Lotus co-owner Gerard Lopez talks in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport about the finances of the racing team, the contract extension with Kimi Raikkonen and the engine plans for 2014.
There are many rumors about the debt of Lotus. Some say there are 120 million Euros others say there are only 28 million. What's wrong now? Gerard Lopez: There are 120 million, but most of it we owe ourselves. Four-fifths of the debt are from Genii, because we do not sponsor the team but finance it through loans.
But surely you want the money back one day? Lopez: I want first of all that the team continues to be well funded. Whether we get the money back now or sometime later, you have to see. We continue to look for partners to join the team. It's not about to get that money now back quickly.
They have been a partner announced. Since then there are rumors that they have not paid. Is that true? Lopez: No, currently it depends rather on the banks. Not all is clarified because the money comes from the Middle East. Let's see how this goes now.
If you want to drive at the top you have to spend a bunch of money. You once said it needed about 160 million euros per year. Do you have this budget or you still need to add something? Lopez: No, we usually need to add something.
How close you are to a main sponsor which adds something to the budget? Lopez: That's the eternal question. We would be very close, if we wanted to opt for to sign a cheap contract. But we think that we really need from the performance point, a sponsor who pays really well. It would be a pity to sign something now for three, four or five years, which we regret afterwards.
It looks as if Lotus is this year even closer to the top than last year. How do you see that? Lopez: Yes, I see it the same way. I think we also became again stronger in developing this year. We are currently working on a car with a longer wheelbase. I think we are really well positioned.
You can already have parallel focus for 2014 now or focus on this season? Lopez: No, we've already started very early with the development in 2014, because we work very closely with Renault. This is a completely new car. All the work proceeds as planned. But in 2013 we definitely do not want to give up.
A major issue is currently of course Kimi Raikkonen. What is really going on? Lopez: At the moment Kimi still drives for Lotus. I have always said that if we give him what he needs, then chances are good that he stays with us. If he then consideres going elsewhere, or stops or to drives rally, you never know. Kimi is Kimi.
He has just re-emphasized that he has not seen all of his money. How can this be understood? Lopez: It is to be understood, as he said it. He receives a base salary, and he gets a points bonus.
Did you maybe misjudge a bit with the bonus points? Did you not think that he's so good? Lopez: No, we already know that Kimi is good. And we thought that he will make points. The plan works out for us on that because the points of course count for the Constructors' World Championship. So naturally we get much more money in, than we spend on him.
Do you think that Raikkonen has real alternatives with Red Bull or Ferrari, or is it just fuss by his management? Lopez: I do not know. I do not know whether Kimi could actually go together with Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso. No idea. It depends on them.
Do you see the case with equanimity? Do you have options? Lopez: We have a very good car so you always have options in Formula 1. We are very close to Renault and therefore know that we will have a competitive car for next year. Therefore, there are always drivers who are keen to drive for us.
We have not heard with which engine Lotus drive next year. Can you say something about that? Lopez: No, not officially. But we are currently with Renault and it looks like that we will continue there.
Zitat Lotus's Italian GP package a big test for its 2014 F1 tech plans By Edd Straw Wednesday, August 28th 2013, 10:28 GMT
The success of Lotus's long-wheelbase car will be a key barometer of the team's technical approach to the 2014 Formula 1 campaign, according to team principal Eric Boullier.
The long-wheelbase version of the E21 will run for the first time at next week's Italian Grand Prix and its development has been driven by the team's driver-in-loop simulator, which came online last year.
It is the first time Lotus has used the simulator for such a major change after the team's vehicle dynamics group suggested doing so.
Raikkonen's secret weapon explained
Boullier believes it is important to try the long wheelbase car as it will validate the way the simulator is being used as a key part of the development process, particularly with a view to next season.
"We have to do it because we have to test our system," Boullier told AUTOSPORT.
"The decision-making process is now much more complex because it includes the simulator, which gives more importance to vehicle performance. But we have to see if it works.
"It [the change] is vehicle performance driven. We had to test after to make sure there was no downside on the aero and it looks like there is actually some upside.
"In the end, the driver likes it in the simulator, so let's see if this new way of working is delivering."
DRIVERS' TITLE LOOKING UNLIKELY
It is hoped the new-specification machine will boost Lotus's form in the final eight races of the year.
Boullier accepts that Raikkonen's retirement from the Belgian GP, which was caused by a discarded visor tear-off lodging in a brake duct, has effectively put the Finn out of championship contention.
Kimi Raikkonen
But the team remains confident of a strong finish to the season that will allow it to climb from its current fourth place in the constructors' championship.
"It's a blow," Boullier told AUTOSPORT. "We will not give up but it's difficult to recover 65 points.
"We are trying to do our best to keep up the fight for constructors' championship position.
"I'm more hopeful for the rest of the season [after Europe] because Spa and Monza were always going to be difficult."
It's always been very difficult to produce a car that is highly reliant on aerodynamics (vs mechanical grip) to function well at both high downforce and low downforce circuits (Canada, spa, Monza). This is what impressed me so much about Newey in 2011. For the first time: red bull carried their pace advantage from high downforce circuits to low downforce circuits (especially Italy 2011).
Mark Hughes wrote an informative column at sky sports about how Ferrari's struggles at Hungary may come back to haunt them post Monza because the car seems to work better on low downforce circuits and not as well on the higher downforce ones. Boullier is saying that lotus is the opposite of Ferrari. And he can't wait to get away from the low downforce circuits!
I was a little concerned through the first half of 2012 that he may try to give preferential strategy to Romain if the qualifying and points battle stayed close. But now I've realized that Kimi has given the team no choice about who the #1 pilot is at Lotus.
ZitatWorld exclusive... Check out the first picture of the much talked about 'looooong wheelbase E21'. We haven't tried to take a hairpin with it yet...
ZitatLotus F1 Team @Lotus_F1Team 17m Competition time! RT to win one of these exclusive USB sticks.Winners will be picked randomly from RTs #lotusf1team
05/09/2013 NEW HEIGHTS WITH EMAAR PROPERTIES Lotus F1 Team welcomes Dubai-based residential and commercial property investment company Emaar Properties to its portfolio of partners, in a new two-year deal commencing from this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix
Lotus F1 Team welcomes Dubai-based residential and commercial property investment company Emaar Properties to its portfolio of partners, in a new two-year deal commencing from this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Emaar’s portfolio includes properties such as The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa; the world’s tallest building. As Official Partner to Lotus F1 Team, Emaar will enjoy a presence on the team’s E21 car in addition to a range of other Lotus F1 Team marketing collateral. This new relationship builds on the team’s recent partnerships with brands such as Microsoft, Unilever [Clear and Rexona] and The Coca-Cola Company [burn].
Eric Boullier today remarked, the UAE has been a fruitful location for us on track with Kimi Räikkönen winning the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix“We are delighted to begin this new relationship with Emaar Properties; particularly as the UAE has been a fruitful location for us on track with Kimi Räikkönen winning the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That victory truly confirmed that Lotus F1 Team as one of the foremost outfits in Formula 1 and we have continued our strong performances this season. With this new partnership with the developer of such iconic projects as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, we are looking forward to some home support as we race in the UAE once again this year. We are also very excited to see how this partnership will further enhance Lotus F1 Team’s brand value.”
The Chairman of Emaar Properties, Mohamed Alabbar, also commented, “Formula 1 brings man, mind and machine together in one exciting journey to perfection. The minute attention to details, the passion and commitment, and the determination of every participant to push the boundaries are values that have also set Emaar apart, as we challenged accepted norms to develop world-class projects such as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.
“Our partnership with Lotus F1 Team, a remarkable team with impeccable credentials in the racing circuit, is therefore a perfect fit to our own values. As they race at the Formula 1 Championship circuits across the world, we are truly honoured to extend our support to the Lotus F1 Team, while also engaging with our international clientele and further defining the global identity of our brand.”
Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. A provider of premium lifestyles through its world-class portfolio of integrated communities, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls & retail, and hospitality & leisure. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are among Emaar’s trophy developments.
Emaar is currently expanding The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue by 1 million sq ft expansion and also redefining the cultural scene of the city with The Opera District in Downtown Dubai, to feature the city’s first opera house and several design galleries. The company is also partnering in implementing Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), with Dubai Hills Estate, the first phase of MBR City, developed as a joint venture with Meraas Holding.
Among other mega-projects of Emaar is the King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia the region’s largest private sector-led project. Emaar is also the largest foreign direct investor in India’s real estate sector and its joint venture has a country-wide presence covering the residential, commercial, retail and hospitality sectors.
To find out more about Emaar Properties, click on the links below:
ZitatKimi Raikkonen's F1 future waiting on assurances from Lotus By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer
Kimi Raikkonen will not start 2014 contract talks with Lotus until the team can give him the assurances he wants about next year.
Although Lotus is now favourite to keep Raikkonen after the second Red Bull Formula 1 seat went to Daniel Ricciardo, the team is still working to conclude a financial deal with investor Infinity Racing.
Raikkonen revealed at Monza on Thursday that negotiations were currently stalled while he awaits answers.
"They know the reasons why there is no going forward right now, and until they sort out those issues we cannot talk about next year," he said.
"It is as simple as that. They know exactly the reasons."
The Finn said it "wasn't really a surprise" that Red Bull picked Ricciardo over him.
"I don't think anything went wrong," he said. "Probably they wanted a different thing. You go and ask them, I don't know.
"For me it doesn't really matter. It is fine and it is not the first time.
"Sometimes you speak with people and it doesn't work out."
Ferrari has been mooted as Raikkonen's other 2014 option, and he said on Thursday there was nothing stopping him returning to the team where he claimed the 2007 world title, despite relationships worsening prior to his departure at the end of '09.
"I never had anything against anybody and obviously certain things could have been different in the past in many areas," he said. "Not just at Ferrari but for many teams."
Print view
Sun Aug 25, 2013 6:17 pm
reply
" title="mad" /> 
" title="annoyed" />
h" title="hih" />
cream" title="icecream" />
" title="red" /> 
" title="girl" />
" title="ha" />
" title="lol" /> Looks nice. I hope, he is fast with this 
" title="holy" />
" title="pipe" />
" title="hmm" /> 
