Lotus F1 Team Considering Switch To Mercedes Power In 2015 (4th Update)
07/05/14 This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Mercedes has agreed to supply Lotus with Formula 1 engines from 2015 in a move that should help the team's current supplier Renault focus on Red Bull, AUTOSPORT reports.
Renault's head of trackside operation Remi Taffin said: "I think it [working with three teams] makes life easier for Red Bull to go towards what they wish, and there is no downside for anyone.
"The gap between these teams and how they operate, if the big one [Red Bull] is going forward, maybe at a higher rate, I think it will pull the rest up."
Taffin also made it clear that there would be no budget issues even though Renault could lose income from the Lotus deal.
"If it is three teams next year, it will be less of an income from customers, but not at a level that it will prevent us from doing the job we want to do next year or the year after," he said.
"If anything, Renault [car company] would cover this and would even help more than that to help Renault Sport to get back to the top.
"I don't think it will affect a lot our operation."
07/01/14 (GMM) Lotus could be set to move on from its disastrous 2014 season.
Fourth in the constructors' championship not only last year but also in 2012, the Enstone-based team has struggled with the newly V6-powered E22.
Engine supplier Renault, whose troubles with its premier partner Red Bull are well known, has taken much of the blame, particularly for many of the reliability problems.
But French driver Romain Grosjean is not pointing the finger.
"It's not just the engine," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "even if compared to Mercedes we do lack power.
"The problem is probably more aerodynamic in nature," said Grosjean.
"In the second part of the corner we lose grip suddenly. Anything gained in the fast corners, I am losing two or three times over in the slow ones," he added.
Even team trackside boss Alan Permane admits the problem.
"Our car does not like stop-and-go (circuits)," he confirmed. "We need sweeping corners."
That is why the E22 looked much more competitive at Barcelona, and so Lotus is looking forward to the fast corners this weekend at Silverstone.
"Our car is fast," said team owner Gerard Lopez, "but only under certain conditions."
It means Lotus has fallen from the grace of fourth to the depths of eighth in the constructors' standings, four points behind the Red Bull sister team of Toro Rosso.
"At least they have the same (Renault) engine," said German correspondent Michael Schmidt. "But maybe not for much longer.
"Lotus is said to have had contact with Mercedes."
Mercedes already supplies three teams in addition to its own works outfit, but long-time partner and customer McLaren is moving to works Honda power for 2015.
06/30/14 This rumor is upgraded to 'strong' today. The word on the street is that Lotus F1 Team, the old Renault F1 factory team, will shortly announce that it will become the fourth Mercedes team, replacing McLaren, and joining Mercedes GP Petronas, Williams F1 and Force India using the German firm’s V6 engines. The news if it is confirmed is a big boost to Lotus, which has struggled with Renault engines. The new means that Renault will be down to three teams: Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Caterham F1 with the possibility of a fourth supply if the Romanian F1 project goes ahead…..i.e. all backmarkers except Red Bull. Joe Saward Blog
06/24/14
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| Even Lotus wants to get rid of their inferior Renault engines |
Lotus could be set to switch from Renault to Mercedes power in 2015, well-placed sources have confirmed. Inevitably there has been some tension between Renault and Lotus this season. Lotus has been late with payments to the French manufacturer over the past couple of seasons, while the reliability and performance problems associated with the power unit have proved frustrating to the team.
Although the Enstone operation has an association with Renault dating back to the Benetton days of 1995, a fresh start with Mercedes would have obvious appeal. It would also go some way to guaranteeing an improvement in form, which would encourage sponsors – including those of Pastor Maldonado – to stay loyal.
Mercedes meanwhile will have the capacity to supply another team following the departure of McLaren to Honda next season. However, Stuttgart will no doubt demand suitable financial guarantees from Lotus. There is also the question of whether the Lotus and Mercedes names are compatible from a marketing point of view. speed.com