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.

 

[Il_leone]

Nothing eye catching

 

[RasputinLives]

The only thing eye catching is him pushing over drivers delib off track because they've pissed him off.

 

[Jos the Boss]

One of the mechanics being "Incredibly slow walking off the grid" stands out

 

[Bill Boddy]

It certainly is a cv like no F1 driver has ever had. However with those results and still being given drives I assume that he has loads of money and so will be an asset to any F1 team.

 

[Il_leone]

They've come out to say they are happy with the current drivers despite suggestions that Kovalainen should be recalled

 

[Bus Stop Chicane]

Before anyone reads this comment I would like to stress that I have barely watched F1 in the last two years ( just a couple of races), so I may be misjudging the progress of both Caterham and Marussia but seriously what is the point of them? They've both spent three and a half years in it and scored a grand total of zero points between them which is fucking shit and I'm pretty sure a record. Their owners are both absolutely minted so I'd love to know their excuses for the absolute non-progress on display in that time. Suppose Fernandes has a good excuse in that he chose to spunk half his fortune into relegating Queens Park Rangers but Marussia have nothing. Now all they do is employ crappy pay drivers. Want them off the grid to be honest.

 

[The Artist.....]

Bus Stop Chicane

Realistically, the only chance for these teams to make a big step up to the midfield is when the rules change for 2014. They currently have lower budgets, because they don't compete near the front they don't get prize money (well Marussia at least), and they struggle to get sponsorship. Success breeds success- particularly when teams are evolving their old chassis to the next season.

 

[Il_leone]

Bus Stop Chicane

1) You have to blame Max Mosley for trying to get a two tier divison in F1 where the smaller teams were supposedly able to run on £30m a year when Red Bull are spending £300m a year


2) Fernandes put together a team back in F1 to revive the Lotus name and you can see the enthusiasm in the team and paddock. Since the following the fall out with Proton especially Dani Bahar over Lotus name it seems to have sapped their enthusiasm despite buying the name Caterham which still has history in Britain

3) Fernandes decided to scale back his F1 involvement saying the team needs to run on its own finance sources not out of his pocket as he decided to seek better fortunes with QPR - what a mess

4) Caterham now are struggling because they've just gone backwards and you wonder with Tony Fernandes where his priority is . Does he want to Caterham move up the grid which will take years or get QPR in the PL which depends on how he clears this mess

Caterham might have to consider to get two capable drivers further up the grid because clearly having dropped Heikki they've fallen backwards

 

[Greenlantern101]

Caterhams new road car the AeroSeven being launched this weekend (on sale 2016). As far as I am aware its the first time they have strayed from the classic Colin Chapman designed Lotus 7 since the Caterham 21 that was a big massive flop. I can't see something with no wet weather gear doing very well in Britain. At least the 7 can be fitted with a windscreen and hood.

Looks nice enough but I prefer the KTM Xbow if we are buying cars with no windscreens.

 

[cider_and_toast]

And cue images on Top Gear of Clarkeson's jowels smeared backwards around his face as he drives "on maximum attack" around the Top Gear track while raving about how fantastic the car is.

 

[FB]

Jezza will love it until it rains.

 

[Il_leone]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula-one/24194427

The team will carry on with Renault but seriously someone must be asking what are they are doing at the back of the grid for so long

 

[Il_leone]

Heikki to comeback in 2014??

 

[Bill Boddy]

If Father Christmas leaves Kovalainen a sack of money then yes, he could be at Caterham. Otherwise very unlikely.

 

[RasputinLives]

Any news on Caterhams driver line up? You'd think it would all come down to the cash after last years choices (please not Canamasas!) but I'm kind of hoping they say sod it and promote Will Stevens from their youth programme as he is starting to look like a proper talent.

 

[Fenderman]

Caterham follow Sauber in announcing that their 2014 chassis has passed its crash test and give us a vid'

 

[McZiderRed]

They didn't show us what the poles did to the front of their chassis...

 

[Bill Boddy]

Now that they have passed the crash test they will be able to sign up di Resta.

 

[RasputinLives]

It looked like Van Der Garde was doing the crash test as it started quickly and then crashed before it reached the first turn.

 

[downforce]

Where do drivers like Van Der Garde who spend half their lives in the junior series get all their money?
The junior series are supposed to be really expensive, nearly half a million for F3 and around the 1.5 million mark for GP2

When you look at his record he has 3 years in F3 then 2 years in the world series then 4 in GP2 and 3 GP2 Asia campaigns.
And we all know Caterham need pay drivers do he will be paying again for F1. Where does he get all that money from?!?!

Sam Bird is another one.