Caterham (formerly Lotus)

Team Lotus

FIA Entry: Team Lotus
Car 20: Heikki Kovaleinen
Car 21: Jarno Trulli
Engine: Renault V8
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes
Technical Director: Mike Gascoyne
Race Engineer Car 20: Juan Pablo Ramirez
Race Engineer Car 21: Gianluca Pisanello

Stats as of end 2010

First Entered 2010
Races Entered 20
Race Wins 0
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Driver World Championships 0
Constructor World Championships 0

Team Lotus

Tony Fernandes' 1Malaysia F1 team lay claim to one of the most iconic names in F1, Team Lotus. Team Lotus, under the guidance of one of the greatest innovators in F1 Colin Chapman, was in F1 from 1958 to 1994. They took part in 491 Grands Prix, winning 73 races, 7 Constructors Titles, 6 Drivers Championships, 102 poles and 65 fastest laps. During this time some of the greatest F1 drivers drove for Team Lotus including Jim Clark, Stirling Moss, Ayrton Senna, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jochen Rindt and Nigel Mansell.

2010 Team Lotus

With the support of the Malaysian government via Proton cars and two Malaysian Companies, Tune and Naza Groups, Tony Fernandes entered F1 under the Team Lotus name. Using Cosworth engines and Xtrac gearboxes Lotus signed up experienced drivers for their first season in F1 with Heikki Kovaleinen and Jarno Trulli.

The cars proved reasonably reliable although not quick enough to threaten the mid-field teams. Kovaleinen managed Lotus’ best finish with a 12th place in Japan and the team, based on count back of non-points scoring finishes, were placed 10th in the Constructors Championship – the best of the new teams for 2010.

2011

Lotus announced during 2010 that they would switch to Renault engines for 2011 along with Red Bull gearbox and hydraulic technology. The same driver line up is retained and they will use the T128 chassis.

Whether the team continue to use the Lotus name will be decided in the British High Court. Proton, owners of the Group Lotus name, have moved their allegiance to the former Renault team although ownership of the Team Lotus name is in dispute as this was owned by David Hunt, brother of 1976 World Champion James and sold to Fernandes.

 

[gethinceri]

Maybe they've spent the money the drivers brought and they're now moving down the queue?

 

[KekeTheKing]

I wonder if Kovi's return means that Rossi will not get his run.

 

[RasputinLives]

Apparently they should both be in for FP1 right now. I don't have it on screen so I could be wrong but the was meant to be the plan.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Kravitz said that "Charles Pic just drove past me" a while ago, and we saw Heikki. Maybe because Rossi is in GP2 now they figured Kovi is a better option.

 

[RasputinLives]

Hmmm. I'll do some digging KeKe.

 

[RasputinLives]

Now says he'll be driving in spain KekeTheKing which is not what they said on wednesday but makes more sense than having both race drivers miss the session

http://www.caterhamf1.com/tv/2012/alexander-rossi-confirmed-for-fp1-in-spain

 

[KekeTheKing]

Thanks Ras. That's where he drove for them last year too, so it's not a bad situation.

 

[RasputinLives]

You saying that has made me notice the date on that article and now I think I've told you wrong!

 

[teabagyokel]

You know how I joked about QPR having a Caterham kit about a year back? Good God, they've only done it.

 

[Jos the Boss]

 

[sushifiesta]

It's just the 3rd kit so it will hardly get worn though.

 

[Il_leone]

sushifiesta

They will alternate in away games the kit no doubt if the home team wears red or black

 

[Jos the Boss]

Red or blue, they can still use the home kit in away games

 

[Galahad]

By the look of the second kit, Fernandes is going to be putting in a bid for the Beano.

 

[RasputinLives]

So Caterham are letting this guy lose in their F1 car

http://www.caterham-racing.com/news/2013/sergio-aero-test

If it wasn't for Johnny Ceccto Jr and James Caledo then Sergio Canamasas would quite easily get GP2's Mr Dangerous award so even though its a straight line test I'd still expect a repair bill.

Bit confused on what the hell Caterham are doing driver wise. Throwing out Kovi and Petrov has not really done them any good at all.

 

[FB]

Bit confused on what the hell Caterham are doing driver wise. Throwing out Kovi and Petrov has not really done them any good at all.

No, but I bet Tony Fernandez's bank balance looks a bit healthier.

 

[cider_and_toast]

If you look at Caterhams qualifying performances this year and last year, it is clear they are falling behind where they could have been if they had kept Kovi in the car.

Just looking at the three races from China, Bahrain and Spain between this year and last, in 2012 Kovi was the first of the "newish teams" and 7 tenths off the rest of the field in China, in Bahrain he actually got in to Q2 in the dry on pace and in Spain, Petrov was the lead Caterham and the first of the newish teams and just 3 tenths off the next car.

In China this year, both Caterhams were at the back of the field in 21st and 22nd, in Bahrain Pic was 5 tenths away from the next best car and in Spain, Van Der Garde was a huge 1.3 seconds away from the rest of the field.

Taking the cheap option definitely seems to have caused the team more problems than it was worth.

 

[gethinceri]

So Caterham are letting this guy lose in their F1 car.

I'm sure you meant to spell it like that.

 

[Il_leone]

Does this guy have sponsorship?

 

[gethinceri]

I think he wrote this himself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Canamasas