I wouldn't rule it out, from what I have seen from Bando's post... coupled with Boullier jumping ship... tripled with lack of funding and no announcement of team principle. As well as no announcement of testing appearance (not that I know of). It could be the end of Renault as we know it.
Whilst they have Maldo' smoney for this year, did they have any budget last year to design & build this year's car before signing him? Think there is more to come from the Lotus story before the season starts.
That might be a good shout, EMSC. So far as I know, there is nothing in the regulations to preclude it. However, I'd be rather surprised if that's what they actually are, since the ducting would need to go all the way across to the wheels, which would surely increase drag (and turbulence) considerably. Then again, when it comes to aerodynamics, I'm very much an enthusiastic amateur…
I think the agreement was to pay him €5m instead of €20m... which they still haven't paid. I don't think anyone there has been getting paid.
I think he threatened to leave unless he was paid was the arrangement... so he left, which implicates he wasn't paid. They spent all the money on the car in the false hope it would carry on form and net the Bulls. Ferrari will have paid him up and sorted him out. But to be honest, if I was Lotus I would rather pay for the car rather than Kimi... Big call I know.
As a business decision that's only logical. There are plenty of drivers out there who could drive to within maybe 2-3 tenths of Kimi, for a fraction of the price. Development over the season is worth much more than 2-3 tenths. If keeping Kimi cripples development, it's only logical to make sure you've still got at least one car (Grosjean) that can keep fighting for podiums/substantial points, even if it means sticking Karthikeyan in the other car. Keeping Kimi and watching both cars slide out of the top 10 doesn't give the same constructor's points haul, or the sponsors air-time.
Was thinking of writing that but couldn't be arsed wording it up. Yeah you are right there isn't another option really, money --> car will = more product/speed than pumping it into Kimi, it's not going to make him any faster. But he can be credited for turning up through the turmoil, he didn't have to.
Before he signed with Ferrari, arguably he had to, and after he signed with Ferrari, he didn't, so I don't think he gets too much credit. Before signing the Ferrari deal he needed to keep proving he was one of the best on the grid to secure a seat for next season, and if he'd failed to turn up he'd have almost certainly burned his bridges with Lotus for this season.
Thinking of it that way, you are right. As well as this he was very lathargic compared to Grosjean, maybe influenced by the lack of finance. But he needed to turn up... agreed.
please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image And Mercedes wins the best looking car of the year award
It's very interesting (and worrying as a McLaren fan) that Merc, Ferrari and Red Bull seem to have fairly similar solutions. The Mercedes is easily the best looking car, the nicest for years in fact.
Yummy! I smell dominance. please log in to view this image I agree Julius, the guys with the largest budgets haven't gone for the penis look, so it seems they have all found something better.
That's a front wing and a half!!! Packaging seems very tight around the back too. They've clearly goen very aggressive on the whole design. **** or bust by the looks of it. What's that duberry sticking up on the rear wing? Sensor for testing or permanent?
