1
Even amid high speculation about the team's future, Lotus is continuing to plan ahead. The last word about the Enstone team was that, as buyout talks with Renault potentially falter, all of Lotus' equipment including the two black and gold cars was seized by court bailiffs after the Belgian grand prix.
Asked if the team is now in a state of panic, driver Romain Grosjean said: "No, the team management will not act to the detriment of the team. Of course, the situation is difficult," he told Canal Plus, "and I have not hidden it, saying that the team could be sold."
Indeed, Grosjean revealed that the current team owners are willing only to keep Lotus ticking over while Renault makes its decision. It hurt the French driver tangibly at Spa, when he had to take a grid demotion due to a penalty for changing the gearbox. "We had no spare gearbox," Grosjean said, "so we broke our race 'box and had to take the five-position penalty."
But he said the situation and uncertainty is not getting Lotus down. "We are talking about a group of quite extraordinary people who come to work at the moment in not an easy situation," said Grosjean. "On the other hand, we know that if Renault will buy the team - and we hope that this will happen - then it will turn into a beautiful story and an interesting adventure. If all the people stay in Enstone I think we will be able to return to the top quite quickly," he added.
Renault, said to have also commenced talks with Force India, is set to take its decision in September. Auto Hebdo, a French magazine, claimed the French carmaker is offering Lotus' current owners EUR 7.5 million upfront, and EUR 50 million over the next ten years for a 60 per cent shareholding.
In the meantime, the Enstone team is looking to secure the services of Pastor Maldonado, the controversial Venezuelan driver who brings millions to Lotus in the form of his lucrative backing by PDVSA. "I hope everything is done by Monza," deputy team boss Federico Gastaldi is quoted by Spain's Marca. "Maldonado stays with us, as he and PDVSA have a contract until 2017." (GMM)
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
3 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Romain Grosjean
96,020 comments on Force India 8 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Force India
G. Zhou
Replies (1)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
Hmmm, maybe this is the reason Renault are now talking to Force India. Maldonado and his sponsor PDVSA might be a problem for Renault and Total.