According to sources at Jerez, it is emerging that Lotus and Sauber are suffering serious financial setbacks, which could put their future in Formula 1 at risk.
The same sources stated that the Enstone-based Lotus squad have failed to pay various suppliers, as well as team members' wages last year, including drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Davide Valsecchi.
It is widely speculated throughout the paddock that this is the main reason why the outfit are not present at the first test in Jerez and due to these financial problems, various members of the team have gone on to work at other teams such as Caterham, Force India, Mercedes and Marussia.
Their 2014 challenger, the E22 was released online last week but it is speculated that this was not the final version of the chassis, which is yet to be seen in the flesh.
Should Lotus fail to make the next pre-season test in Bahrain, serious doubts will be cast upon their presence in the 2014 championship.
The Hinwil-based Sauber team are also suffering from severe financial setbacks, having designed and developed parts for the C33 but are reported as not having any funds to test them in a wind-tunnel.
Having suffered financial problems last year, the Swiss outfit recruited the Russian Sergey Sirotkin as part of investment deal that was designed to secure the future of the team, although it thought that the money is yet to come through to the Sauber team.
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