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Lotus in 'contact' with Mercedes over engines for 2015

Lotus in 'contact' with Mercedes over engines for 2015

  • Published on 01 Jul 2014 08:23
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
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. (GMM)
F1 News Romain Grosjean Renault Lotus F1 Mercedes McLaren Honda

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Date
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
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Albert Park
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Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
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24 - May 26
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26 - Jul 28
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23 - Aug 25
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13 - Sep 15
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20 - Sep 22
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18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
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Driver profile

FR Romain Grosjean -
  • Team -
  • Points -
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  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (38)
  • Place of b. Geneve, FR
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
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Renault
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