races, as chassis four will replace chassis one as Romain's race car for China and beyond. Because the seven post rig test is going to be done over the weekend, with the wind shear build directly afterwards, E20-01 will now be out of action until roughly the end of April when it will be ready to fly to the Spanish or Canadian Grand Prix if we need it. It's not out of the system completely, it's still a good chassis, it just needs a bit of TLC.”

Although a three week gap before round three of the championship may seem like a significant time bracket, with the chassis having only just returned to the UK and freight due to be shipped to China at the end of next week, the team must complete a rapid turnaround before heading back to Asia:

“The car will first be going to the seven post rig to simulate the upcoming races. After the issues we had during pre-season testing, this will be the first time R&D have had a chance to get their hands on it and work on setup. We're confident we have a good idea of a solid baseline already, but you never know what you're going to find.”

“The car arrived on Wednesday and has to be finished by Friday. It will then be on the rig until Monday, so overall we have a couple of days to get it ready. It will then be taken straight from the rig to be stripped down for the wind shear build, which we have nine working days to complete.”

Once again, while nine days may sound like a lot to rebuild a single car, preparations for the wind shear test are far from straightforward:

“The wind shear test is an aerodynamic simulation carried out at a facility in North Carolina, USA. Here we use a full scale wind tunnel, which allows us to replicate airflow over a real car to see how it behaves. It's a very useful, controlled way of analysing the car in its current configuration to compare data with our 60% wind tunnel and CFD facility. It also provides a good opportunity to try new upgrades on the car and predict how they will perform.”

“Preparing the car for this test is quite a big task. Firstly, we have to fit hydraulic front and rear suspension which automatically alters ride height, removing the need to constantly make manual adjustments. This is a new system and will have to be pre-fitted. The car will also have a special gearbox installed which has a dummy diff allowing us to spin the wheels freely. Finally, it will be covered in electronic sensors to pick up all the data so overall it's a lot of work, and a significant transformation from the standard car.”

With regulations dictating the amount of time and resource the team can put into car development, every second of testing time is vital. This means that not only must the car be ready as soon as it touches down in America, but so must any development packages:

“The wind shear test falls under the designated amount of testing we're allowed to do during the course of a year. The rules allow four days of on-track aero testing, which can be exchanged for wind tunnel testing. We chose to swap all of our allotted on-track aero testing for one big hit of wind tunnel testing. We have done this in previous years and found it to be of significant benefit”

“With so few days allocated to testing, development time is a valuable resource. To get the maximum from it we pre-fit every new part we're looking to test to make sure it can be changed over quickly. We left a certain amount of kit at the facility in America last time, so the crew has already been out there this week to make sure everything still works, our software is compatible with their software, and so on. This is important to make sure that when we arrive we can hit the ground running straight away.”

As Round 3 of the World Championship in China rapidly approaches, stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone.

Lotus in Lebanon – Kimi Attends Beirut Dealership Launch

2012-03-28T09:12:59Z

Fresh from the Malaysian Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen joined Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar in Beirut last night to celebrate the return of Lotus to Lebanon.

The legendary marque is opening a new dealership in Beirut in partnership with leading Lebanese automotive dealer RYMCO and luxury real estate and management company Zardman. Lotus' acclaimed Evora, Elise and Exige are set to quicken the heartbeat of one of the most exciting cities in the Middle East.

Lotus Cars Lebanon welcomed the 2007 Formula One World Champion to Beirut in style, throwing an exclusive party at the MAD nightclub and toasting the future of Lotus in the region. The ‘Lotus is Back' event was also attended by a few lucky F1 fans, who got to press up against Lotus' speediest models.

Kimi Räikkönen, racing driver, Lotus F1 Team: “It was a great first visit to Beirut and a lot of fun to join the Lotus Car Lebanon team and launch the marque here. Lotus is a really special car company with big ambitions and part of that is returning to Formula One, another is spreading the word around the world.”

Dany Bahar, CEO, Group Lotus: “The Middle East is a market of huge potential to Lotus and Beirut is a very strong location for us. There were a lot of competitive bids to host Lotus here, and I am very happy that we've agreed to partner with Zardman and RYMCO who I'm confident will represent our brand perfectly and give customers a fantastic experience here in Lebanon. This is an important step in Lotus' international sales plans.”

Fayez Rasamny, Chairman, Lotus Cars Lebanon: “This is a very exciting night for sports car aficionados in Lebanon, and indeed for racing fans. Thank you to Kimi Räikkönen for his special visit, and thank you to Group Lotus for returning to the region and bringing their wonderful cars. We really wanted to be the ones to bring this legendary automotive brand to Lebanon. The Lebanese are massively into premium sports cars and Lotus' racing heritage. I'm confident Lotus Cars Lebanon is going to be a huge success.”

Home Sweet Home; Back to Enstone [Blog]

2012-03-27T17:47:55Z

Two race weekends, hundreds of hours work and thousands of miles later, Lotus F1 Team heads back to base; but as always, there's no let up for the crew as preparations begin for Round 3 of the Formula 1 World Championship in China

No sooner had the chequered flag dropped in Malaysia than then mechanics, engineers, support crew, hospitality unit – in fact just about everyone connected with the team – sprung into action to pack up shop and head home.

With the last door slamming shut on the freight containers at around 04:30 Monday morning (Malaysian time), the long journey back to England finally provided an opportunity to catch up on some sleep before it all kicks off again.

While a good portion of the 38 tonnes worth of team kit will head straight to China, the rest has to be unpacked back at the factory, just a matter of days after it was loaded up in the Sepang pit lane for its journey across the world.

The E20s have to be rebuilt, cleaned and prepped ahead of their next run out, while the data from the first two meetings of the year will be analysed yet again to see where time can be found, what changes can be made, and how the team can make further progress.

Although the car has shown good pace so far this season, the next upgrades will be on their way with the guys and girls in the design office, machine shop, fabrication and so on working flat out on providing new parts ready to push for that extra tenth of performance.

Having no doubt lost most of their bodyweight in fluids in Malaysia, the drivers will of course be training hard to ensure that they can keep up the intense levels of physical exertion required at the next circuit.

The marketing department will be setting up schedules for the next round of VIP guests, while acquisitions present the benefits of partnering with the team to potential sponsors, communications churn out new concepts for the next Magnum style promotion, graphics continue making sure everything the team does looks first class, and merchandising roll out the latest official team wear to keep the fans looking sharp for the rest of the season.

So, a nice relaxing couple of weeks ahead for all involved? Not on your life. The world of Formula 1 never sleeps, and more often than not, neither does the team!

And The Winner Is…

2012-03-27T12:23:27Z

Ten lucky fans who entered our online quiz last week will be receiving copies of the 2012 Lotus F1 Team soundtrack signed by Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean. Is your name on the list? Find out below…

Over the course of the Malaysian Grand Prix Weekend, Lotus F1 Team held an online competition run via the team website, Twitter Feed, and Facebook page.

The Task…

Answer one simple question: tell us which world-famous rock band attended the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix as guests of the team.

The Options…

Entrants had to choose from the following list of possible answers; Foo Fighters, Linkin Park or Kings of Leon.

The Answer…

As avid Lotus F1 Team fans will all be aware, our special guests at the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix were… Linkin Park!

The Prize…

A copy of the 2012 Lotus F1 Team soundtrack signed by Kimi and Romain, featuring a host of the biggest names in rock, including The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, and much more!

The Winners…

Congratulations to the following lucky winners!

Chris Porter
Dennis Dithmar
Djumala Sutedja
Gert Hallap
Jari Jokela
Luc Worms
Quintard Marlene
Sander Dewit
Luis Giagante
Sisca Fitrilizayanti

If your name is among the following please be sure to check your email account for further details of how to claim your prize.

Congratulations once again to the winners, and thank you to everyone who took part. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we build up to Round 3 of the World Championship in China.

James Allison – “What We'd Give for a ‘Normal' Race!”

2012-03-26T19:30:09Z

Technical Director James Allison talks us through a weekend of tough calls and mixed emotions, but ultimately good cause for optimism at the start of a long season

James, sum up today's race from your point of view?

What we'd give for a ‘normal' race! Starting without grid penalties for gearbox issues, without wet conditions for two drivers who have never sampled the Pirelli wet tyres, and so on. The big positive we can take from today is that our pace and degradation on the slick tyres at the end of the race was very encouraging. Give us a clean race with good getaways from the right qualifying positions and we should be able to collect a good reward.

In such changeable conditions, it must have been difficult making the strategy calls from the pit wall today?

The opening period was certainly tricky, as there were two main paths to choose from and it wasn't clear which would be the best. We either had to try to manage the intermediates right up until a safety car period intervened, or we took the other road which was to make an early change to the full wet tyre.

We gambled on the first option, as did the majority of the field as it was the lower risk choice, but the safety car came a little too late for us. With the conditions worsening sharply and no sign of a safety car, the risk of a DNF forced a late stop for the full wets thereby negating any potential benefit from our earlier choice.

What about the later decision to switch to slick tyres; that seemed to be an equally complicated call to make?

It was obvious that the track could support a dry tyre for a while, but nobody wanted to risk making the switch as there was more rain on the radar and the wrong call could have been disastrous. In our particular circumstances, switching early would mean holding our position at best, but losing half a dozen or so places if it then rained. Waiting and following the pack would mean losing a single place to Webber at worst, and holding our place at best. In strategy calls you take a risk when you have nothing to lose, but you play the averages when you are in a decent position.

Were you happy with the pace of the car in the wet conditions?

Not especially to be honest - we could not live with the pace of the leaders. The tyres lasted very well but as the intermediates wore down to become de-facto slicks at different rates for different teams, our competitiveness relative to those we were racing ebbed and flowed a bit. As the track cleared and we got out on the dry tyres, it was pretty clear we had a strong package.

A well-earned break now after tough back to back races; what have we got planned in terms of developments for the next race in China and beyond?

I don't know if break is the right word! We'll still be working flat out, and we've got plenty of upgrades on the way for China to help extract some more pace from the car. When you look at how tight the field is, the sort of developments we will bring would gain us quite a few places on the grid if nobody else were doing the same thing; unfortunately for us of course they all are all working just as furiously as we are! We'll just have to hope our development slope is steeper theirs' to allow us to inch forward in China. This year more than ever, mounting a sustained development programme will be the key to success.

#SepangSundae the ice cream cometh….

2012-03-26T15:31:54Z

Back in 2009 when the Malaysian Grand Prix was red flagged after a deluge (déjà vu anyone?), Kimi famously left his car and had an ice cream whilst other drivers sat huddled on the grid.

Classic Kimi…and too good an opportunity for our communications department to turn down!

With similar weather conditions looming on Sunday, Lotus F1 Team delivered an ice cream to every journalist in the media centre just before the start of the race, together with a note from Kimi “Please enjoy this ice cream”.

The PR stunt was very well received by the media – not only did they enjoy the refreshing chocolate-flavored ice cream but the operation quickly gathered momentum on social networks; #SepangSundae was trending globally on twitter over the weekend!

So a bit of humour went a long way…below are just some extracts picked up in social media

Down Under and Into the Jungle – The 2012 Lotus F1 Team Story So Far

2012-03-26T12:01:53Z

From the spectacular Albert Park to the sweat box of Sepang, the Formula 1 season has just begun, but there's been plenty to talk about already in 2012

Stunning qualifying laps, miscommunications, steering columns, gearboxes, penalties, comebacks, rain, shine, bad luck… more bad luck… and we're only two races into the season! What more can the rollercoaster of Formula 1 throw our way?

Both drivers have shown good pace during the various sessions in both Australia and Malaysia. Perhaps with slightly better fortunes, particularly for Romain, the team could be sitting in a very strong position heading into the next race in China.

As it is, the potential shown by the E20 has not quite yielded the results it deserves, but that word is the key; potential, as Technical James Allison explains:

“It's disappointing not to have come away with the amount of points to back up the promise we've shown, but having said that we're very pleased with that promise. We came away from the first two races last season with two podiums, but I wouldn't trade that for what we have now. I think what we've seen so far bodes very well for the next eighteen races as long as keep working hard on development. The gap between ourselves and the leaders last year was enormous, whereas we're right at the sharp end this year. I'm feeling positive”

What's clear from what we've learnt at four different circuits so far – including testing at Jerez and Barcelona – is that the latest Enstone creation is not only a solid package, but has the pace to deliver results in the right hands.

Speaking of the right hands, there can be no doubt that we have them on the wheel. If there were any questions as to the respective abilities of Kimi and Romain to adapt to the sport after a two year absence, they have surely been answered. Speed, consistency, and a real fit with the team are evident for all to see, and a good omen for the future.

Of course the drivers only make up part of the story. Late nights, early mornings, thousands of miles, and a good number of complications have served only to spur on the mechanics, engineers, support crew, and every member of the Enstone family.

So what we can expect from here? After such an unpredictable start it's surely impossible to say. One thing is for sure; the future looks bright for Lotus F1 Team, and we're already looking forward to the next chapter.

Kimi Räikkönen – “We Just Need the Chance to Really Show What We Can Do”

2012-03-25T16:38:10Z

Kimi runs through his first wet weather experience in the E20, after another resilient race performance saw the Finn climb five places, and take home a useful haul of points for the team

Kimi, it was a pretty eventful race out there today. How was it from where you were sitting?

I was a big handicapped to be honest as I didn't know what to expect from the tyres. I'd only done one installation lap on the intermediates before today so it was tricky to predict how the car would behave. I spent the first part of the race trying to explore the limits and pushing as far as I felt comfortable without going off the track. My visor got so dirty in the opening laps it was hard to even see anything, especially with the spray. When you look at the whole weekend fifth isn't a bad result but we'll be looking for more at the next race.

While you may have been hoping for more, in such an unpredictable race it must be satisfying to bring home some points for the team?

It's good to get more points on the board and obviously P5 is an improvement on qualifying after the penalty, but I think with more knowledge of the wet tyres we could have been further up. Once we switched to the slicks the pace was very good, so under different conditions today had the potential to be a very strong race for us.

When the race was stopped and you climbed out of the car to shelter from the rain, did it bring back memories from 2009? Were you tempted to grab a Coke and an ice cream?

[Laughs] Not this time; the difference today was that I was still in the race so no need!

Two good race performances under your belt now on different tracks and varying conditions; does this give you confidence going to China?

Hopefully we can have a ‘normal' race weekend with no penalties, crazy weather or other setbacks! It would be good to have a trouble free weekend so we can see where we really stand, as it's hard to tell after the first two races with so many factors affecting our results. We seem to have a very strong package, we just need the chance to really show what we can do over a whole weekend.

For a full run down of the Malaysian Grand Prix result, click here.

After a rollersocater start to the season, Lotus F1 Team are packing up and heading home for a two week break before the next race. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we build up to Round 3 of the World Championship in China.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Romain Grosjean – “We've Proved We Have the Speed”

2012-03-25T13:50:52Z

Another cruel end to an otherwise strong weekend for Romain in Malaysia, as torrential rain resulted in an early exit at the Sepang International Circuit. The unlucky Frenchman talks us through his race.

Romain, bitterly disappointing to be talking to you so early in the day, especially after more bad luck in Melbourne. What happened out there?

There was a lot of standing water at turn 3 and it was a struggle just to keep the car on the track. When we got to turn 4 Mark (Webber) managed to carry a bit more speed through the corner and edged in front. Michael (Schumacher) tried to follow him through but there was not enough space so we touched and I spun. From there things became really tough. The visibility was so poor I couldn't see anything in front of me. We made the decision to stay out on the intermediate tyres but the rain got heavier and there was far too much water. I had massive aquaplaning into turn 5 and unfortunately ended up going backwards into the gravel. Once you head in there facing the wrong way it's almost impossible to get back out.

You had a few issues getting of the line in Melbourne, but that start today was fantastic. Can you talk us through it?

We got a perfect start. The team did a great job giving me the right setup for the wet even though we hadn't run in these conditions before. We got a good jump on the others and with the KERS I managed to weave through the cars in front without touching anybody. Coming out of the first two corners we were up to third which was an amazing feeling.

Unfortunately you didn't have many laps today, but how did the car feel on your first proper run with the intermediate tyres?

It's difficult to say really. On the first lap the tyres were cold and the field was really close so it was very slippery. Then we had the incident at turn 4 and from there the rain got heavier making it almost impossible to see. It would have been good to have more time to see how the tyres work but that's how it goes.

You've mentioned the spray and how poor the visibility was out there; how do you know where to brake, turn and so on?

You have to try and spot different things around the track, as looking for the markers is pointless; you just don't have the visibility to see them through all the spray. For example, as a distance guide for turn 1 you can use the lights as the pit lane exit. It's a challenge, but you just have to pick out reference points and judge the conditions as best you can.

Although you've had terrible luck in the first two races, it must be encouraging to know that you have the pace to run at the front of the pack?

Absolutely, and I have to thank the team for that as they have been doing an unbelievable job to get us where we are. It's just a shame we couldn't build on that good start because we were right where we wanted to be; up there fighting for a podium. We've proved we have the speed, and with a little bit more luck we have a real chance to be battling at the front of the pack.

For a full run down of the Malaysian Grand Prix result, click here.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Another Race, Another 10 Points in the Bag for Lotus F1 Team

2012-03-25T12:23:17Z

As the heavens opened at the Sepang International Circuit, Romain suffered a bout of bad luck, while Kimi managed to pick his way through the crowd to take home a good haul of points from Malaysia.

A matter of minutes before the scheduled 16:00 start time, the grid became a flurry of activity as rain began to fall on the grid. Within seconds the track was sufficiently damp to warrant a switch onto intermediate tyres before the lights went out.

Romain got a phenomenal start, launching well and using his KERS to weave his was up to P3 on the run down to the first corner. However the Frenchman's poor fortunes from Australia continued as contact with Schumacher at turn 5 left him facing the oncoming traffic, subsequently dropping to P20. Things were to get even worse for Romain, as severe aquaplaning through turn 5 on just the third lap sent him backwards into the gravel and out of the race.

Conversely, Kimi struggled to get his E20 off the line, but managed to find a path through the confusion that unfurled during the first few corners to sit in P9 at the end of the first lap. Huge forks of lightning and torrential rain ensued, as the safety car emerged to bring some calm to proceedings. As giant raindrops continued to fall Kimi pitted for wets, falling to P13 before an immense downpour brought out the red flags and a break in the action of almost hour.

After a safety car restart the team immediately brought the Finn in for an early switch over to intermediate tyres, which proved the right call as Kimi moved up 3 places during the stops, with another position gained as Button collided with Karthikeyan. Progress continued for the former World Champion, as he jumped up to P6 by lap 16 as rivals once again dove into the pit lane for fresh rubber.

With the DRS enabled on lap 20, Kimi honed in on the back of Vettel, following the German past his compatriot Nico Rosberg on lap 24, pulling off a superb move around the outside of turn 1 after engaging the DRS down the straight.

As the laps fell away, Webber began to pile on the pressure as the team chose to remain on the intermediate tyres despite a drying track, with further rain forecast in the coming moments. Unfortunately this was not to be, and having final pitted for slicks on lap 41 Kimi was jumped by Webber who came in 1 lap earlier to put on the dry tyres.

Having withstood further pressure from Senna and Di Resta, the Finn jumped another place as a puncture for Vettel on lap 47 moved him back up to P5.

The remainder of the race was a lonesome affair, and in clear air Kimi set the fastest time of the day on lap 51, and then again on lap 54 to become the only driver in the 1 minute 40 second bracket by the time the chequered flag dropped.

All in all a mixed day for the team, but with more points in the bag and further signs of encouraging pace in varying conditions at a number of different circuits, the outlook is one of optimism for the coming races. As we head to China, Kimi occupies 7th place in the Driver's Championship, the luckless Romain sits in 24th, while Lotus F1 Team hold 5th position in the Constructor's Championship.

For a full run down of the Malaysian Grand Prix result, click here.

After a rollercoaster start to the season, Lotus F1 Team are packing up and heading home for a two week break before the next race. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for all the latest news from Enstone as we build up to Round 3 of the World Championship in China.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Kimi Räikkönen – “Today Was Definitely a Positive Day”

2012-03-24T16:45:34Z

Despite receiving a five place grid penalty, Kimi is in good shape for the Malaysian Grand Prix after challenging at the sharp end of the field throughout qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit this afternoon

Kimi, after a disappointing qualifying session in Australia you must be pleased with today's progress?

Well it could be better of course; we could be sitting on pole! Either way, it's better than last Saturday! Seriously though, today was definitely a positive day. Unfortunately I made a couple of mistakes on my fastest lap which probably cost a couple of tenths. Without that I think we would have had a chance to be on pole. I got a little bit sideways at the exit of turn nine and we lost some time, but that's how it goes sometimes.

You mentioned after Free Practice on Friday that you hadn't yet found the ideal setup. Were you happier with the car today?

The car was working well today. We had some issues with KERS yesterday, but there was no repeat today. The car worked exactly as it should and it felt good. It's a shame we have a penalty on the grid but the car works well.

You're starting in P10 tomorrow after that grid penalty; do you think the podium is in reach from there?

It's impossible to say; I'll tell you tomorrow! The cars in front of us are obviously quick but we showed good race pace in Melbourne and also in the long runs during free practice yesterday so we'll see what happens.

In Melbourne you showed good pace once you were in clear air. Are you expecting the same here?

The car was quick in the first race so hopefully we can be at the same again. It's been strong in Jerez, Barcelona, Melbourne, and now here which is a good sign. This track is a bit more difficult over a race distance because of the heat but I'm happy with how the car feels. It would be nice to be starting nearer the front but if we can get through the first lap without any incidents we can build from there.

The weather here is unpredictable to say the least. What will you be thinking if it rains?

Well I did an installation lap on the intermediate tyres earlier so I'm sure I'll be fine!

With the starting order now settled, all eyes now turn to the race on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Romain Grosjean – “We Still Need to Keep Pushing”

2012-03-24T16:41:51Z

Another strong Saturday sees Romain once again at the sharp end of the grid. The Frenchman talks us through qualifying, and the key elements of tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix

Romain, another top 10 performance in qualifying, how was the session?

It's good to reach Q3 again and being 4 tenths from pole position is not too bad, but I struggled a bit in turns 1 and 2 where I'm about two tenths from Kimi's pace. The car feels great around the rest of the lap, so it's just a case of working on the first sector. Having said that, the grid is very close and I think we can feel confident about challenging for good points in the race.

You only did one run in Q2 and of course it was enough to see you through, but how much of a risk was that decision?

It's a bit of a gamble making just one run, as your lap can be affected by traffic and other factors. I looked at the situation with the engineers and we saw there was a good window so we went for it. I think it was the right call as we now have an extra set of tyres in our pocket for the race.

It's been a blisteringly hot day. How did this affect the tyres?

It's a long race and tyre degradation will be a big factor. We've tried to save tyres during qualifying to make sure we have some fresh sets for tomorrow. The weather can quickly change so we'll have to wait until the first stint to see how far we can push the tyres and what strategy to take from there. I think Vettel is on the prime tyre and most of the others are on the option, so it'll be interesting to see the comparison.

What would you say is the time difference between the two tyre compounds? Which do you think will be the more useful tomorrow?

It's very much dependent on the team. Some experience a few tenths difference, others over a second. It depends on the car and how it makes the tyres work. There seems to be a split; some teams look to have saved option tyres, some the prime. It depends on strategy and in these changeable conditions it's hard to predict. Between myself and Kimi we've done long runs on both compounds so I think we the best idea possible of what to expect.

Your consistency in long runs during winter testing was very good. Unfortunately we didn't get to see that in Australia, but does that give you confidence for the race?

It's a good sign for sure, but we'll have to be careful in the long runs here because the main thing to watch is the degradation. Everyone put in a few laps during Free Practice 2 and it seems to be getting better as the weekend goes on, but I don't think anyone will be able to push 100% through the whole race without needing five or six stops.

Last time out in Melbourne you had an issues at the start. Are you confident you can turn that around and make a few places off the grid this time?

Hopefully! Normally our starts are pretty strong and there's a lot of track between the start line and the first corner, so if we have no problems this time I'll be looking to make up as much ground as I can before we get there.

After the incident with Pastor (Maldonado) in Australia, will you be more conservative in your approach to this race?

To be honest I couldn't have been more conservative in Melbourne, so no! I'm not saying I'm going to be aggressive, I'm just saying there's no need to be more conservative…

Throughout the pre-season all the talk was of Red Bull and McLaren being a long way in front of the pack. How pleasing is it to be up there mixing it with them?

Of course we're very happy to be near the front, and with a few upgrades coming up we'll be looking to get more performance from the car. What's really pleasing is that we have now shown good pace at two different tracks in different conditions which is a credit to the team. We can be very proud of what we've achieved so far, but we still need to keep pushing to stay near the top.

Did you lose anything in the fire last night at the team's hospitality unit?

I lost a few things, but of course the important thing is that nobody got hurt. Our security guard did a fantastic job to get in and save most of our equipment. He managed to salvage the helmets which was obviously important for Kimi and myself, but we only have one balaclava and two sets of overalls left to use as the others smell so bad you can't go near anyone!

With the starting order now settled, all eyes now turn to the race on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Malaysian Grand Prix – Kimi & Romain Burn Rubber in Qualifying

2012-03-24T10:00:00Z

A strong performance in severe heat at the Sepang International Circuit saw Lotus F1 Team competing at the sharp end of the timesheets throughout each of the three sessions.

After a solid showing in Free Practice 3 earlier today, spirits were high in the Lotus F1 Team garage as the drivers rolled out of the garage to begin their first qualifying runs under the blistering Malaysian sun.

Qualifying 1 got off to the best possible start as both drivers put themselves firmly in the frame to progress to the next session with strong early laps. Despite sitting in P6 and P7 respectively with just a handful of minutes remaining, Kimi and Romain sat poised in the garage ready for another run to cement their places in the top 17. As it turned out neither required an additional stint, dropping only as far as P8 and P9 as the chequered flag was waved.

The second session followed a similar pattern for Kimi. The moment the green flag was flown he fired his E20 down the pit lane and put in a scorching lap to occupy top spot, where he would remain until the end of the session without having to set another time. Romain's approach was more measured, waiting to see how the track evolved before completing an equally short stint (3 laps) to end the session in P6.

With both cars safely through to the pole position shootout, the excitement in the team garage was palpable as the drivers went for two runs apiece in an attempt to plant their E20s as high up the order as possible. Kimi ended the session in P5, setting an identical time to Mark Webber in P4. With his effort just 0.2s shy of the pole lap, the Finn believed he could have grabbed top spot without a small slide in turn 9. Romain adopted the same strategy as his team mate, ending the day in an impressive P7 to seal his second top 10 starting berth in as many races.

Full results Click here

After incurring a five place grid penalty due to a gearbox change yesterday evening, Kimi will start tomorrow's race from P10, with Romain therefore promoted to P6. Despite this, it has been an encouraging day for the team, with the Malaysian Grand Prix seemingly set for another tight battle throughout the field.

With the starting order now settled, all eyes now turn to the race on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the race.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Malaysian Grand Prix – Final Preparations in Free Practice 3

2012-03-24T07:10:52Z

Lotus F1 Team rounded off the weekend's final practice session with a strong performance this afternoon in Malaysia as the countdown to qualifying begins

A damp start at the Sepang International circuit quickly cleared, as the shower which preceded Free Practice 3 blew over to reveal beaming sunshine and draining humidity. Nonetheless, with a significant number of wet patches around the track the team opted to send both drivers out on their install laps on the intermediate tyres.

With the standard pre-run checks complete, both Kimi and Romain remained in the garage until a combination of other cars and the sun created enough of a dry line to bolt on a set of slicks.

This they did, promptly emerging from the garage at the halfway stage on matching sets of hard compound Pirelli tyres. Romain immediately shot to the top of the time sheets, closely followed by Kimi in second as the field slowly began to venture further towards the limits of grip on the still drying circuit.

With fast times cropping up here there and everywhere, it became a challenge just to keep up with the running order as the session entered its final stages. After a practice box stop and pull away for the pair, Kimi and Romain were sent out with minutes left on the clock on the medium compound tyre.

Strong runs to end the session saw both drivers sit in the top 5 as the chequered glad dropped. Having racked up 13 laps apiece, Kimi slotted into P4 with a best time 1:37.356, with Romain fractionally behind in P5 having set a 1:37.382 – For the full rundown of Free Practice 3 results, click here.

Qualifying is next up at the Sepang International Circuit, with Q1 starting at 16:00 local time. Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the session.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain

We Didn't Start the Fire

2012-03-24T06:17:26Z

On Friday night, the Lotus F1 Team hospitality unit here at the Sepang International Circuit was the victim of a fire, causing the team to abandon ship for the rest of the weekend and seek refuge elsewhere in the paddock

At around 03:00 local time, smoke began to fill the Lotus F1 Team hospitality unit as one of the kitchen refrigerators blew a fuse setting the ground floor alight.

Thankfully nobody was present in the temporary structure at the time, and so no injuries were incurred. The team did however lose catering equipment, food and drink, and some marketing materials. One of Kimi's helmets also perished in the blaze, and although the rest of the driver's equipment was rescued it is now covered in soot.

With repairs unlikely to be completed before the end of the weekend the team has moved to a new home from home, setting up a replacement hospitality unit at the far end of the paddock next to the Marussia team.

Our sympathy goes out to those who were first into the fire-damaged facility, as they will be rather smoke-fragranced for the remainder of the day. We may also see a few hungry looking Lotus F1 Team members wandering around the paddock, and possibly a certain driver hunting down alternative ice cream resources…

The team would like to thank our counterparts from up and down the paddock, who have been incredibly supportive in offering help and facilities to get us through the weekend. While the competition on track may be as fierce as ever, but times like these are a reminder that as a sport, we are very much a community.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates throughout the weekend here in Malaysia, with Qualifying next on the agenda at 16:00 local time this afternoon.

Romain Grosjean: “We can keep moving forwards”

2012-03-23T17:22:59Z

Fresh from the red hot tarmac at the Sepang International Circuit, Romain talks tyres, setup and GP2 as he gives us the rundown on Friday's events here in Malaysia

Romain, how happy are you with progress made so far this weekend?

It's gone well so far. This is not an easy track to set the car up for, and the heat makes the tyres quite hard to manage. We've been trying a few different things with the setup today and we now have a much better idea of what works and what doesn't. We'll be spending a lot of time analysing all the data to make sure we have the best car possible for the rest of the weekend.

Do you think there is the potential in the car around this track to reach the same level of performance as in Melbourne?

It's hard to say at the moment. Of course, if we find the ideal setup then I'm confident we can achieve the same sort of pace but at the moment we are in between a setup that is good and one that is perfect so we need to keep working hard. As always we want to be pushing for the top positions and scoring good points in every race, so we'll be doing all we can to make that happen.

How important will the morning practice session tomorrow be to the rest of the weekend?

It will be important as always. We have to make the most of the time we have to get the car in the best possible shape we can. It seems like all the teams experienced high levels of tyre degradation today, although it got a bit better later in the afternoon. Again, finding the right setup around here is very important, so we'll look to use the maximum time possible to put ourselves in a good position for qualifying.

Qualifying last week must have been very memorable for you. Does this boost your confidence going into tomorrow's session?

We can take a lot of positives from Melbourne and of course the aim is to carry that form over to this weekend in Malaysia, but at the end of the day this is a new race and what we do from here is what counts. I have a lot of faith in the team, I love being a part of it and everyone is working very hard so it will be nice to reward them with some strong results.

The team started strongly in 2011 but perhaps did not match its expectations by the end of the year. How confident are you that the team can continue its form so far this year throughout the season?

Last year the team made a brave decision to try a forward facing exhaust system and unfortunately it didn't quite work out as we hoped, but that's all part of the risks you take to move forward in Formula 1. This year I think the car has a very strong base line and the guys at the factory are already working hard on updates, so I'm confident we can keep moving forwards.

As we're at the opening weekend of the GP2 season and you are the reigning Champion, who is your tip for the title in 2012?

That's a hard one! The DAMS team is in good shape which is always nice to see as they were the team that took me to the title last year. Esteban (Gutiérrez) looks strong as well, but who knows. It's a tough series with some great drivers, so we'll have to wait and see.

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the weekend here in Malaysia, with Free Practice 3 next on the agenda at 13:00 local time on Saturday morning.

Kimi Räikkönen: “The Pace is there in the Car”

2012-03-23T14:14:26Z

After two sweltering practice sessions in the Malaysian sun, Kimi reflects on his day's work as the team ran through an extensive race setup programme in preparation for the race on Sunday.

Kimi, how did it go out there today?

Not bad, but it could have been better from my perspective. We struggled to find a good balance but the car felt better as the day went on and the long run went well.

We had some trouble with the KERS and the team also noticed an issue with the gearbox tonight. We'll have to change it which means losing 5 places on the grid. It's a bit frustrating but we're confident the car will be fixed and it's better to have this happen now than in the race.

Is the steering more to your liking now?

We're still working on the steering. We tried a new system today but there wasn't a huge difference from how it felt in Melbourne. It's not exactly how we want it yet but it certainly won't be an issue.

You ran the medium tyres quite early on whereas Romain waited until later to switch from the hard compound. Was there a reason for this?

We just wanted to try different things with the two cars to get a better understanding of how each compound behaves at this track and I think we achieved that. We now know that the tyres start to fade a bit towards the end of the long runs but everyone found the same thing

Do you feel confident of getting into the top 10 this weekend, or perhaps even closer to the front?

It's difficult to say. We'll do the best we can tomorrow and see where we end up. We have some work to do on the setup in morning practice but I'm sure we'll be ready to go when Qualifying starts. The pace is there in the car; if we can unlock it there's no reason we won't be as strong as we were in Melbourne.

Talking to your physio, he said the biggest challenge here is keeping cool; there's no chance of the Iceman melting in this heat?

[Laughs] No not at all. It's obviously hot here in Malaysia but everyone has to cope with it and I'm sure it won't cause us any problems. You don't really notice it when you're driving, it's more when you stop at the end that it hits you!

In case you missed it, head over to our competitions page where we're offering fans the chance to win a copy of the Lotus F1 Team 2012 Compilation CD signed by Kimi and Romain

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the weekend here in Malaysia, with Free Practice 3 next on the agenda at 13:00 local time on Saturday morning.

Competition: Win a Signed Copy of the 2012 Lotus F1 Team Compilation

2012-03-23T13:05:59Z

Need some new music in your life? Then why not enter our latest competition to win one of 10 copies of our new soundtrack – signed by Kimi and Romain

Lotus F1 Team is giving away ten signed copies of a 17 track album, featuring a collection of our favourite driving songs from some of the biggest names in rock, including;

The Strokes
Kings of Leon
Linkin Park
The Killers
Franz Ferdinand
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Arctic Monkeys
Muse
And much more…

There are three ways you can try to get your hands on a copy. All you need to do is click on one of the following links and answer one simple question; no headaches, no brain scratching, no catches – simple!

Twitter obsessive? Click here

Facebook fanatic? Click right over… here

Social media not your thing? Click here

Malaysian Grand Prix – Back On Track with Kimi and Romain for Free Practice 2

2012-03-23T07:56:02Z

With the team focused on fine-tuning race setup, the second session at the Sepang International circuit this afternoon saw good reliability from both E20s as the threat of rain failed to materialise

A clean opening run for both drivers saw the pair head straight back out on track as soon as the green flags were waved at 14:00 local time here in Malaysia. Kimi opted for the medium compound tyres, while Romain stuck with the hard compound used throughout Free Practice 1 as both drivers completed a short first stint of 5 laps.

After a brief break, Kimi departed the garage in typically flamboyant fashion, shorty followed by his team-mate. The pair both set fastest times through the first sector of the lap at different stages during their second runs, but with a focus on race setup the order of the afternoon emphasis was very much on consistency rather than single lap pace.

At the halfway stage, Romain sat 7th in the standings with Kimi in 12th after 8 and 14 laps completed respectively. An extended break while both sets of mechanics adjusted various setup elements on the E20s meant that the drivers hit the track again with 30 minutes left to go – this time with Kimi on the hard compound tyres and Romain on the medium.

While a glance at the timing boards would suggest a fairly unspectacular session for the team, running this afternoon proved to be highly productive as both drivers returned from their final runs satisfied with the setup changes made throughout the course of the day.

Romain finished the session in 9th place with a best lap of 1:39.311 from 22 laps, while Kimi occupied P15 with a fastest time of 1:39.696 from 29 laps.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the weekend here in Malaysia, with Free Practice 3 next on the agenda at 13:00 local time on Saturday morning.

Malaysian Grand Prix – All the Action from Free Practice 1

2012-03-23T03:59:54Z

Round 2 of the Formula 1 World Championship kicked off today on a scorching morning in Kuala Lumpur, with a solid performance from Lotus F1 Team yielding top 10 placings and a good number of laps completed

At almost exactly 10:00 local time, the Lotus F1 Team E20s roared into life as both Kimi and Romain launched out of the garage for the customary install lap. Sporting matching sets of Pirelli's hard compound tyres, the drivers ran through each turn with the engineers before heading back to base, completing an oil dip, and parking up.

24 minutes into the session, Kimi surged straight to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:39.128 on his first flying lap. The Finn would go on to complete a total of 6 laps during his first run before returning to the pit lane and completing a practice launch.

Unfortunately for Romain, his day did not get off to such a flying start as he boxed the car before setting a competitive time after complaining of an unsettled rear end. Thankfully there turned out to be no related issues, and his E20 was able to emerge once more after being thoroughly checked over by the mechanics.

Both drivers hit the track in formation for their second stints at the halfway point of the session. Romain immediately proved that the earlier setback had not affected his confidence by jumping straight into the top five with a 1:38.919 during a 7 lap run, while Kimi stayed out for a longer stint to end his run with the highest number of laps completed at the time – 17 in total.

Having run through just 10 laps up to that point, Romain lit up the rear tyres and flung his E20 back out onto the Sepang International Circuit with 20 minutes to go. Kimi followed suit around 6 minutes later, both once again opting for the harder compound tyre.

These proved to be the final runs for both drivers, as Romain brought his car home for a well-earned break, shortly followed by his team-mate who stopped on his marks for a practice pit stop to round off the session.

As the chequered flag dropped, both Lotus F1 Team pilots sat safely inside the top 10; Romain in 5th place with a best lap of 1:38.919 from 17 laps, and Kimi in 7th with a fastest time of 1:39.128 from 22 laps.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page for updates throughout the weekend here in Malaysia, with Free Practice 2 coming up later today at 14:00 local time.

Malaysian Grand Prix – What's At Stake This Weekend [Blog]

2012-03-22T18:00:00Z

Lotus F1 Team looks at how the Formula 1 grid stacks up heading into round 2 of the World Championship at the Sepang International Circuit

After one of the most inconclusive winter testing programmes in recent memory, there were a lot of questions to be answered at the season opener in Melbourne. While some were definitively put to rest, the majority of the grid still remains a relative unknown.

Starting at the front, it seems McLaren just about have the edge on the rest of the field at present, after a dominant performance in qualifying which almost resulted in a perfect weekend for the Woking squad. They will be looking to carry that momentum into the next race.

While not quite emulating the dominance of 2011 at this stage, Red Bull are undoubtedly hot on the heels of their main rivals, and a strong performance from Sebastian Vettel proves that the World Champions are not about to roll over and let their title slip away. Expect a fight back from the Milton Keynes outfit this weekend.

Behind the leading pair, it's anyone's guess how the next group lie after the first race. With better luck, Lotus F1 Team would almost certainly have had both cars in Q3 and pushing for top 5 places had Kimi's qualifying issues not arisen, and Romain not been cruelly ruled out in the early stages. The aim should be to sit at the sharp end of the chasing pack in Malaysia.

Ferrari's troubles have been well documented, with Massa only avoiding Q1 elimination thanks to Kimi's misfortune and even Alonso having to wrestle the F2012 into the points, it seems the famous prancing horse has some catching up to do.

Mercedes have shown good pace (particularly with their straight line speed) while Williams, Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso have all shown flashes of potential to regularly challenge in the top 10.

Beyond this unpredictable (and uncharacteristically evenly matched) group, things are slightly more predictable. Caterham have clearly made strides forward, but must push on further if they are to hang on to the coat tails of the teams in front.

Marussia will be pleased to have made the grid after their trials and tribulations over the winter, and will look to build on that in Malaysia. HRT on the other hand have suffered a disappointing start by failing to qualify in Australia – a situation they will hopefully rectify for this weekend's race.

Of course one race does not make a season, however with such a close field and a host of world class talent on show, 2012 looks set to be a closely run battle throughout the paddock.

Join Kimi and Romain at Proton's Headquarters [blog]

2012-03-22T14:00:00Z

As part of an extensive promotional campaign held over the past fortnight, Proton invited the Lotus F1 Team drivers to its Centre of Excellence to meet with local media and members of Lotus Cars Club of Malaysia

To kick off a hectic schedule of media events over the course of the day, Kimi and Romain made an appearance at the headquarters of Malaysian automotive giant Proton this morning.

The day began with a slight mix up over transportation, as the car intended for Romain arrived bang on time to collect the Frenchman, only to discover that he was in fact at a different hotel! Nonetheless after a rapid change of course (whilst obviously adhering strictly to local speed restrictions) Romain was soon on his way.

Thankfully Kimi did not suffer from the same issue, and shortly afterwards both drivers met with Proton representatives to collect their rides for the day – a pair of immaculate Evoras sporting the Lotus F1 Team livery and driver decals on the bodywork. Perhaps not the most subtle way to make an entrance, but certainly one of the more enjoyable!

Upon arrival the pair were whisked away to the top floor of the impressive structure, where they fielded questions from local media both in a formal press conference format, and then in the more informal setting of a buffet lunch, where guests were granted a more personal level of access to the drivers.

After a mouth-watering (if slightly early!) meal and a few photographs later, Kimi and Romain were lead down to the ground floor where a crowd had gathered not only around two more glistening Evoras, but also a Lotus F1 Team showcar.

Moving up to a stage positioned opposite this impressive backdrop of automotive ingenuity, the drivers took part in a Q&A session with members of Lotus Cars Club of Malaysia. After the excitable driving enthusiasts had finished quizzing the pair, an autograph session followed with both stars signing cards, books, clothing, helmets… you name it, they probably scrawled their signature on it!

The event concluded with the drivers playing their part in an auction, as each signed the dashboard of one of the Evoras on display – both of which will later be sold to the highest bidder to raise money for a good cause.

Having flown through their first commitment of the day it was time for Kimi and Romain to head to the track, where the world's media were waiting to catch a few words in the build-up to free practice 1 and 2 tomorrow at the Sepang International Circuit.

Malaysian Grand Prix – How the RS27 Copes With the Heat?

2012-03-22T08:00:00Z

From the anticipation of Australia to the melting pot of Malaysia, Renault Sport F1 Team Support Leader Ricardo Penteado reflects on the complications of back to back races, assesses what's required from the RS27 engine at the Sepang circuit, and shares his hopes for the weekend ahead

How hard is it to prepare the engines for two back to back races?

Mechanically there is little difference as the preparations we do for races are exactly the same. But for the people concerned it's quite tough as there is a very concentrated amount of work in two weeks. We go to the first event with the engines prepared for round one, and during that event we keep a close eye on preparations for the second. This means that you are almost covering two Grands Prix at once! Obviously there are also fewer days between races so the work that would normally be carried out at the factory, such as simulations, reports, meetings and so on, are completed in five days fewer than normal.

Will you be re-using the engines from Australia?

Yes, we will be using the same engines in both Kimi's and Romain's cars. Unfortunately Romain's engine didn't get too many miles… As a general rule of thumb, to balance mileage across the eight engines permitted per driver over the whole season, each RS27 engine will complete either three Saturdays and Sundays or two whole weekends from Friday to Sunday. At the start of the season we prefer to use the unit for two whole weekends so we can push its mileage as far as possible and have some extra margin at the end of the season.

How do the challenges for the RS27 differ at Sepang from Albert Park?

Sepang has some more mid to high speed corners than Melbourne and that's where we will need to concentrate our driveability efforts. The weather forecast here makes this track easier for the engine as the oxygen content in the air is balanced out by the water content, meaning there is less pressure on the pistons during combustion. People usually think engines will struggle with high temperatures, but actually we have the same engine temperatures as Melbourne as we can increase the amount of air flowing through the radiators. This means we can have all the systems working in optimal temperature range.

What preparation do you do on a Thursday to the RS27?

We actually started the preparation for this race last Sunday when we checked the Melbourne data to see how we could improve performance or reliability aspects. Today we put all these findings and changes (new parts, new maps, new procedures, etc.) back into the car and checked all behaved as expected during a long and complete fire-up procedure.

What are your expectations from this weekend after the encouraging start in Melbourne?

To be honest I think that we can have a good result here! Romain knows this track very well and loves racing here – it was his most impressive performance in GP2. Kimi also scored his first F1 race victory here in 2003 and won again in 2008, so it's looking good! We will see when we get out on track, but fingers crossed the overall form from Australia will carry over to Malaysia.

Keep up to speed with all the latest news both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Sepang; An Abrasive Adversary – Track Guide

2012-03-22T03:00:00Z

Round 2 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to Malaysia, where the changeable weather, rough track surface, and undulating bends create quite a challenge for the drivers and engineers. Lotus F1 Team takes a look at the challenges of the Sepang International Circuit.

The Venue

The track surface is very abrasive, particularly in comparison to Albert Park last week which is very smooth. High speed stability is an essential requirement of the tyres here due to the circuit layout, which contains some long straights and quick direction changes.

The Circuit

Good engine tractability is required through turns 1 and 2, the second of which leads to a high speed section so making a good exit here is vital. For turn 3, strong stability from the tyres is required through this high speed corner to aid driver confidence before heavy braking for turn 4.

The high speed turns 5 and 6 require stiff suspension. The car can be run lower and stiffer than at other tracks as there are no high kerbs in which is beneficial from this perspective. Turn 7 can prove punishing for the tyres, as the drivers must turn whilst braking for the corner.

Heavy braking after a long straight is required into the final corner, turn 15. This is followed by another long straight, providing a good overtaking opportunity. A variety of lines are taken through here.

The KERS is more effective during qualifying in Sepang due to the location of the start-finish line, as you get two bites of the cherry with the KERS usage on the out lap. While there is heavy braking for turn 1, the brakes will have cooled along the straight and so should not overheat making this is a good overtaking location.

The Car

Downforce levels are very similar to the levels required in Melbourne, however the threat of understeer is not as prevalent as at Albert Park so we can run with slightly less front wing.

In terms of suspension setup, Sepang requires a good all round car. There are high speed straights, very high speed changes of direction in turns 5 and 6, and also some reasonable traction events including the double hairpin at turns 1 and 2 which are very low speed and very tight. There are no high kerbs at this track so the car can be run with a low ride height giving better overall downforce.

There are four heavy braking zones into turn 1, turn 4, turn 14 and turn 15. High temperatures are not such a threat as they might otherwise be here due to the long straights between the braking zones which help to cool the brakes.

Pirelli's soft and hard compound tyres will be used in Malaysia, meaning a greater gap between compounds than in Albert Park where soft and medium were used. The track is very demanding on tyres due to its aggressive surface, heavy braking areas, long straights and wide variety of speeds and corners.

Malaysia sits towards the upper end of the ‘power tracks' with 60% of the lap spent at full throttle, but the main challenge is preparing the engine's cooling systems to cope with the intense heat and humidity. Ambient temperatures can reach over 40°C, so engine cooling becomes crucial. The RS27's cooling system is refined using dynos back at Viry-Châtillon, where climatic conditions can be recreated including running with 100% humidity and 40°C heat.

Malaysian Grand Prix – In the heat of Sepang [Blog]

2012-03-21T17:26:46Z

The on-track action may not kick off until Friday, but there's still plenty going on at the Sepang International Circuit as Lotus F1 Team prepares for round 2 in Malaysia

Scorching sun, intense humidity and the traditional afternoon monsoon were the order of the day in Kuala Lumpur, as the team continued preparations for this weekend's race. Luckily there were plenty of isotonic drinks and bottles of water on hand to keep the crew hydrated for a busy day at the track.

After another late night on Tuesday, the support team had the garage and related facilities up and running ready to welcome the rest of the crew to the paddock. Compared to the ‘cosy' environment of the Melbourne paddock the Malaysian facilities felt positively spacious, and with the climate control working in overdrive, nice and cool to boot. Of course that all changes upon stepping out into the heat of Sepang; if only the team back at Enstone could create some kind of mobile air conditioned bubble…

Moving through the garage, the mechanics have been hard at work ensuring the cars are assembled ready for the first engine fire-up tomorrow. A host of tools, equipment and of course bodies line the pit bays as the E20s transform from a gathering of parts into the fire-breathing machines that propel Kimi and Romain around the world's finest circuits.

As the crew continue to work away, Romain and Jérôme arrive – fresh from one of their now infamous tennis matches – and spend time around the garage catching up with the men and women who make their job possible. While it may not seem significant to the average observer, these are the moments which make the family atmosphere at Lotus F1 Team what it is. Of course, the drivers haven't turned up just to spend all day milling around chatting – as always there's work to be done! The main item on the agenda today is the track walk.

The Sepang International Circuit is quite something to behold from down on the tarmac itself. Long straights followed by hard braking zones, seemingly endless sweeping curves and severe undulations; it's no wonder Romain lists this as one of his favourite tracks. What makes this venue all the more unique is that behind the immense grandstands, the forest stretches as far as the eye can see. Not a bad place to spend a weekend!

Pacing round the 5.5km circuit – with our man on the ground once again feeling the effects of one too many pies, and significantly too few sessions in the Human Performance Centre – the opportunity to listen in on Romain's conversations with the engineers makes for an intriguing day's exercise.

Recounting epic battles around the track from his GP2 days, studying the corners which have seen the most incidents (including Vitaly Petrov's spectacular aerobatics last season at the exit of turn 7), and focusing on where the most time can be gained or lost, Romain is in a typically relaxed state of mind as he takes everything in his stride – no pun intended!

As for Jérôme, by the first corner he had disappeared into the distance; his competitive side clearly on display, even during a stroll round the park! Kimi at this point was otherwise engaged, although upon our return (and after several minutes spent catching breath), a glance into the freezer back in the hospitality suite revealed a surprisingly low supply of ice-cream…

With only one day left before they take to the track, Kimi and Romain will be appearing at an event hosted by Lotus F1 Team and Proton tomorrow for a Q&A session and meet & greet with Lotus Cars Club of Malaysia members.

2012 Malaysian GP Preview - Everything you need to know for Sepang

2012-03-21T12:28:20Z

Lotus F1 Team previews the second race weekend of the season.

Team drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean look forward to the race in Kuala Lumpur; Eric Boullier shares his thoughts about the team's performance at the season opener and what the Enstone squad can achieve in the months ahead.

Technical Director James Allison talks about the E20 and how the car fared in Melbourne; he also gives us an update on Kimi's steering set-up.

Read all the facts and figures relating to the Malaysia Grand Prix and find out a little bit more about our drivers.

Check out below our preview.

Malaysian Grand Prix – Lotus F1 Team History

2012-03-21T09:31:04Z

As part of our build up to the 14th Malaysian Grand Prix, we take a look at the team's history at the Sepang International Circuit

In the beginning…

Lotus F1 Team entered the inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix in 1999 under the Benetton name, with Austrian Alexander Wurz and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella at the wheel

Winning Ways

In its various guises the team has taken 2 wins in Malaysia, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2005) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault, 2006)

Podium Potential

The team has also achieved 10 podiums at the Kuala Lumpur venue, the first in 2003 (Fernando Alonso, Renault) and the most recent in 2011 (Nick Heidfeld, Lotus Renault GP)

Qualifying Kings

To date, the team has claimed pole position at the Sepang circuit on three occasions, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2003 / 2005) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault, 2006)

Fast Flyers

The team has also set the fastest lap in Malaysia on one occasion, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2006) posting a time of 1:34.803

Kimi's Credentials

The Sepang circuit is one Kimi knows well, having won here twice in 2003 and 2008 – the first of these marking his maiden Grand Prix victory

Romain's Record

Romain also has a strong record at the Kuala Lumpur venue, having finished 2nd in the 2008 GP2 Asia Series feature race here.

Keep up to speed with all the latest news both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page

Selamat Datang ke Malaysia [Welcome to Malaysia] – Blog

2012-03-20T17:29:40Z

Round 2 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to Kuala Lumpur, where the intense heat and humidity is matched only by the intensity of the competition amongst the teams and drivers battling to reach the peak of world motorsport

From the land down under to the country of two halves; the next stop on our epic voyage is Malaysia. Separated in two by the South China Sea, this is a nation renowned for its diverse culture and stunning scenery.

After the long haul to Australia, a mere 7 hour flight across to Kuala Lumpur seemed relatively tame by comparison. Back-to-back races, particularly those in the far reaches of the globe, require an enormous effort from the teams and it was no surprise to see more than a few of the world's finest motorsport employees catching up on some sleep during the flight.

Despite some minor hitches, including a 3 hour delay to take off and a slight underestimation of space requirements by the coach transfer service (there may have been a few suitcases stacked in the doorway and aisles of one particular vehicle, but for health and safety reasons let's say not…) the team arrived unscathed at what can only described as one of the most unique hotels on the planet.

Moving out past the thousands of lights and giant statues depicting scenes from the jungle which adorn the hotel entrance (no, we haven't accidentally stumbled into a Disney film), the local area is buzzing with the sights, sounds and smells of a multicultural and highly welcoming city.

A blend of Malay, Indian and Chinese inhabitants to name but a few who make up this diverse nation provide not just a warm welcome, but a fantastic range of culinary experiences – something some of the more seasoned team members were instantly keen to be re-acquainted with.

After a late arrival, waking up in an air-conditioned hotel it seems that all is well in the world – until the time comes to step outside. Ignoring the tropical showers that typically arrive mid-afternoon on most days, the heat and humidity here must be experienced to be believed. Best to bring at least 2 shirts a day to avoid ending the week with a hefty laundry bill!

Depending on responsibilities (some in this case being more fortunate that others!) Tuesday has been spent either down at the track beginning the set-up of team facilities for the week, or catching up on some rest and relaxation around the hotel and local markets before the weekend's events begin.

The schedule for Wednesday is much the same, but with an emphasis on preparing the cars for their first fire-up the following day. Thursday itself is where events start to kick on, with drivers and team management making various media appearances, and the mechanics putting the finishing touches to the E20s in preparation for their first runs on Friday.

Of course, the weekend will take its regular format: Free Practice 1 & 2 on Friday, Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday, and of course the main event – race day – on the Sunday before the team packs up to head home to Enstone.

A busy schedule awaits as always, and with such a short timescale between the first two races there is a lot to be said for the dedication of the men and women who make up the Formula 1 circus – particularly with temperatures averaging in the 30s and humidity in the 80s at this time of year in Malaysia.

Keep up to speed with all the latest news both trackside and back at Enstone this week via our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page

Power of One – Lotus F1 Team / Proton Roadshow [Blog + Pictures]

2012-03-20T14:04:24Z

Lotus F1 Team, in association with Proton, brings Formula 1 to the masses for a 5 day demonstration at the Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

From Wednesday to Sunday of last week, Malaysia's largest car manufacturer Proton staged an event showcasing its latest range of products in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

While the Lotus F1 Team race crew was busy preparing for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the team's events division was on hand to provide a unique spectacle in the Asian city. As part of the event, a running Lotus F1 Team car driven by Ho-Pin Tung was flown to the National Stadium to entertain the thousands of spectators gathered to catch a glimpse of a Formula 1 car at close quarters.

Ho-Pin demonstrated the power and agility of the R30 4 times per day during the week, with that number raised to 6 per day at the weekend. Despite tropical downpours, nothing was going to stop the Chinese ace doing what he does best for the crowds, as he tore around the arena performing high-speed runs, burnouts and donuts to the delight of the watching masses.

Over the course of the event Proton welcomed over 100,000 guests, with 10 of the marque's cars on display and a further 6 Lotus models also on show.

Meet and greet sessions in the Lotus Marquee saw over 500 fans in the first 2 days alone get the chance to meet Ho-Pin himself, while the team also conducted a Q&A session with around 100 select members of the media to discuss the 2012 season.

Ho-Pin and the team were on hand to showcase the R30 to disadvantaged school children from the West of Malaysia. 120 children in total met Ho-Pin and the team for pictures, autographs and tours of the arena which included an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Lotus F1 Team static car.

With the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix now just a matter of days away, the event has already added to the growing Formula 1 buzz around the country as the countdown to the 14th race held at the Sepang circuit begins.

For further details on Proton cars, click here.

A Winning Partner – Renault Engines

2012-03-20T09:14:46Z

To celebrate winning an impressive 10 Formula 1 World Constructor's Championship titles, Renault has released its latest video trailer featuring Lotus F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean

Success doesn't come easily in Formula 1, which makes the history of Renault engines in the sport all the more spectacular.

Having first entered the World Championship in 1977, the French manufacturer has since powered a total of 10 constructors and 9 drivers to glory in motorsport's premier category.

Great names including Mansell, Prost, Schumacher, Hill, Villeneuve, Alonso and Vettel have all etched their names into the Formula 1 record books with Renault engines behind them, while the Williams, Benetton, Red Bull, and of course Renault teams have taken the respective Constructor's titles.

The trailer itself, set in a nightclub where the RS27 engine appears as the focal point of the scene, features Lotus F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean as the star, with the slogan ‘No-one becomes a star by chance'.

For more details on the partnership between Lotus F1 Team and Renault, click here

Eric Boullier on the Malaysian GP: “The E20 should be competitive in Malaysia”

2012-03-19T17:41:46Z

The Enstone family is unique in its ‘human' approach to Formula 1; a strategy Team Principal Eric Boullier believes will drive the team forwards.

Eric, if you had to sum-up the Australian GP in one word, what would it be?

Pride, I think.

Why?

Well, we are coming back from a tough 2011 season. From a human and a technical point of view, last year was very, very tough. We took some risks with an innovative concept that didn't pay off, and we paid the price for that. However, when we approached the subject of 2012 this experience did not prevent us from being brave once again. The team proved that they were not scared to think outside the box once again. This is exactly what I was expecting. I guess this is in the DNA of Enstone. As a Team Principal, I can only be impressed with this approach.

Were you expecting the E20 to perform so well in Melbourne?

Before qualifying nobody really knew what to expect. Possibly to a greater extent than in previous years, there was very little reliable information to be learned from winter testing. We knew our car was quite quick, but as for the others we had absolutely no clue. Saturday was a relief: you don't reach the second row of the grid by chance.

What about Sepang, then?

It will be a totally different track from Albert Park of course. This said, we think that the E20 should be competitive there. One of its bigger assets is very low tyre degradation. Considering the very hot conditions in Malysia, this can only be a help. We think we can be competitive there.

Romain and Kimi seem to be a very competitive line-up…

Yes, and that was our target for this year. The two of them get on well and they push each other. This is an ideal situation for us. We knew it from the beginning. Romain was really unlucky in Australia as he could have fought for the top places there. Unfortunately, he's been taken out of the race by another driver. This is part of the game I guess, but it was really frustrating. Such manoeuvres from opponents are unnecessary in the first few laps of a race. This driver did not see the finish line either, so I guess there is some justice in that… Kimi managed to gain 11 places over the course of the race, which shows how motivated he is.

The 2012 championship will be decided on development, presumably. Will the team be able to cope with it?

Development means resource and investment. With Genii Capital behind us, we know that we'll benefit from a strong a reliable asset. They will do whatever it takes to help us design and produce the parts we need to be more competitive. Genii did not get involved in Formula 1 to finish second.

How can the team fight against Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull? Your budget does not have anything in common with these teams…

You're right, but our philosophy is that money does not buy wins and championships. For us, Formula 1 is all about being clever and cost efficient. The E20 is the first Enstone car designed with our 60% scale wind tunnel and upgraded CFD facility. In a few weeks, our brand new simulator will be operational. People in Enstone have the right tools to push forward and we're investing where we have to. That said, people should not think of us as a second class team. With Lotus, Total, Rexona, Clear and Microsoft Dynamics on board, we're clearly among the most attractive outfits around.

You have been the only team this year to announce a commercial deal with worldwide groups…

Exactly. This means that our approach seduces the biggest companies in the world. When partners sign with Lotus F1 Team, they don't enter into a commercial relationship: they become part of a very special family. The human aspect of Formula 1 is usually neglected, but we make it the number one priority on our list. Our communications and marketing philosophy is unique within the sport. We are honest, open, approachable, and sometimes a bit cheeky as well. We love our fans, and we never lie to the media. This is unusual in the paddock and this is what makes Lotus F1 Team a very unique organisation. This will pay off eventually. The good guys always win in the end.

Kimi Räikkönen: "I think we have a chance to fight for podiums"

2012-03-18T14:56:10Z

Kimi shares his thought on an eventful day down under, as he made his long awaited Formula 1 comeback at the 2012 Australian Grand Prix

Congratulations Kimi, that performance must make you one of the heroes of the day

(Laughs) I don't know about that, but today went pretty well. Yesterday we made some mistakes which cost us quite a bit so it could easily have been better. We had the safety car which I think actually hurt us a bit as well. I made a good start but then there was an accident in front of me at the first turn, so we lost a few places there as I had to almost stop and move onto the grass to avoid it. That made the race harder again as we had the speed, but a lot of traffic to get through.

When you look at all these things we could have finished in a much better position, so overall the weekend was far from ideal. The good thing is that the car was handling well and to come back to 7th was not a bad result. It at least means we came away with some points and made a big improvement from Saturday.

How did it feel coming back to Formula 1 after two years away? Did you find it easy getting into the groove with a new car, new tyres and the DRS?

To be honest it didn't feel any different to when I last raced. There have been a few rule changes but the racing itself is very similar. The DRS is easier to use in the race than in practice or qualifying because there are only certain places you can activate it, whereas in the other sessions people will try to push the limits of how early they can use it which can easily lead to a mistake if you are too aggressive.

I wouldn't say the cars themselves have changed that much. Obviously they are different to when I was last racing in 2009, but every year the teams must design a new car so it's like starting over again each season. The tyres seem fine so far as well, so overall it's all been a fairly smooth.

You came on the radio asking the team about the blue flags; what happened there?

Nothing at all really, I was just wondering what was going on as they kept showing me the flags but I knew the gap to the leader was nowhere near a whole lap! I assumed it was for the car behind that I'd just overtaken but it seemed to go on for a while, so I was trying to find out why they were still waving at me!

Given your performance today and where Romain managed to qualify yesterday, how much potential do you feel the E20 has?

Like I said throughout testing and yesterday as well, the car feels very good. Today I was mostly stuck in traffic so it didn't show so much, and who knows what might have happened if we had a better grid slot, but there is a lot of speed in the car. We just need to avoid putting ourselves in a position like we were in after qualifying yesterday.

With round 1 now done and dusted, what are your thoughts moving on to Malaysia?

I'm happy to get the first race out of the way. We'll be trying to improve our performance in Malaysia for sure. We don't know how the car will behave there but it's been good everywhere so far so hopefully it'll be the same again. It'll be hot and humid which is a challenge but we have a good car, so as long as we don't make the same kind of mistakes again in qualifying I think we have a chance to fight for podiums. We'll have to wait and see.

Round 2 of the World Championship takes us to Kuala Lumpur next weekend, March 23-25 where the team will be looking to build on the potential shown here in Australia this weekend.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates on the teams travels across the globe, as well as all the latest news from the paddock and back at Enstone.

Romain Grosjean: "With a bit more luck I think we could have achieved a great result today"

2012-03-18T13:56:57Z

Romain gives us an insight into his Albert Park race debut, on a weekend which began as a fairytale story for the Frenchman, but ultimately lacked the happy ending it deserved

Romain, so disappointing for you today. Tell us what happened

To begin with the start wasn't very good so we need to look at what happened there. Then I think it was Pastor (Maldonado) who hit my car on lap 3 and that was it, my race was over. It's frustrating as I really wanted to make the chequered flag and even the podium but there's always the next race.

The contact was indeed with Maldonado; talk us through it from your point of view

From what I saw he braked far too late, and came across to hit my right front wheel which broke the steering. So that was it for me, I made sure to be careful through the opening laps but I can't control the other drivers and there was no way I could have avoided it. Anyway, that's racing and I'm sure next weekend will be much better.

Looking at the footage you seemed to give him enough space. On reflection is there anything you would have done differently?

We all slowed down for the yellow flags at turn 12 and I think he took advantage of that. I can't move all the way into the gravel just to give someone space; i'm not driving a 4x4! When you're overtaking someone you have to leave at least enough space for that car to remain on the track and this was not the case here.

What happened at the start? How difficult was it out there?

The launch was good, but then I had trouble shifting up from 1st to 2nd gear so we'll need to have a look at the data there. We have another race next Sunday so we'll go away and piece everything together to see where we can improve ready to come back stronger at the next race.

The good news is that the car looks good in terms of performance. Does this give you confidence going to Malaysia?

The car is performing very well. I was keeping pace with the guys in front of me and was pushing to get past so with a bit more luck I think we could have achieved a great result today. I'm disappointed for the team because they deserved better having worked so hard to give us a strong car.

Obviously this has been a disappointing day for you, but how quickly can you draw a line under this and focus on next Sunday?

Well, I wish I was standing here talking to you after the podium ceremony! But it is what it is and tomorrow morning it will all be a memory. We'll move on to Malaysia now which is one of my favourite circuits and focus on getting a result there.

Round 2 of the World Championship takes us to Kuala Lumpur next weekend, March 23-25 where the team will be looking to build on the potential shown here in Australia this weekend.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates on the teams travels across the globe, as well as all the latest news from the paddock and back at Enstone.

Australian Grand Prix – Race Report

2012-03-18T11:09:46Z

Lotus F1 Team kicked off the 2012 Formula 1 season with a day of mixed emotions in Melbourne, as Kimi mounted a superb comeback charge and Romain's fairytale weekend came to a cruel and premature end

Despite a few clouds lingering over the Albert Park circuit, the downpours that affected Friday's running were nowhere to be seen as the paddock was blessed with ideal weather for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

After a difficult day on Saturday, in which a combination of driving and communication errors confined him to a lowly P18 on the grid, Kimi came slicing through the field to finish well inside the points in 7th. The Finn got a good start but was immediately hindered by an accident at the first turn, which forced him to slow almost to a stop and take to the grass in avoidance.

It seemed like this was not to be Kimi's weekend, as he now faced an uphill battle to recover the places he had gained off the start line once more. In typical fashion, the 2007 World Champion kept his cool and made rapid progress through the field, breaking into the top 10 (pit stop adjusted) by lap 19, and climbing from P10 to P7 on the final lap of the race.

Having started on the yellow marked soft compound tyres Kimi made two pit stops, opting for a soft-soft-medium strategy. The final stop was made during a safety car period, which proved to be another hindrance to his progress – a frustration that just about summed up the Finn's weekend. Nonetheless, Kimi can be proud of what was a composed, consistent, and highly encouraging return to the sport.

Romain's weekend on the other hand unfortunately took the opposite turn to that of his team-mate. Having mastered his E20 to an impressive 3rd place grid slot on Saturday on his first visit to the Albert Park circuit, the Frenchman's race came to an abrupt end just 3 laps into proceedings, after contact with Pastor Maldonado's Williams at turn 13 forced him to retire with broken steering.

Romain was understandably disappointed to have his dream weekend ended in such an unjust manner, but remained upbeat after a highly promising start to his first full season in Formula 1. The Frenchman was quick to praise the efforts of the team and look ahead to the next race in Malaysia.

Round 2 of the World Championship takes us to Kuala Lumpur next weekend, March 23-25 where the team will be looking to build on the potential shown here in Australia this weekend.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates on the teams travels across the globe, as well as all the latest news from the paddock and back at Enstone.

Kimi Räikkönen: “Things haven't gone our way today, but that's racing”

2012-03-17T17:04:52Z

After a difficult day at the Albert Park circuit, Kimi reflects on qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix

Kimi, not exactly what you had in mind for your first qualifying session of the year; what happened out there?

I made a small mistake on my final run. Based on the first part of the lap it should have easily been enough to get us through to Q2, even though we chose to stay on the medium compound tyres. Unfortunately we had a communication issue and I didn't realise how close we were to the end of the session. I backed off to make space for a clean lap, and ended up crossing the line too late to set another time.

Do you believe you had the speed today to match or improve upon Romain's third place?

I don't see why not. We haven't had any clear laps all day, so it's hard to say. The car felt good and I think that without the issues we would have easily made Q3, but that's what happens sometimes and we have to make the best of it. I'm not surprised by Romain's performance. He's driving well and we already knew the E20 was quick, now it's just a case of getting everything right so we can get the most out of the car.

You've already mentioned that the E20 is looking good, but there are some quick cars and drivers around you on the grid. How confident are you that you can get a decent result tomorrow?

I'm not making any predictions, we'll just have to see how it goes. I feel good in the car so if everything goes according to plan we should have a decent race. Unfortunately things haven't gone our way today, but that's racing. Sunday is when it all counts; I managed to win the race at Suzuka in 2005 from 17th on the grid, so who knows what might happen.

The start lights will go out at 17:00 local time tomorrow afternoon for the opening race of the season in Melbourne, with an intriguing plot line in store for the team as Kimi and Romain face very different challenges.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Romain Grosjean: “We're all very proud of what the team has achieved”

2012-03-17T12:12:41Z

Romain shares his thoughts after a memorable day's work at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia

Romain, P3 on the grid for the season opener in Melbourne tomorrow; you must be delighted?

For sure, it's very cool! We're all very proud of what the team has achieved and I think we deserve it. Everyone has been working really hard and like I've said before the atmosphere within the team has been fantastic right from the beginning of winter testing. I'm proud to be a part of this team and proud of everyone here today and back at Enstone. The main positive from today is that we now know for sure that the car is quick, whereas before we didn't have any idea where we were compared to the others.

What went through your mind when you crossed the line and found out where you had qualified? Were you surprised?

I didn't know straight away as we had to wait for some of the other drivers to cross the line, so it was quite tense! I remember going through the first corner and seeing P3 on the big screen, but it wasn't confirmed until I got to turn three and heard Ayao on the radio saying “Well done mate!” To be honest I was a bit lost for words! It's a fantastic feeling, and hopefully one that we'll have many more times throughout the season. The race tomorrow is where it all counts; I'm just going to get my head down and try to make it as good as what we experienced today.

You're a long way up the grid, and the first corner at Albert Park is known for incidents; do you have a strategy in mind for the first lap?

Well the good thing is I'm on the second row, not the fourth, fifth or sixth for example where it gets even tighter! We're in a great position. The race is 58 laps so I'll try to be careful through the first corner, but I'm a racing driver and I want to be looking forwards at every opportunity. We'll see what happens at the start and just work from there.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Australian Grand Prix – Qualifying Report

2012-03-17T09:48:02Z

Lotus F1 Team experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum this afternoon in Melbourne, as Romain made a big impression on his Albert Park debut while Kimi suffered an unexpected blow on his return to the sport

The ideal conditions from Free Practice 3 earlier in the day remained faithful to the Formula 1 circus this afternoon, as the sun-drenched paddock filled with a distinctive air of anticipation at the prospect of one of the most unpredictable opening race weekends in recent memory.

Q1 got underway at 17:00 local time, with both Kimi and Romain heading out early in the session on the medium compound tyre and completing a total of 9 laps apiece. After a solid first stint, Romain returned to the track on a fresh set of tyres and sailed comfortably into Q2 with a time of 1:26.498.

Unfortunately for Kimi, his session was not to run as planned. Having set an almost identical time to Romain in his first stint the Finn made a late appearance for his final run, again opting to stay out on the medium compound tyre. A couple of small mistakes followed by a communication issue were to prove costly, as Kimi ran out of time to complete another flying lap, ruling him out of qualifying at the first hurdle and consigning him to an unexpected 18th place on the grid.

With the entire field now utilising the soft compound tyre, Q2 would prove to be the first real comparison between the teams. Despite having no prior experience of the Albert Park circuit before Free Practice 1 on Friday, Romain looked assured and confident at the wheel of the E20, progressing to the final knockout stage in 5th place with a time of 1:25.845.

Q3 proved to be a classic Formula 1 showdown, with the majority of drivers opting to complete a short run early in the session before heading out for a last-gasp run at the very end. Romain was among those to adopt this tactic and the Frenchman did not disappoint, crossing the line in a time of 1:25.302 to clinch 3rd position on the grid for his first Australian Grand Prix.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 3 Report

2012-03-17T05:04:04Z

After a comparatively low-key day on Friday, Lotus F1 Team started the weekend on a positive note in the glorious Melbourne sunshine this afternoon

As green lights at the end of the pit lane signalled the start of Free Practice 3 at the Albert Park circuit, the Australian weather justified the team's decision to avoid running in the damp conditions seen during yesterday's sessions.

Romain was one of the first drivers to emerge from his garage, heading out for an install lap on a set of the medium compound tyres. Kimi was not far behind, opting for the same tyres as the E20s were put through their standard pre-run procedures.

Kimi spent the majority of the session working on the setup of his E20, clocking 19 laps in the process – almost double the amount completed during both of Friday's sessions combined.

Having returned to the base setup for his steering rack, the Finn reported being far more comfortable in the car. A combination of slower traffic and yellow flags deprived Kimi of the chance to put in a clean flying lap on the softer compound tyres, with his best time of 1:26.737 good enough for 12th place.

Romain continued to demonstrate his abilities in adapting to a new circuit, showing good pace whilst working through a range of setup changes, and finishing the session in 2nd place overall.

With seven minutes of running remaining, the Frenchman jumped from ninth position to the top of the leaderboard with a lap time of 1:25.758. He too was then hindered by on-track events, and so this would remain the quickest of his 21 attempts.

Romain was particularly satisfied with his day's work so far, but refused to get carried away:

"I had a lot of fun out there. I'm happy with the car, and i felt for the first time that i had the confidence in my knowledge of the track to push a little harder. We're pleased with the performance, but we won't know for sure where we are until the end of qualifying. P2 may not be realistic, but we have a good chance of making it through to Q3"

The team rounded off the session with pit-stop simulations for both drivers. All eyes are now focused on preparations for this afternoon's qualifying sessions – beginning with Qualifying 1 at 17:00 local time.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Kimi Räikkönen: "The setup we have is working well"

2012-03-16T17:24:13Z

Hear Kimi's thoughts after a day of limited running here in Australia

Kimi, you didn't have a huge amount of time in the car today. Talk us through what happened.

In the first session we had to change the steering. We have a number of different steering racks and unfortunately we didn't have time to try all of them during testing. We need to try them all at some stage, and Friday is the best time to do that as it takes quite a while to change. We didn't want to run while the track was wet anyway so we knew we had time to work on it. The base setup we have now is working well. It may take a while before we get it perfect but we'll make the best of it.

From the short amount of running you had today, do you think you have a lot of work to do tomorrow?

The weather held us back a bit today but the conditions are what they are and it's the same for everyone. Luckily we have tomorrow morning to work on things before qualifying. I didn't push too hard today, but if it's dry tomorrow we'll have a better idea of what we need to do and hopefully come out of qualifying feeling much happier.

You've just signed a partnership with the makers of ‘Angry Birds'. Do you play the game?

Yes, I actually play it quite a lot when I travel. I completed the first levels but they keep making new ones so I need to catch up!

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Romain Grosjean: "It's a fantastic track"

2012-03-16T12:19:25Z

Read what Romain had to say after his first experience at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne

Romain, Albert Park is a track you've never raced at before. How was your first experience of the Melbourne circuit?

It's a fantastic track, the changing scenery as you drive through the park is incredible and there are already quite a few fans here creating a good atmosphere. I've been learning the track this afternoon, focusing on improving my lap times as the day went on and I got to know the circuit better. We had to be patient, but we managed to get some decent laps in at the end which is very valuable.

It must be difficult to take any real conclusions from today with the mixture of an unknown track and variable weather, but how did the E20 feel?

The car felt very good, I'm happy with the balance. We weren't so happy with the rear end in the first session but the team did a great job as always turning things around in the break and I instantly felt much better behind the wheel.

The team decided not to run for a good portion of the second session today. What was the thinking behind that decision?

We waited to be able to go out on slick tyres, as we expect it to be dry for the rest of the weekend so there was no point taking any unnecessary risks. I'm happy to get the season going and looking forward to qualifying tomorrow. It will be interesting for sure, I feel comfortable and confident in the car which is the main thing.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 2 Report

2012-03-16T10:17:10Z

With rain dominating the second practice session at Albert Park this afternoon, the opening day of the Australian Grand Prix proved to be useful if not spectacular for Lotus F1 Team

The team completed limited running today due to the inclement weather conditions. With forecasts suggesting that both Saturday and Sunday will be dry, there was little to be gained and potentially a lot to be lost by running on a wet track, and so it was decided that discretion was the better part of valour on this occasion.

The session was not a complete waste however, as in the narrow window of dry running time the team used each of the allocated Pirelli tyre compounds allocated for this event; medium / soft dry tyres, and intermediate / full wet tyres.

The combination of wet and dry running also showed positive results in a number of key areas, demonstrating that the E20 has a solid baseline wet set-up, and works well on high fuel loads in dry conditions.

The standings at the end of the session placed Romain in P14 with a best lap of 1:32.822 from his 11 attempts, while Kimi ended the day in P18 with a best lap of 1:34.275 from just 7 attempts.

Despite a stop-start opening day here in Melbourne, the atmosphere in the garage is decidedly optimistic as the team heads into the first real test of the season tomorrow afternoon, when the qualifying sessions will reveal the true running order at this early stage of the season.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 Report

2012-03-16T04:21:37Z

Grey clouds and damp conditions greeted the teams as the Formula 1 circus rolled into Albert Park this morning, with intermittent showers resulting in limited running for the majority of the paddock

At just after 12:30 local time, Kimi and Romain launched their E20s out onto the circuit in flying formation, the former opting for intermediate tyres and the latter the full wet option.

With the install lap and various related tests completed, the drivers jumped out for a brief break before their first full runs. Unfortunately for Kimi the break proved to be slightly more elongated than originally planned, as the mechanics sprung into action to investigate an issue with the steering.

While things ran more smoothly for Romain, the mixed track conditions did not provide an ideal scenario for the Frenchman to get to grips with the Albert Park circuit – a venue he had yet to experience in his racing career to date.

Nevertheless, Romain got his head down and completed 16 laps, with a best time of 1:30.515 putting him in 16th place.

The steering issue now resolved there was just enough time for Kimi to complete one short run before the chequered flag dropped. His best time, a 1:29.565 set on his last flying lap, proved good enough for 9th place despite the Finn notching up just 8 laps.

With blue skies starting to break through and the Aussie V8 race now underway, hopefully track conditions will prove more favourable for the second Free Practice session scheduled for 16:30 local time this afternoon.

Stay tuned to our website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for all the latest news, live updates, and images throughout the weekend.

Thursday in Melbourne – Q&A With Kimi and Romain

2012-03-15T18:35:49Z

With the E20 primed and ready to roll out of the garage tomorrow morning at the Albert Park circuit, Kimi and Romain share their thoughts ahead of the first race weekend of the year

Kimi Räikkönen

Kimi, here we are at Melbourne, the first race of your comeback season; how are you feeling?

I'm feeling good. I'm glad to be getting back to racing and looking forward to getting out there and seeing how it goes

You've been around the paddock and seen a lot of familiar faces; does it feel strange?

If feels very normal. It's all the same people from testing obviously and a lot of the same faces from when I raced in Formula 1 before. It's been nice catching up with the old crowd.

After talking with the engineers and everything that went on in testing, how confident are you, and how much are you looking forward to getting in the car?

Nothing's changed since testing, so we still don't know what kind of position we're in relative to the others. Testing was very positive, but practice and racing are two different things. I'm looking forward to getting in the car, forgetting everything else, and focusing on driving.

Romain Grosjean

Romain, the Australian Grand Prix has finally arrived; what's going through your head at this moment?

I'm feeling very good. I'm really happy to be here; the atmosphere in the team is very positive and we're all looking forward to the season ahead. Melbourne is a nice place to be, and I'm enjoying being here in the paddock.

Although you've never raced here at Albert Park, you've at least now had a chance to walk round the track and see it first-hand. What do you think of the circuit?

It seems like a really nice track. I had a good look around on the circuit walk yesterday, and there a few challenging corners where you can really enjoy yourself and push the car, so it should be good fun!

Winter testing proved very positive overall with both yourself and the car showing good pace; what are your expectations for this weekend?

Well I've got my fingers crossed that we'll be as far up the grid as possible! Testing went very well and while we might not be fighting for pole position at the first race, I'm hoping we can keep developing and maybe go for the top spot very soon.

Tech Talk: Melbourne – Blog

2012-03-15T16:56:52Z

Melbourne plays host to the season opener of the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship this week. Lotus F1 Team takes a look at the challenges of the Albert Park circuit

The Venue

This is one of the tracks where there is a reasonable amount of track evolution. Between first practice and qualifying, with a similar fuel load, the track can be up to three seconds per lap quicker. The weather can be blistering hot one day and freezing cold the next. There have been race weekends with 14ºC during qualifying and 40ºC during the race. It can change very quickly, and you have to set the car up to be able to cope with both.

Normally at this time of year it's in the mid-twenties and very pleasant, which causes no trouble at all, but you do have to keep one eye on the forecast as it can change rapidly. This affects not just engine temperatures and so on but also how you use the tyres. If there's a chance that the temperature may significantly rise or fall you have to have a compromise between qualifying and race setup.

The Circuit

The end of the straight is the fastest section of the track, with speeds of 300kph achieved. There's then significant braking into turn 1. The gravel trap at the end of the start-finish straight generally sees a lot of action over the weekend. It's particularly attractive to cars on the first lap. Next up, we head down to turn 3 which offers a good overtaking opportunity, and is followed by a series of tricky chicanes and fast sweeping bends. The next main point of interest is the high speed chicane of turns 11 and 12, which is taken in excess of 200kph and has a reasonable kerb providing an extra challenge.

The final sector is relatively low speed compared to the rest of the track, and there's a good amount of gain to be made here. The last two turns in particular, 15 and 16, are where you want the car to work best. These are very slow, and are where the most lap time can be gained from the car. If you increase grip through here by 5% you see a difference of around 0.2s per lap.

The Car

Relatively high levels of downforce are required for Albert Park so the car runs with a lot of rear wing. Not to Monaco levels, but comparable amounts to Barcelona and Silverstone. Similarly, more front wing is used as a counter to the low-grip nature of the track which can provoke understeer.

A reasonably soft car is also required to be able to maximise the grip potential from the slippery Albert Park surface. Set-up evolves over the weekend to match the improving track surface, as the park roads grow into a race track through cars racing on them for the only time in the year. As a counterpoint to the requirement for a soft car, there are sufficient change of direction requirements to need a stiffer set-up to aid responsiveness. It's important to have a strong front end, as understeer is potentially the main factor. Although there are some sections where good traction is important, the priority is to have good turn in and change of direction through the chicanes

Albert Park that is medium to high in terms of brake wear. Certainly nowhere near as fierce as Canada, but it won't be a track where we have our smallest brake ducts on either. Pirelli is bringing the medium and soft compounds to Melbourne which shouldn't present a problem, as it's not a circuit that's particularly hard on tyres.

Video Interview – One Minute With Kimi

2012-03-15T11:51:54Z

Kimi Räikkönen discusses his Formula 1 comeback with Lotus F1 Team

With only hours to go until the season opener begins with Free Practice 1 & 2 at the Albert Park circuit, Kimi talks us through his first impressions of the E20 and the key technical changes in the sport since he last raced in 2009.

This exclusive interview, filmed earlier today at one of Melbourne's premier hotels, represents another milestone in of one of the most eagerly awaited comebacks in Formula 1 history.

Keep up to speed with all the latest Lotus F1 Team news from the opening race of the season in Melbourne via our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page.

Wednesday in Melbourne – Blog

2012-03-14T12:46:44Z

After the seemingly wait which inevitably seems to follow pre-season testing, the team finally arrived in Melbourne for the first round of the Formula 1 World Championship at the Albert Park Circuit

Perhaps we're easily pleased, but there's something about seeing people parading around in shorts at 7:30am that puts a smile on our faces. Even after an unusually mild weekend back at Enstone, nothing quite compares to Australia.

To add to the Aussie feel, our first task of hiring a car for the week brought us to the doors of a Holden Commodore – not quite of the same spec raced in the V8 series, but close enough to make the occasional bit of Hamilton-esque ‘hooning' very tempting!

With Tuesday predominantly spent acclimatising to the time difference and catching up on some much needed sleep (unfortunately the in-flight entertainment had proven too tempting for a few moments rest on the journey over), Wednesday gave the first taste of what's to come at Albert Park.

The venue itself is simply stunning, and with the Formula 1 circus thrown into the mix it makes for a pretty decent atmosphere to say the least. Walking through the paddock, the excitement levels are already starting to rise with the cars having yet to even turn a wheel. Each and every member of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation team seems to be buzzing with enthusiasm as they prepare to host the world's greatest drivers.

While the support crew have been hard at work putting in all-night shifts to get the team facilities ready for action (a mammoth effort to say the least), the drivers were afforded a slightly later start today. Kimi kicked off his week with a few interviews during the morning, arriving at the circuit in the early afternoon to catch up with the rest of the team.

Romain joined us later on, and headed straight out for a track walk with the engineers. Having not previously raced at Albert Park before, the Frenchman decided that one walk around the circuit wasn't enough, and went off to fetch his trusty bike. All kitted up and ready to go, Romain set off down the pit lane, only to be refused entry to the track! Let's hope that's the only time that happens this week…

After a relatively relaxed start the event really begins to gather pace tomorrow, with a host of media calls, press conferences, photoshoots, autograph sessions, and charity events keeping the drivers busy before they jump in the cars for Free Practice 1 & 2 on Friday.

Tune in to our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page to keep up with all the latest news from here in Australia.

Microsoft Partners with Lotus F1 Team

2012-03-14T03:59:48Z

Lotus F1 Team announces a three-year partnership with Microsoft. Microsoft Dynamics to be utilised at Enstone for end-to-end business transformation. Branding on the E20 to be unveiled at the Australian Grand Prix.

Lotus F1 Team is proud to announce a three-year partnership with Microsoft which begins with immediate effect. Microsoft Dynamics branding will feature prominently both on the Lotus F1 Team E20s and the drivers' overalls when the team makes its 2012 race debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 18.

As part of the partnership, Microsoft Dynamics solutions, which are designed to enable organizations to be more agile and globally competitive in today's business environment, will be implemented at Lotus F1 Team's Enstone, England, base to facilitate the team's business transformation. For the duration of the agreement, Microsoft personnel will work directly with Lotus F1 Team to continuously transform and optimize operations towards a world class facility.

Patrick Louis, Chief Executive Officer, Lotus F1 Team:

“Lotus F1 Team is extremely proud to have attracted Microsoft Dynamics as a business and sponsorship partner. We are entering an exciting phase in the development of our business model as we move from our recent change management period to a ‘global business transformation' process. Microsoft Dynamics will be a crucial enabler for our objectives. This association will help Lotus F1 Team to become comprehensively process and KPI driven, enabling our “smart” approach towards Formula 1.”

Hal Howard, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Dynamics ERP Research and Development

“In a business where every thousandth of a second matters, Microsoft is revved up about working with the Lotus F1 team to help drive efficiencies into their operations and make those seconds count. The Lotus F1 Team is a forward-looking and agile business, and Microsoft is thrilled to provide them with the technology that will help them transform into a Dynamic Business and win.”

Christian Pedersen, General Manager, Microsoft Dynamics ERP Product Marketing

“The Microsoft Dynamics team is equally proud to be named the official Business Transformation Partner of the Lotus F1 Team. We look forward to working together to optimize all aspects of their end-to-end operations including design, manufacturing, logistics, and retail through the use of Microsoft Dynamics business applications, enabling them to be even more competitive.”

Microsoft is expected to share more details about this partnership at Microsoft Convergence 2012 event in Houston, Texas, March 19 – 21, 2012.

For more information on Microsoft Dynamics, please visit the official website

2012 Australian GP Preview

2012-03-13T13:57:03Z

Lotus F1 Team covers the key features of the season opener in Melbourne

With a busy schedule of pre-season testing already seeming like a distant memory, preparations for the first race weekend of the year are well underway.

Kimi Räikkönen, Romain Grosjean, Eric Boullier and James Allison have been sharing their thoughts ahead of the long trip down under, and Alan Permane is our expert guide to the Albert Park Circuit.

We also have all the latest news from Enstone, including Kimi's appearances at the Geneva Motorshow and on the latest episode of Top Gear, as well as facts and figures relating to the Australian Grand Prix.

Check out below our preview.

Romain Grosjean on the Australian GP: “I Can't Wait to Go For It”

2012-03-13T09:03:17Z

With the GP2 Asia and GP2 Series titles under his belt, Romain returns to the place where his Formula 1 career began with a fresh determination

How do you feel on the brink of your first full season of F1?

I'm looking forward to Australia and I feel very comfortable with the team. It's been fantastic throughout testing and we're all working well together. Of course, we had a third less of pre-season testing than we expected – which was not quite the original plan! The small issue we had in the first Barcelona test can even be seen as a good experience. Everyone worked twice as hard to return to Barcelona the following week and show that we are strong for the season ahead, which I think we are.

Have you been to Albert Park before?

I've only been to Australia once before when I was third driver for the team in 2009. The country is fantastic. I love Melbourne. I hope the track will suit me – it certainly looks great. The atmosphere is very special and it was one of my favourite Grands Prix to experience even when I wasn't driving, so what it must be like to drive it I can't imagine.

All your testing took place in the dry and Melbourne has notoriously fickle weather. When was the last time you drove an F1 car in the wet?

Brazil 2009 in free practice three. It feels like a long time ago! I'm ready if the track is more slippery, and I'll try to make the best of it. I like racing in the wet, so maybe it will be a bit of an advantage for me.

The simulator at Enstone has not quite opened for business, so how have you been preparing for Albert Park - a track you've never driven before?

I've been watching a lot of in-car videos from the on-board camera! I've spent a lot of time with my engineers looking at the data from the track from last season. I'll be running as much as possible in the first free practice session to learn the circuit, get some mileage and build some knowledge of the track. For sure, I'm looking forward to having access to the simulator once it goes live very soon…

What do you think of Albert Park, especially with factors to consider such as its non-permanent nature and the likely track surface evolution?

The track is what it is – it will improve but that only helps you. You don't particularly feel it too much in the car, you just see it in better lap times. The grip level improves and better lap times come to you – and you soon get used to better lap times! What I saw from the onboard camera from previous years is the track looks good and it looks fun. I hope it will suit the E20.

What are your targets for the year?

My target is to give my best every time I'm in the car; to get the best from the car and to get the best from myself. I want to make the least amount of mistakes possible. I want to get points at every opportunity. I don't set myself a target of a particular position, I just want to do my best and do my job as well as I can so I can bring some good points to the team.

Do you have a particular race start routine?

I used to have a particular routine, but it's not something I go out of my way to follow now. It's something I do more from familiarity. I usually get into the car from the right side, but that's not to say I won't ever get in from the other side. I'll try to be relaxed, get myself in the right frame of mind then tell myself ‘come-on, we're going to race now!' It's a fantastic experience to start a Grand Prix. I can't wait to go for it.

What's your emotion when you're sat on the grid after the formation lap?

You have to be really calm. When you're at your best, you're really calm but very attentive. You need to be ready to go as soon as the lights change. It's something which is tough to get exactly right; that balance of high concentration and high focus.

How have you found the reaction to your return to Formula 1?

I'm surprised that so much was made of it in France, but it makes me happy. The car looks good for the season ahead so that creates more attention. We're all very excited.

Has the amount of media attention surprised you?

In a way, yes, but I'd prefer to be in this position than having no attention and not being in Formula 1! It's good that people are paying attention to what we're doing – it's a good sign. I hope it continues.

Kimi Räikkönen on the Australian GP: "Everybody wants to race”

2012-03-12T16:27:46Z

Poles, podiums, wins, a World Title; Kimi Räikkönen has been there, and done it all in Formula 1. Now he's back for more, and hungrier than ever.

What are your objectives on your return to Formula 1 with Lotus F1 Team?

I will try to do as well as I can and see where we end up. For the first race in Australia we want to have a good weekend without any major issues or mistakes. I don't know where we're going to be on the grid – nobody knows. If you look at the lap times from testing everybody is very close to each other. We don't know what everyone was doing with fuel load and that makes a massive difference. We'll have some idea after practice in Melbourne, then after qualifying everyone will know exactly where we are.

How do you feel with the team now you have been working with them in testing?

I feel very happy with the team. We're still learning things, but everything is going smoothly and there are no problems at all, so it's a good position to start the season.

Testing was interrupted, and you're making a return after two seasons away. How prepared do you feel?

You always wish you had more days to prepare but it's the situation we have and you just have to deal with it. In the first week in Jerez we had pretty good running and no major reliability issues with the car – which is a good thing. We only had one problem at the second test in Barcelona – and we fixed that and it won't be an issue again. Now we just have to get everything at a level where we are happy and make sure I press the right buttons at the right times. Maybe a few more days would have done no harm but I'm very confident that we'll get it right when the time comes.

Is there a lot to learn with a new team, new regulations and a new car?

It's still racing and more is the same as before than has changed. With the DRS and the KERS they are just buttons to press. In testing, sometimes you press it too late or too early but it's not going to change an awful lot. Pit stops are a bit shorter than before but nothing really different; you stop the car and then you go.

Do you have any idea where you hope to be on the grid in Australia?

We might be last and we might be first – let's see when we get there.

What do you think of your teammate Romain Grosjean?

He's a nice guy. I didn't know him before, we'd raced against each other a few times but never really spoken. He's a bit younger than me, but also for him it's a long time since he raced in Formula 1 so we'll see. I think he'll be good and I'm fine with working with him.

How much are you looking forward to racing in Formula 1 again?

Everybody wants to race. If you ask the test drivers: they want to race. Racing is the thing that people like. I don't think that anyone will tell you that testing is more fun than racing. Of course I think that racing has changed a bit since I was last in it with the overtaking, but it's not a completely different sport. It will be exciting and whoever gets the best out of the tyres will probably be in a strong position.

Do you have personal goals for the season?

No. We'll see where we are in the first races and go from there. We'll do the best we can and the best with the car.

You've had some good races in Australia – is it good to be starting the year there?

Australia is a nice place even though it's a long way from Europe. The circuit itself is not the most difficult on the calendar. It was good to score a point on my first time at Albert Park, and the podiums and race win in 2007 obviously made me happy. The circuit hasn't changed at all so I'm confident I know where it goes…

Do you think Albert Park could suit the E20? You need a car with good traction and everything from testing says that the E20 has good traction so that will help us. Strong turn-in and stable braking help too, and those areas also feel good with the car so we are well placed. The track can be a bit slippery at the beginning of the weekend and the Melbourne weather is not always very warm; the Melbourne weather can definitely be a bit tricky. This will be the first race so I don't know how we'll compare to the other teams. My engineers have been running simulations and looking at the test data so we have an idea of how the car should work at Albert Park, but we won't know for sure until we get out on track. It's very difficult to say before we've been out on track, but I think and hope we'll be reasonably strong.

Eric Boullier on the Australian GP: “We Have a Superb Driver Line-Up”

2012-03-12T10:50:17Z

With a new car, two new drivers, and a host of new resources being developed at Enstone, Team Principal Eric Boullier has a bright vision for the future

How do you think the season ahead is looking?

It looks positive. At testing you never know what people are doing but from the Lotus F1 Team perspective our drivers were happy with the car's easiness to drive and overall performance. The E20 reacts well to driver input and engineer changes so the whole package is a decent basis for us to work from. Of course, we don't know where we are standing relative to the other teams. We certainly believe that this year the competition will be much closer and we hope we're at the right end of that competition.

The team has two new drivers which could be seen as something of a risk?

Continuity is certainly good sometimes but we also have to make some decisions. Our two drivers are fantastic. Kimi, is a World Champion. His return is good for Formula 1, good for the fans and fantastic for our team. His experience is definitely valuable and his commitment is better than ever. He is leading the team in a positive direction. With Romain we have a very talented driver who has already shown that he is embracing the opportunity he has. He's developing very fast and I think he will do a very good job this year too. We have a superb driver line-up.

How do you view the team's pre-season testing?

Our designers and the whole team did a very good job this year. Testing showed that the whole car is clearly a step up in terms of fit and finish, and it was reliable straight out of the box. We'll never recover the four days we lost at the first Barcelona test, but that is behind us. We completed great mileage in Jerez, and a decent mileage in the second Barcelona test. The E20 is reliable, and we made the best of what we could do with the eight days before heading to Melbourne.

What are the goals and objectives for the team in 2012?

We want to be seen and performing as one of the top teams in this highly competitive sport. For me this year will be monitored by the progress we make during the course of the season. That will be much more encouraging than any expectation of results or particular figures. If we can finish higher in the rankings I will be very happy and that would be the best reward for our sponsors and for our team. That is clearly a target. We want to do better, we want to be better, we want to score more podiums and if we have a chance to win any races we'll be more than happy. The way we progress over the course of the season is the main goal.

Were you encouraged by the way the team reacted so quickly and positively to the chassis problem?

It was an unexpected issue and we would have been pleased to avoid this kind of drama, however it's clear that the way the team handled this problem showed us in a very good light. Everyone pulled together and focused on the solution rather than what went wrong. We and the right approach to solve the problem and everything was turned around very quickly and to the same high quality we see in the rest of the E20. We leave this issue behind us now and that should be it for surprises.

2012 is the building block for 2013 and beyond – what's the longer term plan?

We have an efficient and strong organisation. We now want to reinforce our strengths and ensure that we are capable to use the best of our resources to develop more concepts and a more efficient car with every subsequent year. Every year if you set your targets and objectives higher you will continue to improve. The team has been building its assets well – bolstering the CFD facility, upgrading to a 60% wind tunnel and with a simulator due to come online very soon… We have a great selection of assets to assist us in our goals and everything required to be a top team. Investment is the key and it's a constant in our organisation. By the end of this year we will have further new projects to further our objectives. These are the next steps to enable us to be even stronger.

How do you feel personally on the brink of the start of the 2012 season?

After a difficult 2011 season – my second year in Formula 1 – I certainly feel much more positive and encouraged by everything I see in the team. We are headed in the correct direction. Last year was a tough experience from which everyone involved learnt a lot. Let's get racing.

Lotus F1 Team at the Australian Grand Prix [Fast Facts]

2012-03-11T16:04:30Z

In Numbers: Albert Park

3.5: Highest g-force experienced for 0.5 seconds at T11
14: Longest full throttle burst (sec) at start/finish straight
16% of the lap spent braking
35 Total straight per lap (%)
60 Number of gear changes per lap
66% of lap on full throttle
80 Lowest apex speed (kmh) at T15
230 Highest apex speed (kmh) at T5
290 Distance in metres from start line to first corner
310 Top speed (kmh)

Our History: Lotus F1 Team at the Australian Grand Prix

Lotus F1 Team entered the inaugural Australian Grand Prix in 1985 under the Toleman name, with Italian drivers Teo Fabi and Piercarlo Ghinzani at the wheel.

In its various guises the team has taken 3 wins in Australia, with Fernando Alonso (Renault, 2006), Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault, 2005) and Nelson Piquet (Benetton, 1990).

The team has also achieved 11 Australian Grand Prix Podiums, the first in 1987 (Thierry Boutsen, Benetton) and the most recent in 2011 (Vitaly Petrov, Lotus Renault GP).

The 2012 Australian Grand Prix will mark the first time in over 2 years (867 days to be precise) since Kimi and Romain last started a Formula 1 race.

For more information about the Australian GP, click here

Formula 1 Logistics – Blog [Part 2]

2012-03-10T21:20:34Z

With around 30 tonnes of equipment now in the air and travelling to the other side of the globe, the next task for Race Team Co-ordinator Geoff Simmonds is to round up the troops, and get straight back to work when the team emerges on the other side in the land of Aus

Once the air freight has left the factory in the early hours of Friday morning – the week before the race in Melbourne – Geoff has to set about getting the other main element of the team over there; the crew!

“Over a race weekend each team can require up to 100 hotel rooms, a good number of hire cars to travel to and from the circuit, and of course all the necessary facilities when everyone arrives to start work. Getting the cargo across the world is one thing, but trying to organise a group of Formula 1 team members is just as much of a challenge!”

“After the late night of packing on Friday, the support crew need to get as much rest as possible before flying out on Saturday afternoon. We have a team who go out a day earlier to make a start on the sea freight; everything needs to be in the pitlane for 09:00 on Monday morning, and having men and women on the ground to make a start before we get there is essential.”

While the European races offer a reasonably stable platform to work in, the flyaways present yet another challenge in themselves:

“The difficulty with Australia is the time difference, which in this case works against us as we lose 10 hours on the flight out, so we leave Saturday at 14:00 and we arrive at 23:00 on Sunday ready to start work on Monday. Of course, a large part of the team (marketing, engineers, etc.) fly out the following day, as until we've managed to get the equipment unloaded there's a not a lot they can do except hang around an empty garage!”

“Another factor with the first race is that there's a host of new equipment that we need to implement into the garage, so there's always a little bit of stress related to that. Luckily we have a good group of guys who get us through that, and we'll be ready for when the mechanics turn up on Tuesday afternoon ready to start prepping the cars.”

With the structures and equipment now in place, the support team can turns their minds to the race; but there's no break for the crew, as Geoff explains:

“Once the team is all up and running things calm down slightly, but not by much! As soon as the cars cross the finish line the whole process starts again. Australia is a twilight race which makes things a bit more difficult in that the race doesn't start until 17:00. With it being the first strip-down of the new car as well that can make it a bit of a long evening. We should be finished by 04:00 in the morning, but it's quite a long day.”

“Another major consideration of course is that Australia is a back-to-back event, with Malaysia following the next week. The freight has to be gone as quickly as possible after the race in Melbourne, as we need it all to be available again by Tuesday at the next venue. It's non-stop, but we get the job done and have a good laugh at the same time – there's nothing quite like working with this team”.

Formula 1 Logistics – Blog [Part 1]

2012-03-10T13:15:49Z

Imagine travelling 160,000km every year, just to get to work: it's all part of the job in Formula 1, and with time at a premium, there's no room for error

To kick off our coverage of the 2012 season, where better place to start than at the very beginning of the process of getting the drivers onto the grid: logistics.

While the thousands of fans and guests who attend each race travel several miles to see their heroes in action, the logistics team manages the mammoth task of transporting a vast amount of people and equipment around the globe ready for each race weekend.

Beginning with initial bookings made almost twelve months ago, preparation for the season opener in Melbourne has a timeline not dissimilar to that of developing the car. In the run-up to Australia, the first stage involves getting initial freight on its way by sea, as Race Team Co-ordinator Geoff Simmonds explains:

“We may still have a week until first practice, but the sea freight will have already arrived in Melbourne so there are already things to start working on. The first shipment for Australia left in the second week of January, and for Malaysia at the end of January. These will take around six and five weeks respectively to get to their destination.”

With the rapid rate of development in the sport today, it is impossible to send certain elements out to their destination so far in advance, which is why each step has to be carefully planned and executed:

“The sea freight contains all the equipment that won't change throughout the year. Things like hospitality equipment, generators, and consumables; basically anything that's heavy and unlikely to change. We use 1½ containers measuring around 60ft in length and weighing in at around 8 tonnes, but there's never an inch to spare.”

The next stage in the process – air freight – is equally demanding, and runs to an even tighter schedule:

“As far as the air freight is concerned, the most important luggage is of course the cars! Both need to be ready to go by 20:00 on Thursday evening the week before Australia. We use 3 trailers with roller beds to take around 10 pallets, plus a significant amount of loose cargo. This will include spares and running equipment including tools and so on, totalling around 30 tonnes in weight.”

“The aim is to finish packing by 02:00 on Friday morning, with the trucks rolling out of the factory at 04:00. We have a slot at 09:00 to load the freight onto the plane, so everything has to run exactly on time. It's a big challenge, but the whole team helps out. It's run by the support crew but everybody has an input. Their help is invaluable in to making the process as quick and efficient as possible.”

Stay tuned for part two of our insight into the challenges of Formula 1 logistics, where we'll be looking into how the crew themselves make their way down under, and what happens when they emerge the other side…

Kimi at the Geneva Motorshow – [Blog + Pictures]

2012-03-06T20:22:30Z

Kimi made an appearance at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show today as a special guest of Group Lotus

The vast Palexpo arena was the venue for Kimi's latest outing since joining the team. A slight mix-up with parking arrangements meant that the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion was in a bit of a hurry as he made his way through the crowds to the Lotus stand. While Kimi barely broke a sweat, our man on the ground was struggling to keep up the pace: perhaps a few sessions at the team's Human Performance Centre are in order!

On arrival Kimi was whisked straight off the Lotus Originals store, where a team was on hand to kit him out in the latest branded gear. True to form the Finn immediately made a beeline for the flat peak caps, picking one off the shelf along with a couple of t-shirts. Surprisingly, he breezed straight past the rack of formal shirts…

Now in full Lotus attire, Kimi was shown up to the VIP area where the views across the arena made for an impressive backdrop. Chatting away with guests while occasionally sipping from a glass of water (having politely declined the offer of champagne) the Finn instantly appeared at ease in the company of the automotive world's key players.

Of those in attendance, one face in particular stood out from the crowd: another legend of Formula 1, Jean Alesi. The two shared a few racing anecdotes with the guests, as they discussed the customer racing car suspended vertically on a revolving platform in the centre of the room: the Lotus Type 125. A scaled down version of a Formula 1 car, the Type 125 can be bought by the everyday driving fanatic – if they happen to have a spare $1million lying around!

After a brief discussion with Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, Kimi traded the relative serenity of the exclusive balcony for the bright lights of the stage, where a mass of photographers gathered to catch a few shots of the Finn alongside the latest Lotus creations.

As the flashes continued to pulse through the arena, Kimi was greeted by former Formula 1 commentator Jonathan Legard for a Q&A session in front of the world's media. Along with the usual talk about the upcoming season, the pair discussed the latest additions to the Lotus Cars range: the Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE, and the Evora S Roadster. The 440bhp GTE certainly seemed to catch the Finn's eye, as he climbed in and explored the cockpit. Not quite as much carbon fibre as he's used to having around him, but pretty close!

With one-to-one interviews and a few autographs rounding off the media session, Kimi's job for the day was done as he headed back out into the sunshine of Geneva for the journey home. No doubt he'll be resting up and getting his mind focused, as his next stop is the Top Gear test track where he'll be facing none other than the infamous ‘Stig' – not to mention an inquisition from a certain Jeremy Clarkson!

Stay tuned to our Twitter feed for updates throughout tomorrow's filming at the famous top gear studios.

Barcelona Testing Summary [Blog + Pictures]

2012-03-05T20:43:02Z

On a rollercoaster week at the Circuit de Catalunya, Kimi and Romain put the E20 through its paces for the final time before the season opener in Melbourne

The 4.7km Circuit de Catalunya played host to the third and final pre-season test last week, and despite a few glitches here and there, Lotus F1 Team rounded off the winter schedule with an encouraging performance.

The atmosphere throughout the paddock was noticeably tense in comparison to the preceding sessions this year, as each team sought to garner every last piece of data available before the opening race in Australia.

A good helping of fans turned out to catch a glimpse of their heroes in action, with a smattering of French and Finnish flags draped from the balconies in support of the Lotus F1 Team drivers as they took to the track.

The event kicked off on Thursday morning at 09:00 local time, with Romain and the E20 proving to be the pick of the bunch when the chequered flag dropped, setting the fastest time in glorious sunshine at the Spanish venue.

It was much the same story on Friday, as the Frenchman not only repeated his table topping performance but also completed a full race simulation in the afternoon, demonstrating good levels of endurance from both himself and the car on another decidedly summer-like day.

Unfortunately for Kimi the trouble-free opening to the week was not to last, as steering issues hampered his running on the Saturday morning, and a rain-hit afternoon compounded what proved to be the least productive day for the team.

However, at the wheel of a rejuvenated E20 during the final session on Sunday the Finn showed his class, completing an impressive 121 laps (including a race simulation) and clinching the fastest time set by any driver throughout the two weeks of testing in Barcelona this year.

Meanwhile the rest of the team were running at the same flat out pace as the drivers, with a whole host of guests taking in the Formula 1 experience in the motorhome and garage. Keeping the world's media satisfied with a barrage of interviews and filming sessions was also high on the agenda, as reporters from across the globe amassed to catch a few words with the crème de la crème of driving talent.

As always the hospitality in the team facilities was first class, while the engineers and mechanics were in their usual dedicated form, working round the clock to ensure that the Kimi and Romain could extract the most from the E20.

Next stop: Australia, where the talking stops and the real action begins. The race weekend gets underway with free practise one and two on Friday 16th March, followed by qualifying on Saturday 17th and the race on Sunday 18th.

In the meantime, the team will continue to provide all the latest news from Enstone via our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Barcelona Day 4 - Test Summary [Report + Pictures]

2012-03-05T01:31:01Z

Lotus F1 Team rounded off pre-season testing in style today, with Kimi setting the fastest time recorded at the Circuit de Catalunya so far this year, and completing the day's highest number of laps in the process

A bright start to the day was overshadowed with a late drizzle, but this did little to dampen the spirits in the Lotus F1 Team garage as Kimi set a time of 1:22.030 just as the chequered flag dropped before lunch - a benchmark which would remain unbeaten for the remainder of the session.

More significantly, the Finn completed 121 laps of the 4.7km circuit which included a race simulation, complete with pit stops. Kimi was pleased to gain a good day's running in the E20, and in particular with the positive reaction the car gave to setup changes throughout the day:

"I was happy with today's running. We didn't have any major issues so it was certainly better than yesterday. Everything worked, we tried a lot of set-ups on the car and it all came together well. I spent a long time in the car but I feel fine. It was also cooler today so the tyres didn't work as well but everything was okay."

"Of course, the fastest time at the end of the day looks good but no-one will know how fast any of the cars are until we get to qualifying at Albert Park. All the changes we have made over testing have been improving the car, so we'll have to see what happens in Melbourne in a couple of weeks' time. I'm feeling positive."

Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane was equally satisfied with the performance of the E20, with two race simulations completed this week and a good deal of positive feedback from the drivers:

"We've had a good, productive day to conclude our pre-season test programme. After the interruptions of yesterday we made some set-up changes overnight which immediately made Kimi feel more comfortable in the car as the balance was much more to his liking. We then spent the rest of the morning running on medium and then soft tyres, steadily improving the car."

"Despite having missed a test we are in good shape heading to Melbourne. We've completed two race distances and the E20 has proved reliable, easy to set-up and predictable in its handling with both drivers reporting they are happy."

Team Principal Eric Boullier was full of praise for the efforts of the team back at Enstone, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that Kimi and Romain would be out on track this week:

"After the disappointment of last week, this test was crucial and I think we did a good job. First of all, we've been able to confirm that the changes made to the car fixed our front suspension problems. We were confident that the redesign was well conceived and well executed, but we have demonstrated the integrity of the modified part. It is a tribute to the all team, which has been working amazingly hard over the last few days in order to fly the E20 on time to Barcelona."

"Despite the rain and a few technical glitches, we managed to learn more about the new car. We now have a better understanding of it, and have a few positive setup directions that we can take further. Moreover, both drivers seem happy with the balance and tyre degradation. We are cautiously optimistic for the future and now looking forward to Melbourne."

Lotus F1 Team will be back in action at the season opener in Australia. The race weekend kicks off with free practice one and two on Friday 16th March, followed by qualifying on Saturday 17th and the race on Sunday 18th.

In the meantime, the team will continue to provide all the latest news from Enstone via our web, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Barcelona Day 4 – Blog

2012-03-04T12:52:25Z

As the final day of pre-season testing in Barcelona comes to a close the session so far has been a productive one, as a last gasp run from Kimi put him on top of the time sheets at the break with a 1:22.030 - the fastest lap recorded at the Circuit de Catalunya in 2012 thus far

Having been so rudely interrupted by the weather during yesterday's session, the team was in good spirits as dawn broke over the Spanish mountains to reveal clear skies and only a light mist covering the track.

After steering problems hampered progress on Saturday morning the final day started on a much more positive note, as the car rolled out of the garage for its initial aero runs with no issues to report; the only blight on the otherwise stunning E20 being a rather unsightly piece of measuring equipment – certainly not an aerodynamic (or indeed aesthetic) aid by any means!

Early running has been focused on setup work, as the team experiments with a variety of options to ensure that Kimi not only feels comfortable, but can get the most out of the car.

After a solid opening few runs, the Finn opened up the taps and put the E20 through its paces just before the chequered flag dropped for lunch, climbing to the top of the pile with his final lap of the morning.

Still plenty of work to do here at the Circuit de Catalunya, as the paddock gears up for a final push before the season gets underway in Melbourne. A race simulation is the plan for Kimi, with the team looking to gather as much data as possible before we set off for Melbourne.

As always, you can keep up to speed with live updates from the paddock via @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter

For your chance to meet Kimi (in case you missed it yesterday) click here

Barcelona Day 3 – Test summary [Report + Pictures]

2012-03-03T18:35:45Z

Lotus F1 Team had a curtailed day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona today, with steering issues in the morning and rain in the afternoon limiting track time to 43 laps

Kimi was at the wheel of the E20 in Barcelona for the first time today as the final week of pre-season testing nears its conclusion.

It wasn't all plain sailing for the Finnish driver though, as investigations into a power steering issue which eventually lead to a steering rack change ruled out the majority of running time during the morning.

Coupled with a sudden outburst of rain later in the day, the team was restricted to a short window in which to rack up the laps. Nonetheless Kimi was pleased to be back at the wheel, and is looking forward to putting some distance under his wheels tomorrow:

“It was good to get in the E20 after missing testing last week. We had an issue with the power steering in the morning then we didn't run in the wet, so it was quite a short time for me in the car today. At least we got some runs. The car was reliable when on track meaning we gained some good data for the team. Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow and we can complete more laps.”

Despite the stop-start nature of the day, Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane was pleased with the improvement in balance shown from the E20 over the course of the session, which will give the team valuable data heading into the final run here in Spain tomorrow:

“Aside from the time we lost early on it was clear that we were running a different programme from the other teams today. We were hampered by power steering issues in the morning, which took some time to rectify. Once on track, we steadily improved the car balance through the day. We opted not to run in the rain which meant we completed fewer laps today than would otherwise have been the case.”

Kimi will complete the final day of pre-season testing tomorrow, working on both car set-up and a race simulation. Weather permitting, the session will begin at 09:00 local time.

Stay tuned to @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter for live updates from the conclusion of winter testing tomorrow.

Barcelona Day 3 – Blog

2012-03-03T13:05:30Z

Kimi took the wheel of the E20 this morning on a slightly overcast day in Barcelona

Following a successful opening two days of the final pre-season test here in Spain, there were positive vibes throughout the team as Kimi arrived for his first taste of the Circuit de Catalunya in the E20.

The day did not begin as planned however, as an issue with the power steering caused a delay to running while the team assessed the system. After a series of checks to ensure nothing obvious had emerged, Kimi went back out for a short run but was still not comfortable with the car. It was therefore decided to change the steering rack in a bid to solve the problem.

With minutes to spare, and after a monumental effort from the mechanics, Kimi lit up the rear tyres as he fired the E20 out onto the circuit for a short run before the break. His feedback on the replacement steering system was positive from the moment he hit the track; welcome news indeed for the crew who had worked tirelessly to get the car back in business.

After losing time this morning, there will be plenty of work to do this afternoon. However with the steering issue now resolved and Kimi at the wheel, we are looking forward to a productive end to the third day of running.

As always, you can keep up to speed with live updates from the paddock via @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter

For your chance to meet Kimi (in case you missed it earlier today) click here

Meet Kimi at the filming of Top Gear

2012-03-03T10:35:17Z

Kimi will be appearing in the series finale of the hit UK motoring show

Lotus F1 Team is offering the chance for one fan to win a pair of tickets for the filming of next week's Top Gear show, featuring guest star Kimi Räikkönen.

The winner will not only attend the filming, but will have the chance to meet Kimi backstage at the studio.

To enter, simply visit our Facebook page and answer one simple question.

All answers must be submitted before 12:00 UK time on Sunday 04/03/12.

The winner will be announced on Monday morning (05/03/12) via our Facebook page

Please note:

Entrants must be at least 18 years of age
Filming will take place on Wednesday 07/03/12 in the South East of England – entrants must be available on this date
Travel / accommodation will not be provided

Barcelona Day 2 – Test summary [Report + Pictures]

2012-03-02T19:23:47Z

Lotus F1 Team went fastest, and one lap shy of furthest today on the second of four days testing at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, Spain.

Once again the Spanish sunshine beamed down on the Circuit de Catalunya today, as Romain completed a mammoth 124 laps – almost 600 km – in the E20, including a race distance simulation. He ended the session with a best lap time of 1:22.614 – the fastest of the day by over half a second:

"I'm very happy with the car, and it was great that we could still run strongly at the end of the session, even after a long stint. Today was the first race distance I've completed in a long time and I'm feeling pretty good. No doubt my neck will be a little sore tomorrow, but the rest of me is fine!”

The morning didn't get off to the ideal start for Romain, however with help from the team his feeling in the car improved dramatically:

“At the start of the day we suffered slightly with tyre degradation, but we changed a few things and this improved as the day went on.”

Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane was equally pleased with the day's work, in particular the faultless reliability of the E20:

“All in all it's been a good day. The car was once again very reliable, and we completed a lot of laps. Romain wasn't particularly happy with the car first thing this morning, but we steadily improved it over the day. In the afternoon we completed a full race distance including pit stops. We then went for a couple of setup runs at the end as we had a bit of time left over which was an unexpected surprise.”

“Tyre performance looks good; in particular during the last stint where we used a set of hard tyres and managed around 27 laps with very low levels of degradation which is encouraging.”

Kimi will take the wheel of the E20 for the first time at Barcelona tomorrow morning, with the session scheduled to begin at 09h00 CET.

Tune in to @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter for updates throughout the final 2 days of pre-season testing this weekend.

Barcelona Day 2 – Blog

2012-03-02T14:50:30Z

Romain was at the wheel once again this morning, and looking to build on a positive first day in Barcelona

After a strong outing in the E20 yesterday, the mood in the garage was one of optimism this morning as Romain took to the track for the second and final day of his stint in the Spanish sun.

The day began with a 30 minute delay to proceedings, as thick fog lead the officials to declare that the track was unsafe to drive. Once the green flags were eventually waved, only installation laps were permitted at first, before the session was allowed into full swing shortly afterwards. Organisers have subsequently confirmed that the session will run until 17:30 this afternoon to compensate for the lost running time.

The remainder of the day thus far has been similarly disjointed, with no fewer than seven red flags interrupting the driver's rhythm. Nevertheless, it has proved to be another encouraging start for Romain, as he went into the lunch break third fastest, having also completed the (joint) third highest number of laps.

This morning the team chose once again to focus on aerodynamic work in the early stages, followed by a number of reasonably short setup runs. The plan for this afternoon is to go for longer stints which will provide another set of data entirely, so plenty of work to do throughout the remainder of the day.

As always, you can keep up to speed with live updates from the paddock via @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter.

Räikkönen vs. Clarkson – the interview

2012-03-02T11:52:57Z

Kimi will be the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' on the series finale of hit UK motoring show Top Gear.

A host of racing stars from both past and present, including Sebastian Vettel, Rubens Barrichello, Nigel Mansell, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Mark Webber and of course the infamous ‘Stig' have tested their skills around the Top Gear test track. Next week, Kimi Räikkönen will be the latest to add his name to that prestigious list.

Taking to the circuit, which is based on the main runway and taxiways of Dunsfield Aerodrome in South East England, Kimi will have to negotiate the legendary Hammerhead, Followthrough and Gambon bends as he aims to etch his name into the Top Gear history books.

And of course, the Iceman will come face to face with one of the most recognised figures in British television – the one and only Jeremy Clarkson.

The show, which is the last of the current series, will be shown on BBC TWO – Sunday 11th March, 20:00-21:00 (UK time).

Lotus F1 Team Announces iRise as Technical Partner

2012-03-02T09:23:00Z

iRise® and Lotus F1 Team also agree to co-produce executive roundtable at the Monaco GP.

Lotus F1 Team is pleased to announce that iRise®, the global leader in enterprise visualization solutions, has joined the team as a Technical Partner. The team will leverage iRise software visualization to accelerate time-to-market for its critical software development initiatives.

By leveraging iRise software visualization early in the software design process, Lotus F1 Team intends to converge on the desired requirements faster, and accelerate time to delivery on these mission-critical software development projects.

Lotus F1 Team will also become a Strategic Partner for iRise's non-promotional Executive Roundtable Series, which was formed in 2005 with a vision to deliver world-class content and networking to global CIO's, with the theme of global motorsports as a platform.

The series provides an excellent opportunity for CIOs to engage with their peers and discuss best practises around accelerated IT. As a strategic partner, Lotus F1 Team will help educate top IT leaders on the role of technology and real-time analytics in Formula 1. On Friday 25th May, iRise will present keynote speakers from Facebook, Deutsche Bank, SAP, Diageo, B/S/H/ and Lotus F1 Team. The Roundtable event will be followed on May 26-27 by an event at the historic Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco, where the groups of global CIOs will be invited to network with Lotus F1 Team.

Patrick Louis, CEO, Lotus F1 Team

“The biggest problem we have with software development projects is ensuring the requirements identified up front match the requirements at the point of delivery. Our goal is to improve on-time delivery of our racing-related software which will be intuitive and of immediate benefit to its users, and iRise is a mission-critical element of our strategy to achieve that.”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal, Lotus F1 Team

“We have been leveraging computer-aided design tools for years to simulate the design of our race cars and accelerate their manufacture. It makes perfect sense that iRise would empower our IT organisation to do the same for software design and delivery, and we are pleased to form a partnership with iRise.”

Emmet B. Keeffe III, CEO and Co-founder, iRise

“We are thrilled to be associated with a World Championship winning outfit in Lotus F1 Team and look forward to a productive partnership in the coming months and years. The IT organisation at Lotus F1 Team is already very agile, given the culture of speed and innovation within the team. Additionally for the IT leaders attending our Executive Roundtable Series, there are many lessons to be learned from Formula 1 that can be leveraged in the high speed world of business.”

For more details on the iRise software visualization platform, visit www.irise.com

Barcelona Day 2: Three Questions to Romain

2012-03-02T08:19:02Z

It has the same good feeling that it did in Jerez; I can push and trust the car and you can really play with it which is very enjoyable.

Marking your return to the track by topping the times must be a great feeling?

It's great to set the fastest time of the day, although as always it's difficult to tell where we stand against the other teams. The main target is to complete a very full test programme this week, and everyone is working extremely hard. It's a great atmosphere and everyone is giving 100% to extract the best from the package we have.I'm very proud to be part of this team; I'm sure we're set for great things this season.

On your first flying lap were you worried that there might be a repeat of the problem you experienced last week?

As a racing driver you don't think about things like that! I think we're maybe a little bit crazy in that respect. You get in the car and you go for your run. I knew the team had done a good job making the changes to the chassis and I had full confidence back out on track.We checked all day long to ensure there was no repeat of the problem and I'm happy to confirm that everything was fine.

You've been able to complete a good quantity of meaningful laps today. Did the E20 feel any different with the modification?

Not at all, the car feels fine. It has the same good feeling that it did in Jerez; I can push and trust the car and you can really play with it which is very enjoyable. If you push a little bit too much you know how it will respond. You push too hard? You get understeer. Push a little bit harder in a fast corner? You get a little bit more understeer. The E20 never snaps on you or responds in an unpredictable manner. For a driver, it's exactly what you want from a car.

Barcelona Day 1 – Test summary [Report + Pictures]

2012-03-01T18:35:43Z

On a warm day in Barcelona, Romain Grosjean made a successful return to the cockpit, and was pleased with the day's progress

Lotus F1 Team returned to the track today for the first of four days testing at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, Spain. Romain Grosjean took the wheel, completing 73 laps and setting the fastest time of the day.

On a warm day in Barcelona, Romain Grosjean made a successful return to the cockpit, and was pleased with the day's progress:

“The car was feeling very good and it's great to bounce back from our dramas to set the fastest time of the day. It's clear we have solved the problem we encountered and now we have to complete a very full test programme this week”

The Frenchman was also full of praise for the manner in which the team reacted after a difficult week back at Enstone:

“The feeling in the team is fantastic and it's like last week's issues never happened. My crew told me that the problems would make us stronger, and this is true. The chassis is stronger, and all the team is stronger. We gathered good data today and we have a few interesting things that we would like to confirm tomorrow which should help us make a good step forwards.”

Technical Director James Allison was also satisfied after a productive day at the circuit, with no major dramas and a busy schedule completed:

“Our main target for today was to compress as much set-up work as we could into the first day as we are playing catch-up relative to our rivals at this track. Of course, we want to complete as many laps as possible, but this second objective is inevitably compromised somewhat by needing to make many short runs punctuated by set-up changes.”

“Obviously, we're very pleased to complete the day without any major difficulties to the car after such a troubled start here last week.”

Romain will return to the track tomorrow morning, with the session kicking off at 09h00 CET.

Stay tuned to @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter for updates throughout the week.

Barcelona, Day 1: Blog, Back in Business

2012-03-01T12:35:14Z

This is where all the efforts of the team back at Enstone who have worked tirelessly over the past week will come to fruition, and we can't wait to get started.

The final pre-season test in Barcelona is now underway, and the Lotus F1 Team garage is a hive of activity. With only four days remaining for the team to get to grips with the E20 there is plenty of work to do, and a busy schedule lined up over the course of the week.

The 4.655km Circuit de Catalunya plays host to the Formula 1 circus once again, and with temperatures already beginning to rise, it looks like we're going to have ideal conditions once again to get up to speed with the latest creation from Enstone.

Walking through the paddock, the atmosphere is noticeably more intense than at the previous tests this year. With the first race in Melbourne drawing ever closer, each and every team is focused on making the most of this last opportunity to garner every last piece of data before the season kicks off later this month.

Romain Grosjean will hit the track for the Thursday / Friday sessions, with Kimi Räikkönen taking the wheel on Saturday / Sunday. Both drivers are raring to get out onto the circuit and show their skills, with third driver Jérôme D'Ambrosio in close attendance around the garage picking up on all the details from the drivers and engineers.

As always there are a host of partners and guests flowing in and out of the team motorhome, along with a swarm of media hoping to catch a few moments with the biggest names in world motorsport. It seems it's not just the drivers who will be going flat out here in Barcelona!

The first priority this morning is to complete a number of aero runs, followed shortly by a return to regular setup work. This is where all the efforts of the team back at Enstone who have worked tirelessly over the past week will come to fruition, and we can't wait to get started.

James Allison: We're back on track

2012-02-29T13:01:04Z

On Thursday, the car will run with all the required redesigned parts. We're looking forward to being back on track.

Technical Director James Allison reflects on an intense week for the team, and looks ahead to the upcoming test in Barcelona

James, what happened to the E20 in Barcelona last week?

We arrived in Barcelona with a brand new chassis, the E20-02. We completed installation laps on Tuesday morning then Romain left the pits for his first run of the day. As soon as he touched the brakes before turn 1 on his first flying lap, he felt that something was wrong. He told us on the radio that he was aborting that run and returning straight to the pits.

What did you discover when the car got back to the garage?

We saw immediately that we had a problem with the mounting of the upper front wishbone rear arm.

What were your thoughts at that time?

We were using chassis 02 for the first time, so our initial reaction was to consider the possibility of a manufacturing issue affecting that particular chassis. We made the decision to take chassis 01 - which had run successfully in Jerez - from the UK to Barcelona. Before we sent it, we launched an investigation programme at Enstone to ensure there was no risk of a similar issue. Unfortunately, our investigations concluded that there was a possibility of the same problem reoccurring. We then decided, quite reluctantly, to cancel the test and make the necessary changes to both our chassis before running again.

How did the factory react?

It's been an intense few days, but I have to say that everybody has completed their tasks in tremendous fashion. On the first day back at the factory, I spoke to the entire Enstone personnel and clearly explained what happened. Everybody understood that the situation was unfortunate, but under control. We designed the new parts, manufactured them, and fitted them to the chassis. We then completed the necessary tests satisfactorily and the chassis left for Spain.

Are you confident about the repair?

Yes

Does it mean that the chassis is now heavier than before?

Yes, but we're only talking about 1kg, which is manageable. It won't have any significant impact on handling or performance.

Did the chassis have to pass a new crash test?

No. It wasn't necessary.

Which chassis will the team use this week?

We'll use chassis 01 this week, while chassis 02 will be used as a spare from now on. We're currently finishing chassis 03, with the new design implemented.

The team missed four days of testing. Is it a big setback?

Of course, missing four days of testing is not ideal. We need mileage at this stage of the year, as does any other team. That said, there are reasons to remain optimistic. First of all, we completed many trouble-free laps in Jerez and gained a good understanding of the car. Also, some of the small issues we identified in Jerez needed to be fixed, and the parts were not available last week. On Thursday, the car will run with all the required redesigned parts. We're looking forward to being back on track.

We Can Work it Out

2012-02-21T18:11:29Z

Lotus F1 Team will not run for the remainder of the second test at Barcelona, scheduled from today until Friday.

Barcelona test finishes early for Lotus F1 Team

Lotus F1 Team will not run for the remainder of the second test at Barcelona, scheduled from today until Friday.

During initial runs this morning with Romain Grosjean at the wheel, the team identified an issue with the chassis. After investigation at Enstone, initial plans to bring out chassis E20-01 to Barcelona have been held in order to give the team enough time to rectify the situation.

Lotus F1 Team will be back on track next week in Barcelona (1-4 March)

James Allison, Technical Director:

“Before we were due to fly chassis E20-01 out to Barcelona in replacement of chassis E20-02 - damaged this morning - we ran a series of simulations at the factory based on the data provided by our brief running on track today. As a result, we were able to identify an area which requires some additional work. It will be more productive for us to carry out these modifications to both chassis at Enstone rather than send E20-01 out to this week's test. We'll put the right measures in place and we will be able to fix the problem before next week.”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal:

“Not running this week has been a tough decision to take, but we feel that our choice is the right one. On the positive side, we have quickly identified the issue with the chassis and our design office has already devised a solution. We will be present at next week's test in Barcelona. We draw faith from the fact that the E20 was quick out of the box in Jerez and showed its reliability there. We have a lot of work ahead of us over the next week but everyone at Enstone is ready for this challenge.”

Early bath on first day in Barcelona

2012-02-21T12:03:32Z

Lotus F1 Team has stopped running early in the first day of testing at Barcelona and will not run for the rest of the day.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus F1 Team Race Driver:

“We completed a few aero runs and then started timed runs, but I was very quickly aware that the car wasn't responding as it should. It's not ideal to lose track time, but fortunately we will have the chassis which ran perfectly in Jerez so I should get some good track time tomorrow. It's far better that we have an issue like this now rather than in Melbourne.”

Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director:

“This morning was our first shakedown of our second chassis. Once the car was on track it was soon evident that everything wasn't quite as it should be. As a precaution we are returning the chassis to Enstone for further investigation. Chassis E20-01, which we used in Jerez, is being sent over and we expect to be on track with that chassis tomorrow.”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal:

“This is a minor setback to our overall test programme. Fortunately we accumulated good mileage in Jerez. If this is the only issue we have during testing then we will still be well prepared for the start of the season. We'll be back on track tomorrow with chassis E20-01 and assessing chassis E20-02 back at Enstone.”

Green is the colour – Part 3; The Enstone factory culture

2012-02-17T17:52:21Z

Lotus F1 Team explores the contribution of Formula 1 to ‘Green' issues

Awareness of the environment runs through the backbone of Lotus F1 Team. Built on the site of a disused quarry, the team's UK base at Enstone prides itself on being energy efficient and cost-effective in every respect. With intelligent lighting systems, recycling programmes and car-share schemes, respecting the environment has become an integral part of the team's culture.

THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES DEMONSTRATE THE TEAM'S DESIRE TO REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT:

Since 2005 Enstone has been carbon neutral, with agreements in place for the site to be powered by renewable energy from large-scale hydro sources.

The team is committed to reducing operational waste by recycling. At present 97% of electrical waste is recycled, while the machine shop recycles over 40 tonnes of waste metal annually. The team also makes use of a waste disposal compactor, which has reduced HGV traffic to Enstone by 50%, with compacted waste being sorted and recycled rather than going to landfill.

Energy efficient lighting is utilised on all new projects and areas of refurbishment. Movement sensors switch off lights when rooms are not in use, while Trilux lighting systems can track levels of natural light during the day, adjusting artificial lighting accordingly to reduce energy wastage. Likewise, Building Management System controls have been installed to provide improved control over the factory's heating and ventilation systems to optimise efficiency.

The Kyoto Protocol has resulted in the UK committing to reduce CO2 emissions by 12.5% by 2012 from a 1990 baseline. Lotus F1 Team achieved this objective for their operational facility at Enstone in 2005.

Ecological improvements are continually made at Enstone to encourage wildlife populations in an area which is registered as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest'. Recently 1,600 indigenous young trees were planted on the site, and we conduct ecological and ornithological improvements to encourage wildlife populations on the site.

The new ‘Driver in the Loop' simulator being constructed at Enstone will make use of Trina Solar power with a 30kW panel design providing sufficient electricity to power the building, and any redundant electricity when the simulator is not in use will be used for lighting and air conditioning requirements elsewhere on site.

Lotus F1 Team continually strives to implement green IT solutions. For example, both Enstone and engine partner Renault's Viry-Châtillon (Paris) base make use of video conferencing facilities to avoid unnecessary travel between the UK and France.

The team also looks for energy related standards when making purchasing decisions and considers the recycling competency of the equipment as well as the packaging. In terms of software, the team operates a policy of removing underutilised equipment and our VCS cluster provided by Symantec has helped consolidate servers, thus saving energy.

The advancements made in computing have also allowed simulation to reduce the need for track testing, which leads to significant saving of resources. A good example is found in our Research and Development department where we make use of a chassis dynamics rig to simulate the forces experienced by the car on the racetrack. The rig is used primarily to develop new suspension settings and to assess new concepts using servo-hydraulic actuators. By doing this the team can test and optimise suspension solutions without ever leaving the factory.

Green is the colour – Part 2; Aerodynamics

2012-02-16T17:07:17Z

Lotus F1 Team explores the contribution of Formula 1 to ‘Green' issues

The importance of aerodynamic efficiency on the race track is obvious to see, and the areas of development for making cars more slippery to go faster on the track are relevant to make cars more slippery and therefore more fuel efficient on the road.

WIND TUNNELS

The aerodynamic importance of the region between the underside of the car and the ground has recently come to the fore, as it is clear that careful design in this region can yield substantial fuel consumption benefits through drag reduction. Major road car manufacturers are now using precisely the same wind tunnel technology pioneered and perfected by Formula 1 ten years earlier to allow them to exploit this benefit.

CFD

The development of Wind Tunnel technology, important though it has been, pales into insignificance alongside the rapid growth of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). With a wind tunnel, experiments are made by blowing wind over a real object in a controlled environment and measuring the aerodynamic forces that arise. In CFD, the same experiment may be conducted in the form of a computer simulation.

A huge range of industries benefit from the mastery of aerodynamic design that a successful CFD programme enables. It is probably no surprise that the aerospace, road car and wind turbine industries use CFD in their design process. In fact, in any application where there is any sort of fluid (gas or liquid) flow, CFD can bring benefit. Climate modelling, the force of wind on a building, the way in which medicine is distributed in an inhaler, efficient air conditioning design, transport of gas or liquids in pipelines; the list of applications is truly enormous. All of these applications benefit, to a greater or lesser extent, from the investment that Formula One has made in the growing technology of CFD.

Teams have sponsored the development of improved CFD techniques at top universities and have also invested money directly with the providers of commercial CFD codes to ensure that the considerable challenge of accurately simulating the aerodynamic behaviour of a Formula 1 car has turned from an aspiration to a reality.

A case study was carried out at Enstone for Nissan to demonstrate the power of the optimisation technique for road car design. Nissan provided the team with a virtual model of an existing Nissan road car as a test case, and using this new CFD software we were able to optimise the external shape of the car and reduce drag by over 4%. This figure was then confirmed by Nissan using a different CFD code. This 4% drag reduction is a significant improvement and is achieved through geometry changes not easily identified using conventional CFD codes. In this example the wider benefit of this novel CFD technology is clearly contributing to the design of more fuel-efficient cars.

CASE STUDY: CFD

When building the new CFD centre, Lotus F1 Team took the unusual decision to build a subterranean facility. This allowed a design that addressed planning and environmental concerns, resulting in a building that is entirely integrated with the surrounding area. During the construction of the centre, the soil removed to make space for the building was retained on-site, avoiding the need for relocation of the 24,000m3 of quarried material. This material was subsequently recycled and used to submerge the building into the ground, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the construction phase.

Building underground also opened up other advantages, such as the stable temperature. At a depth of just 1.5 metres the ground temperature rests at an almost constant 10°C all year round. This means the facility consumes less energy, as it will not be subject to the large external temperature variations of an exposed building and requires less energy to heat and cool.

Stay tuned for part 3, which investigates how the factory culture at Enstone helps reduce the environmental impact of our operations.

Green is the colour – Part 1; Introduction / making fuel efficient

2012-02-15T18:09:15Z

Lotus F1 Team explores the contribution of Formula 1 to ‘Green' issues

INTRODUCTION

Although Formula 1 is not a sport naturally associated with greenness in the public consciousness, it actually has a strong track record of delivering environmentally relevant technology. Success in Formula 1 is all about efficiency; the teams attempt to wring every drop of performance from a fixed set of resources to allow them to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. In doing so, they create and develop technology which allows wider society to enjoy improved performance from fewer resources.

Team principal Eric Boullier explains Lotus F1 Team's vision for a greener future:

“Formula 1 has a long history of providing technological development that is much wider than simply making fast racing cars. The trickle down of useful technology has, however, been incidental to the aims of the sport. Contrastingly, in recent years the sport has taken a conscious decision to structure its regulations to ensure that the technology it delivers is both immediate and directly relevant to the future improvement of road car efficiency. Lotus F1 Team has played, and continues to play, a constructive role in the creation of these regulations.”

“Back at our factory, we have delivered many smaller scale initiatives to ensure that our direct activities have a reduced carbon footprint. So, whether on the small stage of our operations at Enstone, or on the wider stage of the strategic direction for Formula 1, Lotus F1 Team is committed to promoting and supporting initiatives that ensure that our activities contribute to a greener future for society.”

MAKING FUEL EFFICIENT

A common misconception about Formula One is that on-track performance is a function solely of power. In fact, performance comes from a number of different sources, and one of those is fuel consumption. If you can lower fuel consumption while still generating the same performance, you improve the car's efficiency. Achieve this in Formula 1 and your car will possess a performance advantage in racing conditions since less fuel needs to be carried, which reduces overall weight and improves performance.

Fuel consumption and the efficient conversion of fuel into energy, are therefore major development priorities for engine and fuel manufacturers. It is for this reason that Lotus F1 Team's close working relationship with TOTAL is of such importance, especially following the ban on refuelling which was introduced in 2010, meaning cars must carry enough fuel to last the entire race distance.

Total engineers also seek to minimise friction wherever it can occur in the car, not only in the engine, but also in the gear box, oil pumps, hydraulic pumps, transmissions and bearings, by adapting and optimising lubricants and greases for the needs of each mechanical component. However, the benefits don't just apply to the racetrack because what TOTAL learns from Formula 1 is transferred directly to its commercial products. One way to achieve maximum performance from the lowest quantity of fuel is to combine the fuel with certain additives to help reduce the level of friction on the pistons.
Additives also help clean the engine, avoid deposits in the combustion chamber, and minimise friction, which leads to reduced fuel consumption. It is these same additives developed for Formula 1 fuel that are used in TOTAL's commercial road car fuel.

Stay tuned for part 2, which explores the role of aerodynamics in developing more efficient road cars.

James Allison: “It's going to be a very busy few weeks”

2012-02-14T17:34:27Z

The car we take to Melbourne will be significantly different to the one we ran in Jerez. There's a lot of work still to do before the season opener.

THIS WEEK BACK AT ENSTONE THE TEAM ARE FOCUSING ON THE BUILD-UP OF CHASSIS TWO TO BE USED AT THE BARCELONA TEST. IS THIS PROCESS SLIGHTLY EASIER NOW THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCE FROM THE FIRST CHASSIS BUILD?

When you do the first chassis build of a new car there are always a couple of things that need to be re-positioned compared with where you expect them to be. When it comes to the second build you're already aware of these elements, so it becomes a case of copying what you've done previously. So yes, it generally takes a little less time to do the second one than the first as you're not having to find ways around things.

THIS YEAR'S DESIGN IS PERHAPS SLIGHTLY MORE CONVENTIONAL THAN LAST YEAR'S, PARTICULARLY WITHOUT THE FORWARD-FACING EXHAUST CONCEPT. HAS THIS ALSO HELPED MAKE THINGS EASIER IN THE BUILD PROCESS AND ON TRACK?

Not having the forward facing exhaust has definitely made the car build part of the process simpler. It's much quicker to get the car turned around every evening and get it ready for the next day's running because it's a more straightforward layout. In terms of running and analysing the car on the track, there shouldn't have been anything inherently difficult about last year's car, but it did turn out to be quite challenging as the exhaust system created several aerodynamic issues. So in that respect the E20 is easier to work with again. This means our race engineers can fill their boots with springs, roll bars, tyre pressures, cambers, and so on; all the conventional tools in the engineer's arsenal.

WITH SUCH AN IMMENSELY COMPLEX DESIGN AS A MODERN FORMULA 1 CAR, THE BUILD PROCESS MUST BE FAR FROM SIMPLE. DO THE TEAM HAVE A ‘HAYNES MANUAL' STYLE GUIDE TO HELP THEM THROUGH?

Every part on the car is detailed in an assembly drawing, so typically each sub-system, like the power steering, the brakes or the front / rear suspension for example, has a drawing showing how it all bolts together and describing how it should be set up / operated. These drawings show in some detail what goes in what order. The race team then supplement the assembly information with an indexed photo library showing the best practise routing of the various cables and pipes. We don't need to be quite as verbose perhaps as a Haynes manual, because the guys who design the car are only upstairs from the guys who are building it, so you can have some dialogue in place of documentation.

WITH SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT STILL ON GOING AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF THE SEASON, HOW DIFFERENT WILL THE E20 THAT SITS ON THE GRID IN MELBOURNE BE TO THE CAR WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AT JEREZ?

The car we take to Melbourne will be significantly different to the one we ran in Jerez. There's a lot of work still to do before the season opener, and so many elements will change; the front wing, rear wing, side pods, pod vanes, engine cover, barge board, floor, some suspension elements, and some small brake duct features to name but a few! As always, it's going to be a very busy few weeks.

Alan Permane: “Everyone is straight back to working hard in preparation for the next test”

2012-02-13T17:47:32Z

The E20 is clearly a nice package. When we make changes to the car the drivers can feel it, whether it be positive or negative

With the first test at Jerez now behind us and Barcelona coming up next week, what's happening here at Enstone during the break?

This week we'll be building our second car up. So it's chassis two that will be going to Barcelona, while chassis one will be rebuilt and taken to the seven post rig in our research and development facility for suspension development work.

Having time to reflect on the event in Jerez must be a welcome break before Barcelona. Have the team had a chance to relax before heading back to Spain?

It's given some of us the chance to have a weekend off which is always nice after an intense few days at the circuit. Having said that, while we're not quite experiencing the full-on 18 hour days of last week, everyone is straight back to working hard in preparation for the next test. The engineers will be analysing set-up options, reflecting on what we learned in Jerez and how we can apply that knowledge in Barcelona and throughout the season. There's a long list of improvements we're looking to make. We had a few minor issues with radiator leaks and so on but nothing major, and certainly nothing we won't have fixed in time for Barcelona.

After an encouraging first outing in Jerez, have you noticed a difference in terms of the atmosphere back at Enstone?

You can definitely feel the effects around the factory. Everyone seems to have a smile on their face. Having said that, we're not going to try and run before we can walk. We're very conscious that there's a long way to go. The car is certainly reliable and well balanced, but it's too early to say any more than that at this stage. It's impossible to predict performance after just one test.

There were clearly a lot of positives last week. What would you say is the most important thing we can take away from the first test?

I would say there are two things. I really can't separate one as being more important than the other. The first as we've mentioned before is the reliability of the car, which has been very impressive so far. Although we had a few niggling issues there was nothing that stopped us running for a significant length of time. The second is the way the car responds to set-up changes. The E20 is clearly a nice package. When we make changes to the car the drivers can feel it, whether it be positive or negative, which means that further down the line it will be a much easier car to set up and dial pace into.

Romain Grosjean: "I'm really enjoying being in the car" [article + pictures]

2012-02-10T16:15:07Z

The final day of testing at Jerez saw Lotus F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean at the wheel once more, running during a very cold morning and much warmer afternoon

Temperatures were such at the start of the day that the speed trap for sector two of the circuit was inoperable due to being frozen. Despite this, Romain took to the track for a rather careful installation lap.

“I was very nervous on my installation lap as it was so cold and slippery,” said Romain. “I didn't use KERS until I was in sixth gear and I didn't even think of using the DRS!”

Temperatures soon warmed enabling Romain to run through a slightly different programme to that used by the team for the previous three days.

“Today we saved some new tyres for the longer runs in the afternoon. This was to give Romain a good understanding of the tyre management situations he will face in races,” explains Trackside Operations Director, Alan Permane.

The afternoon running was compromised by a recurrent minor water leak, meaning more visits to the pit garage than planned.

“We did have a few minor radiator leaks today as well as earlier in the test. They were easily identified and we have a solution for Barcelona.” explains Alan.

After the cold of the morning, it was much warmer during the middle of the day.

“Once it warmed up, the track temperature was higher than yesterday which helps our understanding of the E20 in different conditions,” says Romain.

“It's strange to think that already we have almost completed a third of pre-season testing. We are pushing to get as much achieved as possible. I'm really enjoying being in the car even though it's hard work with so many laps.”

Romain Grosjean: “I am one of the happiest guys in the world right now” [report + pictures]

2012-02-09T21:05:00Z

Romain made his E20 debut on the third day of testing at Jerez, setting a time of 1min 18.419secs; fastest in the morning, and second fastest of the day overall.

The French driver completed 117 laps without incident, and was delighted with his first outing in the new car:

“I am one of the happiest guys in the world right now. It's been a really good day for me. We were fastest in the morning then we completed some longer runs in the afternoon. It's great to finally drive the car which I have seen coming together and being built at Enstone”

“Working so well with all the mechanics and the engineers made it such a memorable first day in the E20. The car feels good on the different fuel loads and tyre compounds we used. For sure there's margin for improvement in the tests ahead, but it's a great start to the year.”

Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane was equally pleased with the day's running, which allowed the team to gather further valuable information about the E20, and once again demonstrated the reliability of Enstone's latest creation:

“Another strong day with 117 laps and over 500 km completed. We ran a similar programme to the one we ran during the previous two days with Kimi. This gives us good data across a range of scenarios, and valid comparisons between our drivers. Track conditions were better today, with more rubber down and less wind than yesterday.”

“We conducted set-up work on the medium compound tyre in the morning. Some of these were set-ups we ran with Kimi, others were new. In the afternoon we focused on getting as many laps completed as possible to test the reliability of the E20, which proved to be faultless.”

Romain will return to the track tomorrow morning, with the session kicking off at 09h00 CET. Stay tuned to @Lotus_F1Team on Twitter for updates throughout the final day of testing this week at Jerez.

Romain Grosjean: “I'm comfortable and the E20 is nice to drive” [report + pictures]

2012-02-09T08:48:00Z

Romain reports back on his first run in the E20 during a productive morning in Jerez

It's been a good start to 2012 so far for Romain Grosjean, who topped the times this morning in Jerez, setting an early benchmark of 1min 18.419secs using Pirelli's medium compound 2012 specification tyre.

Romain ran through a programme of set-up evaluations as he put more kilometres on the E20. There were no reliability issues reported during the 53 laps completed by 13h00 local time.

“It's the first time I've started the season as a Formula 1 race driver, so it was something special for me when I left the pitlane for the first time today” said the French driver.

“It was very slippery on track first thing this morning, but I'm enjoying being in the car. I'm comfortable and the E20 is nice to drive.”

Romain completed a number of runs as the team ran through its test programme.

“We've been looking at different set-ups as we need as much data as possible before the season gets underway. You need to know how the car reacts – say for example if you have understeer at a circuit, you need to know how to counter it. So we ran through a number of changes and logged everything to gain a better understanding of the car.”

Setting the fastest time of the morning was not a target for the team, but it nevertheless gave Romain a warm feeling.

“It was very good to be at the top of the times – hopefully we will stay there for the rest of the season!”

Full report on day 3 at Jerez to follow later this afternoon.

Kimi Räikkönen - "I have a positive feeling"

2012-02-08T19:31:01Z

Physically, I felt fine after 117 laps. Conditions were quite windy on track but despite this I got a better feeling from the car so it's positive progress

Lotus F1 Team race driver Kimi Räikkönen completed his first test of the E20 in Jerez, southern Spain, today.

The Finn completed 117 laps to add to yesterday's 75 of the 4.4 km test venue. A early off in the morning – damaging the underside of the E20 on the kerbs – did not dent Kimi's enthusiasm for the new car.

“We seem to have a good car and I have a positive feeling from this first test,” said Kimi. “There was a small issue with damage to the floor this morning when I went off and came back on to the circuit. An edge on a kerb caused the damage and we lost some time as it was repaired.

“Apart from that it was a good day and we completed some long runs and good mileage.”

Despite completing over 500 km in the cockpit today, and the numerous requests for photographs and interviews, Kimi was full of energy at the end of the day.

“Physically, I felt fine after 117 laps. Conditions were quite windy on track but despite this I got a better feeling from the car so it's positive progress.”

Kimi Räikkönen's A to Z

2012-02-08T08:28:00Z

"Eighteen: Kimi has a total of 18 grand prix victories from his Formula 1 career so far. The first came at Sepang in 2003, the most recent at Spa in 2009"

Animated:

A word that has not frequently been used to describe Kimi's appearances in press conferences, interviews, etc.

Belgium:

The Finn has won the Belgian Grand Prix more than any other race – with a total of four victories from his last five visits to the ultimate driver's circuit, Spa.

Champion:

Kimi made his F1 bow testing a Sauber in 2000 at Italy's Mugello circuit. The only other driver on track, Michael Schumacher, saw enough to correctly declare him a future champion (see O).

Dahlman:

On 31 July 2004 Kimi Matias Raikkonen married Jenni Dahlman, a Finnish model and former Miss Scandinavia.

Eighteen:

Kimi has a total of 18 grand prix victories from his Formula 1 career so far. The first came at Sepang in 2003, the most recent at Spa in 2009 (see L).

Fastest laps:

Kimi has an enviable total of 35 fastest laps, which places him third on the all-time list behind only Michael Schumacher (76) and Alain Prost (41).

G Forces:

after two seasons in the WRC, Kimi's going to need to work on his neck to withstand F1's cornering forces.

Hinwil:

Home of Kimi's first Formula 1 team, Sauber.

Iceman:

The Finn has the word Iceman emblazoned on his crash helmet. He's cool, you see...

James Hunt:

Another F1 world champion who has apparently offered Kimi both inspiration and a pseudonym for races in both snowmobiles and powerboats.

Karting:

Kimi owned his first kart when he was eight years old. He started competing in 1988 and went on to take the Nordic Championship a decade later.

Last lap:

The Finn produced perhaps his greatest victory at Suzuka in 2005 from 17th on the grid, storming through the field to pass Giancarlo Fisichella on lap 53 of 53.

Motocross:

Kimi founded his own Motocross World Championship team, Ice 1 Racing.

NASCAR:

Kimi has also ventured into racing in the United States, making his debut in the Camping World Truck Series last year (see X).

One point:

This was the margin by which Kimi took the 2007 F1 world championship ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Pole:

Kimi has taken a total of 16 F1 pole positions, the latest at Magny-Cours in 2008.

Queen:

Anything HRH can do... In 2008 Kimi appeared on a set of Finnish postage stamps.

Renault:

Most of Kimi's pre-F1 experience came in Formula Renault. He won the 2000 title with seven wins and ten podiums from ten races.

Snow:

The Iceman is fond of anything freezing and white – with snowmobiles, snowboards and ice hockey among his favourite pastimes.

Twenty-three:

Kimi famously only had a total of 23 car races in his life before he made his F1. He won 13 of them...

Unique style:

No-one else dresses quite like Kimi in F1.

Victory:

Winning the 2007 World Championship.

WRC:

Kimi has a total of 59 points from his time in the World Rally Championship. He also has a stage victory to his name from the 2010 Rallye Deutschland.

X-rated:

We learned from Kimi's NASCAR pit-to-car radio conversations that we should make sure he has enough in his drinks bottle...

Yacht:

Kimi is a big fan of yachting.

Zzzzzzzz:

At his first F1 race at Melbourne in 2001, Kimi surprised all by being cool enough to have a nap half an hour before going to the grid. He went on to score a point for 6th place and the Iceman was born.

James Allison: “Overall it's been a positive morning”

2012-02-07T14:14:14Z

We will start to know where we stand as things unfold over the coming days and weeks, but it's still very early doors and the real picture will only come together when we get to Melbourne for the first race.

James, you join us halfway through the first day of running with the E20 here in Jerez – what are your first impressions of the new car thus far?

We've had a good morning. I was absolutely delighted to see the car pull out of the garage crisply at 9 o'clock, and I must say it looks fantastic. We've been lucky enough to have perfect weather for testing. No wind and clear blue skies; it's ideal.

It's been a trouble free day so far which is very pleasing. We've completed 50 laps and had no difficulties at all. We used this morning to complete a number of runs aimed at ensuring Kimi is comfortable in the car and has the balance to his liking. We've run through a series of aerodynamic tests analysing the effects of ride height on downforce levels, and also made changes at the rear of the car which have proved to be quite favourable.

Overall everything has been positive. To have no significant issues in terms of temperatures and main functions of the car allows us to get out there and start working on getting the maximum from it as quickly as possible. This afternoon will be more of the same, but with longer runs.

As things stand currently Kimi sits at the top of the time sheets. How significant are lap times at this early stage?

It's impossible to say. The teams are doing a whole mixture of different programmes at the moment and we obviously don't have any clear idea of what the others might be working on currently. We will start to know where we stand as things unfold over the coming days and weeks, but it's still very early doors and the real picture will only come together when we get to Melbourne for the first race.

The important thing is that we've completed the most number of laps so far; while there are obviously no prizes for that, it gives us a strong platform on which to base our development programme.

We've noticed Romain and Jérôme up on the pit wall and around the garage with the engineers – they both look really enthusiastic…

They've been following every move so far! Romain's race engineer Ayao Komatsu has also been shadowing Simon Rennie, and will continue to do so through this afternoon and tomorrow to ensure that he's up to speed with the direction we're moving with the car ahead of Romain's first run on Thursday.

By the looks of things I think the main challenge for Romain will be containing his enthusiasm! Having said that he will at least have a car that's slightly more dialled in by the time he takes the wheel.

The team were full of praise for the way Kimi went about the running in Valencia. Have you been equally impressed with him this morning? What has his feedback been on the E20?

You can tell Kimi is a class act. He gets in the car and is on the pace straight away; there's no building up to it. His commitment is instant and the lap times show that. His fitness level is also good which has allowed him to be consistent, and he hasn't had any major ‘moments' out on track; he seems to have everything very much under control.

So far his feedback on the car has been good. Kimi has been complimentary about the balance of the car, the braking and other features. The steering is slightly heavy for his liking at the moment, but other than that he's been comfortable.

The E20 lights up Jerez

2012-02-06T18:36:09Z

Kimi Räikkönen took the team's 2012 challenger out for a few laps at the Spanish venue, purely for filming purposes.

Clear blue skies and beautiful sunshine at the Circuito de Jerez created the perfect backdrop for the highlight of the year so far; the first on-track appearance of the E20.

Kimi Räikkönen took the team's 2012 challenger out for a few laps at the Spanish venue, purely for filming purposes. Despite only being allowed to drive at a reduced pace, the 2007 World Champion was pleased to be back on track:

Kimi Räikkönen, Lotus F1 Team Driver:

“It's great to see the E20 at a race circuit and even better to get behind the wheel. It's always frustrating to be in a new car and not be able to drive it at maximum attack, but thankfully I will have that opportunity for the next two days. My initial impressions are good, I fit comfortably in the car and it feels great in first and second gear; now let's see what it can do tomorrow.”

As the E20 burst into life, the tension and excitement in the garage was clear to see, with the team finally seeing months of hard work come together. Among those present, Alan Permane was particularly pleased to have come through this initial run without any issues, and is already looking ahead to the first official test session:

Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director:

“The main purpose of the first test is to complete as many laps as possible with the E20. This allows us to assess if all systems are working as they should and highlights if there are any areas requiring our attention.

“We monitor all systems to ensure that everything is operating within the correct temperature range, and functioning as designed. Although we have a very early version of the aerodynamic package here, we are able to validate the track data against our CFD and wind tunnel information.

“Assessing Pirelli's latest compound and construction tyres is another objective in Jerez. Although it is quite cold here in the morning, we expect representative track and ambient temperatures during the day, so we should get a good initial impression of their performance with the E20.

“Jerez is not a circuit we race on, but it is a good test venue with a range of high-speed and low-speed corners as well as a mixture of kerbs.

“Today's filming runs allowed us to perform initial systems checks; now the hard work begins.”

As darkness begins to descend here in Jerez, the team will be working through the night to ensure that everything is prepared for the first test. With only a few hours to go, the long wait for Formula 1 action is almost over.

The first session is scheduled to begin at 09h00 tomorrow (Tuesday 7th February), with Kimi taking the wheel of the E20 for the first time at full race speeds.

For updates throughout the day, follow the official Lotus F1 Team Twitter feed; @Lotus_F1Team

Bienvenido a Jerez

2012-02-06T11:35:22Z

The first day of the new season was certainly a busy one, despite the cars having yet to turn a wheel!

While much of the team were busy setting up base in Jerez for the first test session on Tuesday, we also had the launch of our new car, new website, and the announcement of two new team partners; Rexona and Clear.

As the sun rises on day two in southern Spain, there's still plenty to be excited about before the cars hit the track tomorrow. Romain arrived at the circuit yesterday evening, and will be talking to Lotus T125 guests in a specially prepared dome structure this morning.

Our media launch event will be taking place this afternoon, with drivers in attendance to show off their new car, overalls, and helmet designs. They will be joined by Eric Boullier, James Allison and Rob White (Renault Sport F1 Technical Director), who will be on hand to discuss the upcoming season and plans for the future.

Next up we have possibly the most exciting moment of the year so far, as Kimi takes to the track in the E20 for the first time for a filming session. Although he won't be driving flat out around the 4.4km circuit, it promises to be a big moment for everyone related to the team; nerves and excitement levels will be running high!

We'll be rounding off the day with our partner launch event, which takes place this evening in the dome structure. Bright lights, cocktails and a three-course meal await the drivers and senior management as they answer questions, sign autographs, and introduce themselves to our VIP guests.

It's looking like another beautiful day here, and with a host of media events taking place the heat is certainly rising in the team garage. Perhaps by the end of the week we'll be eager to return to the snow-covered fields at Enstone… but then again, perhaps not!

The E20 in numbers

2012-02-06T10:04:50Z

250,000: The amount of man hours that have gone into the design of the E20.

0

The time taken in seconds for the gearbox of the E20 to change gear (drive is never lost during the gearshift).

0.1

How much faster in seconds the E20 goes each lap due to the reducing weight as the car burns fuel (not accounting for tyre degradation).

1.6

The time in seconds for the E20 to decelerate from 100 km/h to standstill.

3.0

The average time for the pit crew to change all four wheels and tyres at a pitstop.

4.9

How many seconds it takes for the E20 to reach 200 km/h from standstill.

5

The number of consecutive races each gearbox must survive before it can be changed without suffering a five-place grid penalty.

6

How many hours it takes for a complete rebuild of the car at the track with 12 mechanics (assuming sub-assembly is already complete). From scratch at the factory it would take 150 people seven days.

6.67

The number of seconds per lap that the KERS electric motor can be activated at full power.

7

The number of gears in the E20's gearbox.

8

The number of engines allocated to each driver in 2012.

10

The weight of a Pirelli front tyre in kilograms.

18.5

In psi, this is the average pressure for an F1 tyre.

30

The weight of a driver's head and helmet in kilograms during maximum braking of 4.5G (the same as a heavy suitcase).

42

The number of revolutions per second by a tyre when the E20 is travelling at 300 km/h.

60

The amount of water dispersed in litres per second by a wet Pirelli tyre travelling at 300 km/h.

87.75

The impact energy in kilojoules that must be withstood by the nose of the car when it is crash tested by the FIA. This is the same amount of energy as would be required to stop a 4 tonne elephant moving towards you at 25km/h.

90

The operating temperature in degrees Celsius of each Pirelli tyre.

130

Measured in decibels, this is how loud the RS27-2012 engine is at full revs.

400

The amount of braking energy in kilojoules that the KERS generator can place into the KERS battery in a single lap.

500

The temperature in degrees Celsius reached by the clutch during a race.

640

The minimum weight of the car in kilograms

900

The temperature in degrees Celsius of the exhaust gases when the car is on full throttle.

1,100

In degrees Celsius, this is the temperature a brake disc can reach during the race.

1,500

This is the total number of moving parts in each RS27-2012 V8 engine.

2,500

The number of gear changes the drivers have to make during an average Grand Prix.

4,000

The total number of parts that make up each RS27-2012 V8 engine.

11,000

The number of technical drawings produced by the time of the E20 car build (28% more than any previous car).

10,000

The number of aero parts tested annually in the wind tunnel.

30,000

The number of individual parts that make up each E20.

250,000

The amount of man hours that have gone into the design of the E20.

James Allison on the E20

2012-02-05T15:40:00Z

If you casually flicked through the regulations you'd be forgiven for thinking that there aren't many differences from last year, however nestling in there are some fairly profound changes...

Lotus F1 Team Technical Director James Allison looks to the season ahead...

How different is 2012 likely to be from 2011?

If you casually flicked through the regulations you'd be forgiven for thinking that there aren't many differences from last year, however nestling in there are some fairly profound changes
The most notable changes relate to the exhaust. The teams decided around Silverstone in 2011 that we were going to get rid of exhaust blown rear diffusers, and that point alone requires a very different design concept.
Recent car designs have been heavily influenced by their rear exhaust configurations, and the intent of the rule is to stop that happening.
The rules on the exhaust geometries themselves have been reinforced by some engine operation rules which don't sit in the technical regulations, but which arrived by Technical Directive quite late last year.
The exhaust issue, although agreed in principle at Silverstone, continued to unfold as late as mid- November, so the challenge has been to roll with the punches as the detail emerged over a fairly extended period – trying to make the best of each version of the rules as they've come out, whilst trying to anticipate where the end position is going to be. It's certainly been an area which has preoccupied us and I imagine the rest of the grid too.

How much will the new regulations affect what we see on track?

Last year's cars had quite a variety of exhaust layouts, with differing levels of success. If the latest rules really have been successful in resetting the power of the exhausts to a much lower level, then that's an opportunity for a reshuffle of the pack.

What are your feelings on working with two new drivers for 2012?

Romain put in two very promising sessions at the end of last season, having not driven an F1 can for more than a year. He jumped in the car and was immediately competitive with our race drivers at the time, in a quite impressive fashion. I think that has gone a long way to getting him the ride for this year. So we're looking forward to a strong start with him.
Kimi's recent test in Valencia with the R30 showed that he has lost none of his speed and that he is full of appetite for the season ahead. It is going to be great for us to work with a driver of such clear quality.

What is completely new and what is more familiar on the E20?

Depending on where you look, some parts of the new car are a ground-up redesign and in other areas we have further optimised the best bits of the design philosophy we've adopted for several seasons.
As far as the exhausts are concerned, our forward exhausts would now be illegal under the new rules and didn't live up to our expectations in any case. So that part of the car we say goodbye to and welcome in a complete re-design. The front and rear suspension layouts are substantially revised to try and give us better aerodynamic opportunities.
The front wing is a continuation of the concepts we have worked on since the 2009 rules were published. The rear wing system, we've continued to try to work on having a satisfactory level of rear downforce stability, whilst having a maximum DRS switching potential.

How do you expect the E20 to perform?

We've worked hard and long on the car. We have tried to react to the regulatory picture as it's unfolded, but we will only really start to be able to judge how well we have done once we start to run the car in pre- season. Even then we won't really know until qualifying in Melbourne.

Kimi Räikkönen's Q&A - "I think we'll have a lot of fun in the season ahead"

2012-02-05T15:26:45Z

I think we'll have a lot of fun in the season ahead and hopefully we will get some good results. I want a strong enough car to challenge for good results.

The 2007 Formula 1 World champion talks of his return to the sport with the lotus F1 Team after two years away in the forests and stages of the World Rally championship

Why F1?

Formula 1 is something very special in my racing career, and you always want to race at the toughest level, so Formula 1 is where you want to race if you have a choice.

What do you think of the team now you've completed two days testing?

I'm happy with the team, they are very nice people, very easy going and it was nice to work with them for the two days I did in the R30. I think we'll have a lot of fun in the season ahead and hopefully we will get some good results. I want a strong enough car to challenge for good results.

When did you decide to finish rallying and to go back to Formula 1?

When I did the NASCAR races, I enjoyed the racing and I want to do more racing. I still want to do rally and if I could I'd do them both at the same time – but this isn't possible. For sure I will do rallying again in the future. I want to do racing as I had a really good time in NASCAR racing against other people and I realised that I was missing this – that's when I decided that if there was a good chance to return properly that I would do it.

What are your thoughts on how F1 has changed since you last competed?

In 2010 I didn't really follow Formula 1 but I saw more races last year. It doesn't really look different, but there is overtaking in some different places where people can just drive past by opening the rear wing and the driver in front has no chance to defend himself – so is this really overtaking? I don't think it counts all the time. But for sure the show is better. The tyres make a difference too, as there is a big speed difference between when the tyres are new and when the tyres are old. In the old Formula 1, you had to be so much faster than the guy in front of you to have any chance to overtake, but now with the tyres and the DRS, it's different.

Do you have anything to prove with your return?

I think people expect things from me, but as long as I know that I'm giving 100% and I'm happy with my driving then I'm happy. If those aspects are true and it's not enough, then it's not enough.

How well do you know your new team-mate, Romain Grosjean?

I think we will have a good relationship. I met him before Christmas and I raced against him in 2009. He seems a very nice and normal guy, so I don't see any problems there.

Romain Grosjean's Q&A - "I am a young driver who still has plenty of things to learn"

2012-02-05T15:21:23Z

Compared with 2009 I am two years older! No big difference, just an improvement in terms of many small things, including maturity

Romain Grosjean makes a return to Formula 1 after contesting seven races in 2009. he talks about the challenge of his first full season in the sport he loves

How does it feel to have a full-time F1 drive?

It's just starting to sink in. It's a dream come true to get this drive. A fantastic emotion and a fantastic challenge as well. I think the team has a really good line-up for this year, with Kimi and myself. Hopefully we can do something special. I think I'll only truly realise it when we get to Melbourne and I see my name on the official entry list. For now I'm really happy to be at the factory as much as I can, to get involved with the team and get ready for testing.

How do you view this season – you had a part season two years ago – so is this a part-rookie year?

It's difficult to say how I should view this season. For sure I did seven grands prix alongside Fernando [Alonso] and the experience I gained from that was helpful - and is still helpful today. On the other hand there are still some circuits that I don't know. But I don't think we can say I'm a rookie, just because of the experience I have. Let's say that I am a young driver who still has plenty of things to learn in Formula One, but we are all expecting a good season.

How and why is the 2012 specification Romain Grosjean different compared to the 2009 version?

Compared with 2009 I am two years older! No big difference, just an improvement in terms of many small things, including maturity. The 2009 experience was very helpful for me to understand things and grow up from that point. So it was difficult, but very good as well. The 2012 Romain Grosjean sees life a little bit different. My aim is to enjoy my number one passion, Formula One.

What do you expect will be your biggest challenge in 2012?

Formula One is a big, big challenge, but I think the biggest challenge personally will be to get 100 per cent out of myself and the car, every time. No mistakes. That is the life of a Formula One driver.

You need to get 100 per cent out of the car, focus, concentrate and improve lap after lap. So I hope we can have a good car from the beginning of the season, some good ambitions going into the first race and just develop all season long.

What do you think of the new car?

From what I've seen of the new car so far, I can say that the colours are the same! We will see when get on the track. Hopefully it will be a good car and we can give it a nice nickname after the first test.Then we will try to improve it lap after lap and session after session.

Jérôme D'Ambrosio's Q&A - "I have the opportunity to work with one of the top teams"

2012-02-05T14:13:00Z

Now I have the opportunity to work with one of the top teams with great potential for my future development

Jérôme D'Ambrosio has joined the team as third driver for the 2012 Formula 1 World championship season. Jérôme, who competed last year as a race driver for Marussia Virgin Racing, will attend all races in 2012, working with the race driver pairing of Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean. The 26 year-old Belgian will participate in driver debrief sessions and be ready to stand-in for either of the two race drivers if required.

How does it feel to join the team?

It's a great feeling to be joining Lotus F1 Team and it's an exciting next step in my career. I contested a complete season in F1 as a race driver for a smaller team where I learnt a lot about Formula 1. Now I have the opportunity to work with one of the top teams with great potential for my future development. With my recent race experience I know I can make a valuable contribution to the team.

What do you think of Enstone?

I have known the team for a number of years and I am familiar with Enstone. It's a great facility and another world in size and amount of people; it's bigger and has so much potential and will give me so much opportunity to learn and develop as a race driver.

There's a new ‘Driver in the loop' simulator being built – will you be using this?

The new simulator will make up a big part of my contribution to the team during the season and it will also keep me sharp; I'm really looking forward to it and can't wait to start working with it. I can contribute highly to the team in this area. It's going to be a really intense programme once we're operational in that area – it's not just one session a week, it's full on. It's a really good tool for pushing development of the car and of myself as a driver so I am looking forward to doing a good job here.

As a driver who contested last season's championship what can you bring to the team?

I had a great season in Formula 1 and it was a fantastic opportunity but now I'm looking to develop. I can bring a lot more to the team with my race experience than someone who doesn't have any recent race knowledge.
When you're first in Formula 1, everything is so new and so big. It's difficult to know where your focus should be, and how you should work, but this improves as your experience comes together. I know the tyres, I know the different compounds, I have experience of the circuits and car set-up so I can contribute to the discussions with engineers and race drivers.
I am very motivated to help the two race drivers and the team in any way I can, and of course I am always ready to get into the car if the opportunity ever arises. Having contested the 2011 season I'm race fit and raring to go.

What do you think of your team- mates, Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean?

I've never met Kimi so I'm looking forward to meeting him. He's a legend in Formula 1. I'm looking forward to watching him work with the engineers and understanding how a world champion goes about his work.
I know Romain pretty well as we've raced together and been team- mates, we're the same generation of drivers, and we work well together.

Eric Boullier on the E20

2012-02-05T13:59:43Z

2012 will be the final step towards building a winning and ambitious team, as I've said before; a clear target for 2012 and also after 2014

The Team principal puts 2011's travails behind him and looks forwards to the potential of the 2012 season.

How are you looking forward to 2012 and what do you hope can be achieved?

Obviously 2012 is very welcome after a poor 2011 and very hectic year. It's clear we've maintained our ambition on track and we want to carry on the full restructuring, progress and change that we started one year ago. We now have a clear target. We know that we have a strong commitment from our shareholders, that we want to be a top team and seen as a top team. 2012 will be the year of our final adjustment to be ready and fully operational from 2013 with an ambitious plan. For 2012 we expect to be in a position to fight for fourth place for the championship.

Two new drivers including a former world champion who has been away from the sport for two seasons; is this a brave approach to the driver line-up?

I think our driver line-up reflects the ambition of this company and this team. It is clear that to have Kimi back on track - on top of being a nice media and PR action - we need a driver of the calibre of Kimi to be able to fight for the top positions. It is also good to have Romain joining us because he has clearly demonstrated his value, talent and speed over the last 18 months. He is definitely now mature and ready. He is good for the French market, for Total and for Renault. It's good to see him with us. He is our future.
Additionally, we have a tried and tested third driver in Jérôme D'Ambrosio. He contested every race last season and did a good job with the tools at his disposal. He is fresh and motivated and will be looking over the shoulders of our two race drivers; to assist them at the tracks and also to learn as much as he can. He's a great addition to the squad.

What other assets can the team draw on for 2012?

Our new 60% scale wind tunnel which went operational last year has made a great contribution to the development of the E20 and we are using this resource as much as we can to push development of the car forwards. From April we should have our ‘Driver in the Loop' simulator active and this is another superb resource to assist our engineers in developing the car. These are two areas which further demonstrate our intentions.

What's the team's overall approach to 2012?

We have conducted a very long and deep process since 2010. You cannot return to being world champion in one day or one month. You need time. We had a complete review of our process and structure. 2012 will be the final step towards building a winning and ambitious team, as I've said before; a clear target for 2012 and also after 2014.

Forward Progress

2012-02-04T16:43:04Z

New season, new name. We are very proud to kick off our 2012 campaign under the name of Lotus F1 Team, continuing with the evocative black and gold livery which made such a well-received return to Grands Prix in 2011.

As well as a new name for the team we have a new chassis designation: E20. The E is for Enstone, our state of the art Formula 1 facility nestled in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside. More specifically, it's for the personnel that make up Enstone to highlight the pride we have in every single employee who shares our beliefs and goals.

We have two new race drivers too, with Romain Grosjean promoted to a race seat after impressing us with his potential after just two Friday runs in the car in 2011. Racing alongside Romain will be 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen. After two years contesting the World Rally Championship Kimi returns to Formula 1 fresh for a new challenge, and with 156 Grand Prix race starts, 18 wins and one world championship we are convinced that Kimi will provide a vital ingredient in driving us forwards.

In 2011 we pushed on with developments behind the scenes, and the addition of the 60% wind tunnel which was implemented during the course of last season should pay dividends for this year's car. We're not standing still either, and our next exciting resource to go online will be a ‘Driver in the Loop' simulator to enhance our assets at Enstone yet further.

Last year we saw flashes of strong potential from the R31 and the team, but ultimately we fell short of our goals. That is the nature this highly competitive sport and we are pushing forwards leaving no stone unturned in our quest to reinstate Lotus as the team to beat.

Our aim for 2012?

If you look at the history of Enstone, there were World Championships won in 1994-95 and 2005-6. This ten year cycle obviously appeals and we are set on repeating this history. We want a step nearer our goal in 2012. If we finish in fifth place in the Constructors' Championship we will be disappointed. If we finish fourth we can reflect over a good step forwards. If we finish in third position we will be very happy. We know the competition is intense, but that is why we compete.

Best wishes Robert

2012-01-12T10:44:31Z

Lotus Renault GP is saddened to hear that Robert Kubica has suffered another setback in his battle to regain fitness for a return to Formula 1.

Everyone at the team would like to send our best wishes to Robert for a speedy recovery.

Team Principal Eric Boullier had this message for Robert: “Robert has shown fantastic courage and determination in his rehabilitation following the accident last year, and it is sad to hear that he has suffered this setback. On behalf of everyone at Lotus Renault GP, I would like to wish Robert a quick recovery”

Romain Grosjean on his seat fitting

2012-01-11T17:47:21Z

Romain, you spent some time with the engineers here at Enstone today. What preparation were you going through with the team?
RG: First of all, I had a chance to sit in a mock-up of the 2012 chassis. It's always something special to sit in a new car for the first time, very exciting and very cool! We also discussed plans for next year with the new regulations, new tyres, and what to expect during Grand Prix weekends. It's always a great feeling coming to Enstone, I enjoy walking around the factory talking to the different departments and getting to know everyone. I've been a member of the team since last year and I know the engineers and mechanics well, but as a driver you never stop learning.

Having worked with the engineers last year, have you formed a good relationship with them already?
RG: It was great working with the team last year as it allowed me to form a good understanding with the guys. It's really important to spend time with the team in pre-season, especially as we will have 20 Grand Prix weekends together this year, so more than 100 days! It's best we get off to a good start. I'll probably see them more often than my fiancée this year, actually…

You are working hard on your fitness over the winter break. Is there anything you particularly look forward to, or anything you may enjoy a bit less?
RG: Training is all part of the job; luckily for me I enjoy it! I suppose working the neck muscles is the only thing that's not so much fun as it's a strange area to train, but it's essential to help drivers cope with the forces you experience in a Formula 1 car. I do get the chance to play squash and tennis which I really enjoy, and when the weather picks up I like going running and cycling. I always prefer to be outside in the fresh air!

Talking of running and cycling, you are a big fan of endurance training. What is your routine when it comes to these?
RG: When you are preparing to spend around 90 minutes in a Formula 1 car it helps to do these kinds of exercises for the same amount of time. If you want to stand on the podium it is essential not to let your performance drop off. I generally run between 10-20km or cycle between 60-100km to make sure I am at the top of my game!

Having three French drivers on the grid next year is great news for the fans. Have you noticed a difference in the level of support from your home followers recently?
RG: Definitely. The French fans have been waiting for a while to have a driver to follow in Formula 1 and now there are three of us. Grand Prix is of course a French term, so the country certainly has a lot of history within the sport! Hopefully we can help develop support for Formula 1 in France again.

Kimi Raikkonen Q & A

2012-01-05T17:45:41Z

We have received many questions from fans for Kimi today; we managed to grab him to answer a few of them. We will invite you to send us more questions next time he's with us!

Kimi, today marked the first time you have been back in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car since 2009. How did it feel?
The last time I was at Enstone I quickly jumped into a seat, but this is indeed the first time I have properly sat in an F1 car with a helmet on since the last race of 2009. It felt a bit odd at first because the cockpit seems a bit small, but that's normal. It's just like in the past when I have done seat fittings – it feels a bit strange when you first step into the car but you quickly adjust. It will be nice to get back to racing.

How important is the seat fitting?

It is one of the most important jobs. You spend so much time sitting in the car so the position is really crucial, it needs to be 100% right. I'd rather spend a lot of time getting it right at this time of the year because there are many races in the season and you sit behind the wheel a lot. Getting it right the first time is imperative.

Were you surprised by all the interest your comeback has generated these past few weeks?

There has been quite a bit of noise in the press about my comeback and there have been a lot of rumours. For me, coming back to Formula 1 is a good thing and I hope it will be for the team and the fans also! I love this time of the year at the factory. There's a real buzz surrounding the new car, every single department is working flat out in order to have everything ready on time. You can really feel people's dedication and it's nice to be a part of it.

There have been a lot of comments about your comeback... sometimes really positive and other times a bit more negative

It has no effect on me – sometimes you hear some nonsense and sometimes you hear nice things. The main thing is that coming back is what I wanted and I have a good opportunity with the team so I'm happy. I have never really looked at what people say or think. I do my own thing and as long as I'm happy with it then that's the main thing for me.

Exclusive : Kimi back behind the wheel

2012-01-05T16:09:58Z

"I have not sat in an F1 car since the last race of the 2009 season" smiled Kimi, as he jumped into the cockpit for his first seat fitting at Enstone today. The Finn was with us all day and, despite a heavy technical programme, took time to answer his fans' questions.

Stay tuned for more...

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T22:55:56Z

The festive season is now well and truly upon us, and Lotus Renault GP would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As always, this time of year is extremely busy for all of us here at Enstone as we gear up for the challenge of a new season.

Yet again this year we have had an incredible level of support from thousands of fans, and for this we are extremely grateful.

We are already brimming with excitement for the year ahead, and we look forward to sharing the adventure with you.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Kimi Raikkonen: “I can't wait to get back behind the wheel”

2011-12-21T12:28:41Z

Kimi, it has been three weeks since you were confirmed as a Lotus Renault GP driver for the 2012 season. How have you found the reaction to your F1 return?
KR: I have been surprised at how big the reaction has been so I guess people must have missed me!

What has been the best moment so far?
KR: Sebastian Vettel's impersonation of me at the Autosport awards! No, seriously, my two visits to Enstone have been great. The first one, at the team's Christmas party, made me realise how much support I have there. The second one, last week, allowed me to understand that this team has not been world champion by coincidence. I also saw all the investments they have made recently: new simulator building, CFD upgrade, 60% wind tunnel… It gives me a lot of confidence for the season ahead.

How difficult do you think you will find it coming back?
KR: Let's put it this way: before my two years of rallying I had nine seasons, 157 races and 18 wins in Formula 1. I know the sport well. When I went to rallying and when I tried NASCAR, there were many new things to learn, but with Formula 1 I feel like I'm coming home. I can't wait to get behind the wheel.

Do you think it will take you long to get back up to speed?
KR: I hope not! I am more motivated than ever and I don't think I've lost any speed. Getting on top of the tyres will be the hardest thing, of course, but I'm not really worried. Although the technical regulations don't seem to change much, they apply to a lot of areas and quite a few elements will have to be re-designed. As a result, the cars will be significantly different next year. The order could be shaken up, which will make things very interesting.

What is your schedule in the build-up to testing?
KR: We don't test the new car until February so it's a long wait. However, I should be able to jump into a two-year-old F1 car in January. Of course, there will be the usual training, but I will also be working on getting to know the team better and making sure I fully understand all the changes since I have been away.

What are your targets for pre-season testing?
KR: Finding out if we have a fast car! For me, learning how the team works will be another important aspect. Learning Pirelli's tyres will be the most important job, as it's a different approach from what I experienced before.

What are your plans over the Christmas break? Have you got anything special arranged?
KR: I am doing a lot of training. The most important area for me is to get my neck strong enough again, especially as it will be put through its paces in testing. Of course, I will also be celebrating Christmas with my family.

Any more snowmobile races planned?
KR: I was surprised by how much attention there was over me falling off a snowmobile. You can watch what happened on YouTube and it was probably the smallest and slowest crash I've ever had. It is almost embarrassing! I won a snowmobile race right before the start of the 2007 season and that year didn't go badly for me so who knows?

Romain Grosjean: “I'm already training hard”

2011-12-19T16:12:00Z

Romain, it has been 10 days since you were confirmed as a Lotus Renault GP driver for the 2012 season. What have been the major changes in your life since you found out that you will be driving for the team?
The big change is that I wake up every morning very happy! Other than that I can now focus fully on next year and prepare myself physically for Formula 1. I came to Enstone last week and it was great to visit the factory as a Formula 1 race driver.

You have mentioned the physical preparation needed for the challenge of Formula 1. Have there been any significant differences in your approach to training?
My training has remained very similar, but I must now focus more on strengthening the neck as this is essential for a Formula 1 driver and a difficult area to train. The main problem with training in winter is trying not to get too cold outside!

Have you met with Kimi already?
Yes, I met him last week and he is a nice guy. I think we have more or less the same philosophy, we both want to give our best for the team to get good results next year and I am looking forward to working with him.

When will you start working with the engineers in preparation for the year ahead?
The good thing for me is that I have already worked with the team at the end of last season. I met with the guys last week, and also had a chance to go into the wind tunnel and see next year's car. It is always something special for a driver to see the car being developed and to meet the people working so hard to give us a good car for next year.

What are your targets for pre-season testing?
I will be looking to give the best I can to help the team develop the car as much as possible before Melbourne. Testing is essential in preparing for the season ahead, and I am really looking forward to working with the guys and giving feedback on the car so that we can be ready for Australia. Also, each driver will only get 6 days of running before the start of the season, so every kilometre in testing will have to be useful. I can't wait to get started!

What are your plans over the Christmas break? Have you got anything special arranged?
I will be training hard until Christmas and then taking a few days holiday to relax on the beach and get some sun before January, but mostly I'm looking forward to being back at Enstone to meet with the team and prepare for testing in February.

Rumour has it you like to cook. Will you be preparing the Christmas meal in the Grosjean household?
(laughs) Yes, I will be cooking for the whole family, which is always good fun. I'm trying to find some new recipes for the Christmas dinner so we will see how it turns out!

2012 FIA Regulations highlights (Part2) - with James Allison

2011-12-13T17:44:56Z

Following on from last week's FIA 2012 season Technical and Sporting Regulations announcement, we caught up with the team's Technical Director James Allison for some further views on the key changes we can expect to see in 2012. We feature part two below.

Suspension
Suspension members (wishbones/trackrods etc) are bound by strict aerodynamic limitations (limited chord, symmetrical section, maximum incidence angles etc). This is not true of the uprights which hold the wheel on to the suspension. Their design has always been free. There existed a possibility (albeit never yet exploited) that someone would make a giant, aerodynamic upright to make use of this hypothetical freedom. A change to article 10.5.3 has been introduced to ensure that the uprights may not protrude beyond the volume currently allowed for brake ducts – this prevents the giant upright problem from ever occurring.

Car floor
The floor under an F1 car (the so called step and reference planes) has to be designed flat. Because things cannot be made perfectly flat, a manufacturing tolerance of +/-5mm was permitted. It was felt latterly that this 5mm tolerance allowed for opportunities to design [illegally] some mild contours into the floor. To clamp down on this possibility, the tolerance has been reduced to +/-3mm.

Helium
There has been a recent trend by some teams to use helium as the gas which powers the pit stop guns. This is because helium is capable of making the guns run at higher power for a given gas pressure. It is ruinously expensive however and has been banned for 2012.

Absorbing structures
Each car is fitted with energy absorbing structures on the side of the chassis which act as crumple zones in the event of a side on shunt. These structures are subjected to a crash test at the start of the season where a loaded sled hits them absolutely square on to the chassis. In addition, the structures have to pass a robustness test where they are subjected to a horizontal push-off load to make sure that they will not just flick off the car in the event that they experience a real crash that is not exactly perpendicular to the chassis. In previous seasons we have also had to demonstrate by making stress calculations that the structures would be OK if subjected to a vertical load. For 2012, this stress calculation test is replaced by a physical test as a means of being certain. In theory, this should change nothing. If the calculations were correctly made, then the structure should withstand the load.

Exhausts
The 2011 generation of blown floors are discarded. For 2012, the exhaust must exit in a prescribed box that is in a similar location to the top exit exhausts of circa 2008. It is also subjected to particular exit angles and diameter as a means of providing further restriction. This does not mean that exhaust generated downforce is a thing of the past – it is very hard to stuff that back into Pandora's box. However these changes, coupled with the recent technical directive banning off throttle blowing create an environment where exhaust generated downforce for 2012 will be a much smaller proportion of the total than it was in 2011.

Technical Directives
For many years there was a growing list of Technical Directives offering guidance on how to operate the electronics and software side of the car in a legal manner. There has been a concerted effort this year by the teams and the FIA to bring the settled parts of these TDs into the main body of the technical regulation to provide a more convenient and more permanent home for them.

Romain Grosjean - "I've got the seat with Lotus Renault GP"

2011-12-12T18:06:47Z

Following Friday's announcement, that Romain Grosjean will race alongside 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen next season, we caught up with our new race driver in Paris-Bercy at the Masters Karting yesterday...

You've got a big smile on your face! Is that just because you are racing at Bercy?
Right first time! (smiles) Not really, my smile owes a lot to the fact I've got the seat with Lotus Renault GP. It's still an incredible feeling, and really it's the start of a fantastic adventure for me. I want to underline the fact that I have benefitted from the trust of certain people in Genii, LRGP and Total who have invested in me, and I'm very happy to be here in Bercy in the thick of the crowd to celebrate all this with them.

Generally speaking, a lot of drivers spend the winter waiting for a reply from a team. For you it'll be much more relaxed, won't it?
Yes. I had to wait a little but I'm going to enjoy a much more relaxed winter from that point of view. I'm going to take advantage of it to do what has to be done and spend as much time as possible with the team in Enstone. Then we'll start the first test sessions, and we'll see to it that we arrive in Melbourne for the first grand prix having stacked all the odds in our favour to put on a good performance.

What do you do when you've got some free time and you're not at the factory?
Well obviously I train as you have to be in tip-top physical condition and it is also a good opportunity to return to basics. Apart from that I like to get back in the kitchen again!

Is that your hobby?
It's important. It is a way for me to relax, to shrug off the pressure and have time for myself. It's really my second passion.

Do you feel pressure here in Bercy?
When you arrive on the grid there is always a little pressure. But everybody's basic aim is to enjoy themselves and put on a thrilling show for the crowd. It is a great event that has been organised again after a ten-year break so we are here to have fun.

What are your kart memories in Bercy?
At the very beginning I hadn't yet started my career in motor racing. But I remember those evenings with my father when we watched the Masters Kart on TV, especially the first one with Senna and Prost as well as the junior races, in which the drivers went at it hammer and tongs!

What do you think of the new electric karts?
Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised. I was wondering what effect the lack of noise would have on my driving. But you hear other sounds like the tyres, the bearings and there is another perception of noise that helps you to adapt your driving style. As for the overall performance I think the organisation has done a great job in supplying us with a quick reliable kart. Bercy is a bit special as a track. I like coming into the arena surrounded by the crowd, going through the wings and shooting back out into the light.

What would you like to find at the foot of your Christmas tree?
I have already received a beautiful Lotus Renault GP! So really I just want to enjoy a lot of happiness in the future and continue to relish things as much every time I step into my F1 car.

Eric Boullier - "Over three years our aim is to be considered as one of the top teams"

2011-12-12T14:38:37Z

What factors made you choose Romain Grosjean?
It's a challenging mission. Romain has been with us for quite a few months now and he has had several aims to achieve from the personal, professional and sporting points of view. He had to find his footing again in a team which he left in what were certainly not the most reassuring circumstances. He achieved all these aims one by one until we decided to give him the opportunity to drive for us in free practice in the last two races of the season. He proved to the team that he had enough talent, speed and maturity to become one of the works drivers for next year.

Did the fact that Romain is French make the difference?
Absolutely not! It was just another point in his favour. For our French partners like Total it's a godsend to be able to take advantage of his presence as one of our drivers.

The team's undergoing reconstruction with two new drivers. What are your short and medium-term objectives?
It's pretty clear for 2012. We're determined to win back that fourth place we promised ourselves. Over three years our aim is to be considered as one of the top teams, which means to start winning on a regular basis and be in a position to fight for the title.

Interview with Romain Grosjean, Lotus Renault GP driver in 2012

2011-12-09T12:46:04Z

Romain Grosjean, Formula 1 race driver for 2012 – how does that sound?
A Formula 1 driver! Wow! It's a dream come true. It's difficult to find the right words to describe what I feel. It's quite simply fantastic and I can't wait to be at the start of the Australian Grand Prix on 18th March next year!

When you heard you were to drive FP1 in Abu Dhabi and Brazil, you described it as feeling like a child at Christmas time – this must be a whole new level of excitement?
When I got back into the car two years afterwards, I compared that sensation to the way a child feels on Christmas Day. Now that I've got the seat for next year I still have difficulty expressing everything I feel. It's a bit like a flame that been lit inside me that's growing in intensity. I know it's going to make me feel happy every day and I'm fully aware of the chance I've been given to get back into Formula 1 – it's extraordinary!

How much of an influence do you think your GP2 Series victory had, and how much influence did your FP1 drives have in helping stake your place in next year's car?
I think that my season in GP2 helped me get the seat as a nominated driver, because what people expected from me was to show that I'd grown up and matured – that at that level I was already capable of being a team leader. The two free practice sessions in the Abu Dhabi and Brazilian Grand Prix were also a kind of real live assessment to see if I'd improved, if I was able to cope better with pressure and if I was still as quick. All these factors added to my two GP2 titles with DAMS were certainly major influential factors that helped me get the drive with LRGP in 2012.

You've always liked the technical side of F1 and motor racing – how useful will this skill be?
With the reduction of the number of test sessions in F1, the driver's technical know-how assumes even greater importance. Something I like very much is working with the engineers, trying to understand how to improve the car and pointing the work in the right direction: all this interests me very much. I was able to learn and deepen my knowledge in the various branches of the sport in which I raced as well as in the Pirelli tests. I hope, and I'm convinced, that the team and me will manage to do a great job, and that we'll find the right paths to explore to achieve a very good level for the first race in the championship.

Alongside you next year will be none other than former world champion Kimi Raikkonen – you must be getting used to driving alongside champions…
I'm beginning to get used to having a world champion as team-mate! After Fernando Alonso, now it's Kimi Räikkönen. But it's a real stroke of luck as you learn a lot from these people. And as we've got the same car matching their level is proof of the quality of the driver.

What can you learn from Kimi, and what impact will he being your team mate have on your driving?
Kimi Raïkkönen is a great driver, he's got nothing to prove anymore and I'm delighted to have the opportunity of working with him. I believe that I too can bring something to the team with my understanding of the Pirelli tyres. He knows the ones in rallying but not those in Formula 1. I think we'll make a great pair and that speed will be one of the major pluses of the team.

Ambitions and expectations for next year?
My greatest expectations and ambitions for next year are to enjoy my season. It shouldn't be forgotten that we're living a dream, and just how extraordinary it is to be an F1 driver. That's the main idea plus how much I'll enjoy every moment I'm in the car throughout the season. Obviously, we're there to score results. My aim will be to always get out of the car with a big smile on my face!

Romain Grosjean to race alongside Kimi Räikkönen in 2012

2011-12-09T05:58:41Z

Enstone, 9th December 2011

Lotus Renault GP and TOTAL are delighted to announce that Romain Grosjean will race alongside 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen next season. The two companies are also pleased to confirm that they have renewed their sponsorship agreement for another year.

The 2011 GP2 Series champion gained useful experience with the team throughout the year as LRGP's third driver. As part of his role, Romain was rewarded with two practice session drives at the final two races of the season in both Abu Dhabi and Brazil.

Prior to claiming first prize for the DAMS team in this season's GP2 Series, Romain was a title winner in F3 Euroseries and the GP2 Asia Series before graduating to the Renault F1 Team in 2008 as a test driver. Following this, he stepped up to a race seat for the second half of 2009.

The announcement of Romain as race driver signals the beginning of the Frenchman's second spell at Enstone in such a capacity.

Romain Grosjean: “I am thrilled to be one of the team's race drivers in 2012. There's a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year's car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity. To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula 1 will be a great experience, and I'm sure will help raise my level of performance too. I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport. Returning to Enstone as a race driver feels like coming home. I will not disappoint and I wish to thank all the people without whom this return to F1 would not have been possible. Total, which supports me since 2006, and Gravity Sport Management, are first on this list.”

Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier, Senior Vice-President Corporate Communications, Total: “Total is delighted to give the young talented French driver, Romain Grosjean, the opportunity to fulfill his dream by becoming an F1 driver with the Lotus Renault GP team. An overall mission of our company, as is LRGP's, is to support young talented people and encourage them along the path to excellence and performance. The involvement of our Group in the highest category of motor sport alongside Romain Grosjean, with whom we've formed a relationship based on trust over more than six years, goes far beyond the purely communications aspect. It shows our determination to develop the performance of our fuels and lubricants with the aim of achieving optimal energetic efficiency to help our clients reduce and improve consumption. Formula 1 must embrace the perspective of clean technology and permanent evolution, and go back to its roots by becoming a laboratory for innovation once again.”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal & MD: “I'm delighted that Romain Grosjean will side Kimi next year. Romain has shown a lot of maturity in the past twelve months both through his GP2 Series victory and his development as third driver with us. We were impressed when he drove for us in the first practice sessions in Abu Dhabi and Brazil. We are confident that drafting him in to one of our driver's seats will help us in our rebuilding process. I would like to thank Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for their contribution to the team's performance this year and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Gérard Lopez, Genii Capital, Chairman: “Only last week I reiterated that the team is at the start of a brand new cycle. Announcing Romain as our race driver alongside Kimi is great news and will help us achieve our aims of getting back to the very top. The announcements we made today and last week are exciting ones for our team and there is a real buzz surrounding us now.”

2012 FIA Regulations highlights - with James Allison

2011-12-07T16:18:14Z

Following this morning's FIA 2012 season Technical and Sporting Regulations announcement, we caught up with the team's Technical Director James Allison who explains some of the key changes we can expect to see in 2012. We feature part one below, with part two to follow tomorrow.

Lower Noses
The car noses are lowered to 550mm above the reference plane (previously they could be 625mm high). This is to ensure that all parts of the nose are definitely below the height of the cockpit sides in the event of a T-Bone type of crash.

Panels
The chassis is constructed from certain panels – the so called “homologated panel” - that are regulated to achieve a required amount of penetration resistance in order to protect the driver. To give better protection to the driver in the event that a car T-bones him from the side, the homologated intrusion panel is increased in height to 550mm above the reference plane (the same height as the highest part of the new nose regulation above).

Apertures and aerodynamics
An ambiguity in art 3.8.5 is cleared up to make it entirely clear that each suspension leg that emerges from the rear bodywork may have just one aperture. Suspension apertures allow the team a certain amount of aerodynamic development possibilities and from an aerodynamicists point of view, the more apertures the merrier. Under the old regulation it was possible to construct a wavy surface where a leg exited and re-entered the bodywork several times, on each occasion accruing another legal aperture – under the new regulation this is no longer possible.

Weight distribution
We had originally agreed for the 2011 cars to have a limited range of adjustment for weight distribution for a single year to cover the introduction of Pirelli's. This regulation has proved successful and has now been extended to 2013.

Tethers
For 2011, each wheel had to be held on by two safety where previously they had only needed one. In order to ensure that the tethers offer genuine redundancy in the event of the failure of one of their mounting points it was agreed for 2011 that the tethers needed to have separate mounting points. The wording for this in 2011 was rather clumsy and had some undesired effects. For this reason we have re-worded art 10.3.6 to ensure that the desired redundancy is delivered in a rational manner.

FOM Cameras
Recent seasons has seen the FOM nose cameras located in a manner clearly aimed at promoting the performance of the front wing rather than to deliver effective TV pictures. A new article (20.3.4) has been introduced to ensure a minimum standard for the field of view of any nose mounted camera. A similar minor change is made to the roll hoop camera location to ensure that a clear picture is not sacrificed on the altar of downforce.

Happy Birthday Robert

2011-12-07T11:45:55Z

Today is Robert's birthday, and all of us at LRGP would like to wish him a very happy birthday as he continues his recovery back to full fitness.

The Pole is 27 years young today. We hope he manages to continue his recuperation in speedy fashion and enjoys the day.

From everyone at the team and his fans around the world, we say “Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji urodzin, dużo szczęścia i zdrowia Robert”.

Leave your messages below!

LRGP three-seater thrill of a lifetime at ROC!

2011-12-05T16:23:14Z

The Race of Champions pits the world's greatest drivers racing in identical cars. This year's ‘ROC' was held in the Düsseldorf ESPRIT arena for the second time in a row. Unique to this annual event was Lotus Renault GP's three-seater that's been specially adapted to take two passenger. It was no holds barred when Vitaly and Romain took the two winners on to the track for the passenger ride of a lifetime.

It was a thrill of experiencing world-class racing performance first-hand!

Team Germany's Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel sent the home crowds delirious by winning their fifth consecutive ROC Nations Cup title in Düsseldorf. Legends from all aspects of motorsport did battle for national pride in the ROC Nations Cup behind the wheel of vehicles including the Audi R8 LMS, Skoda Fabia Super 2000 and KTM X-Bow, on a purpose-built parallel track at the ESPRIT arena.

After a thrilling contest featuring the world's top motorsport stars, Schumacher and Vettel prevailed in the final against Team Nordic's Tom Kristensen and Juho Hänninen. The result meant Team Germany extended their record of ROC Nations Cup titles to five.

Team Nordic defeated Team France (Sébastien Ogier and Romain Grosjean) by two heats to nil in the first semi-final.

Earlier in the evening, Team Nordic and Team France progressed with four wins apiece to line up a best-of-three semi-final. Ogier and Kristensen both impressed with three wins out of three.

SAT1 Team Germany 2 (Timo Glock and Timo Scheider) missed out on a semi-final spot by just one point after taking three wins – two for Glock, one for Scheider. Team USA (Travis Pastrana and Brian Deegan) were eliminated with just Pastrana's victory over Scheider to show for their efforts.

In the other group, Team Great Britain (Jenson Button and Andy Priaulx) defeated Team Germany (Sebastian Vettel & Michael Schumacher) by five wins to four after an amazing battle. Michael Schumacher suffered a surprise defeat to Vitaly in his first race of the night, but he made up for it by winning his other two heats including a tight win over Button. Then Priaulx briefly silenced the Düsseldorf crowd by beating Vettel in the final heat.

Team All Stars (David Coulthard and Filipe Albuquerque) were eliminated without any wins while Team Slavic (Vitaly Petrov and Jan Kopecký) also failed to progress despite Vitaly's fine wins over Schumacher and Coulthard.

But in the end the majority of the 33,968-strong crowd were sent home happy by Team Germany's win.

Following Team Germany's win in the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday, the Race Of Champions pitted 16 of the biggest names in motorsport against each other in head-to-head combat in a variety of different cars yesterday.

In yesterday's Race of Champions, new ROC Champion of Champions Sébastien Ogier was celebrating after his ‘amazing' win. The rally ace defeated Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen in the final, but the Dane was still smiling after beating Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel in front of their home fans.

After a breathless afternoon of action, Romain thought it was a pity to go out by such a tight margin in the group stages, but those are the rules. “I thought I was through but I was half a second down in the play-off over fastest times. But the Race Of Champions is special. The world's very best drivers are here and it's a great show to see these guys driving all the cars to the limit. The ROC car is good and I was pleasantly surprised by the World Touring Racecar. It was the first time that I've driven a rally car too, so I really enjoyed my run in that. But the main thing is having fun every time I get in the car and to put on a show for the crowds in the stadium.”

Vitaly said it was a pity that he didn't progress further yesterday but he still had a good weekend. “It was an interesting feeling to beat Michael Schumacher in Saturday's ROC Nations Cup. Some of the other drivers have raced here a lot already so they know what to do. I was a bit more prepared in the KTM X-Bow than in the World Touring Racecar, which is hard to drive because it's so huge. But most of the cars were good and it was enjoyable getting used to them.”

Both, Vitaly and Romain delivered a thrilling performance on a packed afternoon of competition at Düsseldorf's ESPRIT arena.

David Coulthard says Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula 1 stronger than ever before

2011-12-05T11:00:59Z

David Coulthard believes his former McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen will be better than ever when he returns to Formula 1 with the Lotus Renault team in 2012.

Renault - which becomes Lotus next year - announced this week that it had secured the services of 2007 world champion Raikkonen, who has spent the last two seasons focusing on the World Rally Championship.

Coulthard drove alongside Raikkonen at McLaren from 2002 to '04, and reckons the maturity and perspective the Finn has gained since his initial F1 stint will be hugely beneficial.

"I think he's more worldly now," Coulthard told reporters at the Race of Champions.

"He's had some changes in his private life and he's in a better place to have a perspective on what a great opportunity this is. Remember he came in straight from Formula Renault to Sauber, and when you go straight from being a kid in a lower formula to being immersed in Formula 1 and you're earning all this money and have all these various distractions, I think you can't really see the wood for the trees.

"So he's taken a step back, and I've no doubt he will communicate with the media better than he did the first time around and he'll give it his all. Good on him."

Now a BBC F1 commentator and DTM racer, Coulthard is sure that Raikkonen has plenty of motivation for coming back to F1.

"Kimi stopped too early in his career, there's no question about that," said Coulthard. "He's gone off and had some fun in rallying.

"I did an event with him earlier this year at the Red Bull Ring and he was just jumping on everything - whether it was motocross bikes or the different cars that were there, he just has a great feeling for pushing the limits. So I've got no doubt at all that he will be on the pace."

In order to know more, visit Autosport.com

Gérard Lopez - "It does seem like a motivational decision."

2011-12-03T11:03:05Z

Kimi came to Enstone today – how was his visit?
It was good. It felt like the right thing to do to bring him here today. We decided that bringing Kimi into the team was the right decision to make. We had to be forward looking in terms of performance and, regardless of how good any car is, you need a good driver. Kimi has proven himself as one of the fastest drivers around and he's still in his prime. In terms of motivation, I think he's more motivated than ever. The more people that question it (his motivation) the better, because it's only going to motivate him further. It's a very important step in getting the team to where we want it to be, which is one of the top teams in Formula 1.

What was the exact reason for choosing Kimi?
I can summarise it in one word. He is fast. I think he will fit in very well with the way we do things; it's a good place for him to fit in.

This can be seen as a real statement of intent…
There's no question of that. We've given some drivers the chance to shine. I think they have done ok, but have not all lived up to expectations, but it's difficult because it's Formula 1. It's very different to GP2 or karting. As a midfield-placed team hiring Kimi, you do so with the intent of being at the top.

Is there now an upbeat feeling in Enstone?
Yes, I think there is. We don't make decisions for the outside world to take note, we make them to help this company succeed. Whether people believe that our past decisions were taken in the interests of business or not, the decisions were taken for the staff. So, if we hire Kimi to come in as race driver we are making the right statement internally, which is that it's the right thing for the staff, the engineers, mechanics, anyone in this company. I think it's very motivational; I haven't got all the feedback yet but it does seem like a motivational decision.

From a press side of things, the noise has been great…
Yes, from a press side I was surprised because I had no expectation, positive or negative. From what I've seen so far, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm very positively inclined towards this, which the press seem to be too. The fans are obviously looking forward to it too.

This is a massive boost for the whole company…
Everyone knows that if you are given a good car, we are going to be back at the top again.

The interest seems to be higher than when Schumacher made his comeback…
I wasn't aware of that, but that's fantastic!

Kimi Räikkönen arrives at Enstone

2011-12-02T18:32:58Z

Lotus Renault GP's new Finnish star driver Kimi Räikkönen set foot in Enstone for the first time to meet his new team mates.

A throng of LRGP-ites made Kimi feel welcome as he arrived at the factory ahead of the team's Christmas party tonight.

After being welcomed by Eric Boullier, Kimi was given a factory tour and met with Chairman Gérard Lopez...

“It is my first time in Enstone,” Kimi said, “so it is very nice to see the factory - it feels good. It is a very warm feeling and I'm very relaxed. I haven't really read the newspapers about all the excitement but it is quite normal, isn't it? It doesn't put any more pressure on me. I always try to do my best, so I don't put myself under pressure. It will be exciting, yes, but no pressure really and we will see how it goes.”

On having Kimi at Enstone, Gérard feels it is like the right thing to happen. “I think we decided that we had to look forward in terms of performance and the key way to see how good a car is, is to have a good driver. Kimi has proven in the past that he is among the fastest and in terms of age he's still in his prime. In terms of motivation from what I have seen and spoken to him, he is probably as motivated as ever. And the more people question the better it is because it is going to increase his motivation even more to prove that they are wrong. I'm excited that he is here because I think it's one of the very important steps in getting the team to where we want it to be – which is one of the top teams in Formula 1...”

Read the full Q&A with Gérard Lopez tomorrow...

Cirebox after the Brazilian GP

2011-12-01T11:20:05Z

So, there we have it then. 2011 - a year of trials and tribulations for Lotus Renault GP.
Last race last cartoon, at Sao Paulo Vitaly scored one important point, Bruno had a tough race after a very strong qualifying session. Cirebox reminds us how it happened and looks forward to...next year!

Check it out below and let us know your thoughts!

Pre order the LRGP comic book - 'Memories are made of this', click here