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.
 
So, with Tony Fernandes stepping down as TP, and the new TP not yet announced, but described as someone from within F1, who do we think it is going to be?
 
I posted this on another thread but Caterham for me have been more disappointing than HRT.

They keep claiming they're going to make the "big step" all the time and never do.
In fact, they are no further forward than they were a few years ago. The same as HRT, who don't bother trying to fool anyone.
 
It seems to be a common thread in the life of Tony Fernandes - QPR, we will get better as they slip slowly down the league. Caterham, we will get faster as the cars goes slower and slower.
 
Mike Gascoyne is trading more on his reputation than his ability - it's like football managers that just keep getting jobs because of who they are rather than what they have done. For a very successful business man Tony Fernandes doesn't appear to be very good at managing for success.
 
I thought Mike Gascoyne was ok. Not great, but OK, he turned the 1998 Jordan around, after taking over from a BBC technical expert! I would certainly have considered him able to maintain Caterhams position at the head of the new teams. That said, I would agree that Caterham have flattered to decieve, and if the rhetoric was to be believed, should be right in the mix. I certainly thought they would be this year following on from the pre season test.

Oh well.
 
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