You may not have made a mental note but subliminally you’ll be aware.
The men in black (and gold) are coming…
Across all levels in Formula 1, Lotus are setting some impressive new standards and the others are taking note.
For Lotus read Renault, for Renault read Benetton, for Benetton read Toleman. At heart this is a proper F1 team, steeped as they are in a history of race wins, team titles and driver champions, all achieved in a no-nonsense style over many a season.
On the technical front James Allison, the man responsible for the direction of all things engineering at the team’s sleepy rural Oxfordshire HQ, doesn’t appear to be quite as aero and downforce-dominated in thinking as some of his colleagues at rival teams.
Of course the greater the aero efficiency the better, but Allison’s 2013 car appears rather more conventional in appearance than some of its competitors. Adrian Newey’s RB9 – as has been the case with all his recent championship winning cars – shows the requisite levels of extreme rake, allowing the front end to be as close to the Tarmac as possible; a stance essential to the way Newey prefers to glue his cars to the road.
Travelling an alternative aero-generating route, Allison’s Lotus E21 has a very level-to-the-road posture, suggesting a car that isn’t revolutionary in design but perhaps easier to work with than some rival team’s machines. The non-radical nature of the Enstone racer also makes for a less ‘newsworthy’ story, with the result that the aero-fixated group of press-room ‘experts’ focus their hypothesising elsewhere.
Viewed from closer quarters at many a race track, the serene and super-smooth – almost active-like – way the car rides the undulations and floats over kerbs is an impressive sight. To see the way the E21 magic carpet rode over the vicious ripples that precede Turn One of the Malaysian circuit left one in no doubt as to the ability and engineering excellence that Allison’s talented group of engineers have brought to bear on their latest ride.
At the top of the tree, team owner Gerard Lopez makes all the right noises that a switched-on and progressive team supremo – 2013 style – should. Designers, drivers, engineers, mechanics, marketing ,et al, are all given free reign – within the brand ethos parameters, of course – to get on with the job at hand.
You tell me which other top-drawer team boss would sanction the refusal of garish, crass, cheap-and-not-so-cheerful Dutch wannabe watch brand TW Steel’s money? The team had the option for 2013, but Lopez agreed with his always immaculate marketing boss, Frenchman Stephane Samson, that the oversized timepieces don’t really fit with the Lotus brand ideals.
Spend five minutes watching rival team media managers during an F1 weekend and you’ll likely see more than a few envious glances towards the black-clad crew. Being given the licence to be creative has enabled the Lotus team to surge ahead in the brave new world of social media interaction. Sure it’s nice for the press to be given the occasional freebie – Mini Magnum memory sticks in Melbourne and David Bowie CDs in Sepang – but the point is Tweets soon follow, spreading only good news to untold millions worldwide.
Fellow teams with – dare I suggest – a more controlling mien also have Twitter feeds and doubtless do make an effort of sorts; but, in this modern multi-platform digital environment, they still worry way too much what the dying-a-little-more-every-day, simplistic in their understanding of the finer points of the sport, ‘Fleet Street’ hacks are writing.
One cannot underestimate too much just how important this side of the business has become. In Formula 1 as everywhere else, marketing men are hunting hard for that elusive cocktail: the right mix of getting the message across, appearing cool and switched on, and therefore worthy of attention.
On the driver front, what a stroke of genius it was to employ the one-of-a-kind Kimi Raikkonen. Following his two-year sojourn in the world of rallying, the self-styled Iceman couldn’t really have been any more of a success. What a perfect fit the nonchalant, apparently relaxed, vodka enjoying, champagne swilling, James Hunt loving, throwback of an F1 driver Raikkonen undoubtedly is.
The team put only the most necessary of marketing demands Kimi’s way. His genius is therefore largely undisturbed by such troublesome duties.
A wonderfully consistent and successful 2012 was followed immediately with a winning start to the new season, and an impressive second place at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix –having spent much of the race sans downforce-enhancing accoutrements on the front wing. The 2007 world champion, seemingly fired up to race hard in a team totally in tune with their man, is surely a good outside bet to push for 2013 title honours.
However the season pans out for F1’s most progressively minded team, they can be sure in the knowledge they’re blazing a trail – a trail the others are desperate to follow.
ZitatLotus to sell stake to fund Raikkonen deal - report
Apr.17 (GMM) Lotus owner Genii is offering part of the Enstone based team for sale, according to a report by Cesare Mannucci in Italy's Autosprint.
Mannucci said the money would go towards the team retaining Kimi Raikkonen for 2014, amid reports Red Bull is making moves to sign the 2007 world champion.
"Kimi's position (beyond 2013) is going to be based on a bunch of things and not on what Red Bull say," Genii's Gerard Lopez is quoted by the Sun newspaper. "I can guarantee you Kimi is not the kind of guy who is going to sign any sort of pre-contract -- not with anybody. "If we keep giving him what he wants then I don't see there is any reason for him to go anywhere," added Lopez.
Lotus, like the other customer engine teams, will also need a bigger budget for next year's more expensive V6 engines, whilst technical director James Allison will reportedly be offered a pay-rise to prevent him from leaving for a bigger team.
Mannucci also claimed Red Bull may be back in talks with Middle Eastern investors about selling its second formula one team, the former Minardi outfit Toro Rosso.
Zitat von RagingjamaicanDidn't Raikkonen sign a pre-contract with Ferrari?
yeah but Kimi denied it y" title="wink" /> but that's long ago and different times.. I don't think that Kimi would sign that early now " title="dunno" />
Zitat von an1thok the other question ... back in 2010 redbull was ready to break webbers contract for Kimi right ?
I wouldn't say necessarily say they were willing to break Webber's contract, it is more likely that they offered Kimi the ride before they offered it to Webber.
and finally Grosjean is getting new colours on his helmet! it will be easier to spot Kimi. Although it wasn't that difficult when he is was way ahead of Romain 2 times out of three. But that race in Malaysia was a bit difficult.
The secret of Lotus' speed in 2013 is an hydraulically-controlled active suspension system, Germany's specialist Auto Motor und Sport reports.
Last month, we reported that, under the skin of Mercedes' new W04 car, a system known in the German squad's garage as 'Fric' was legally mimicking otherwise outlawed electronic active suspension.
Auto Motor und Sport reports that it is Mercedes engineers who therefore believe they have uncovered the secret of how Lotus' E21 is looking after Pirelli's highly-degrading tyres so well in 2013.
"We believe that their integrated chassis (system) is working best of all," said Mercedes' Aldo Costa.
Auto Motor und Sport said not only Mercedes, but also Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, Williams and Sauber have been working on similar technology.
It links the four corners of the car hydraulically, balancing the car during braking and accelerating, and adjusting the balance as the fuel load lessens during a race.
Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn admitted: "Lotus has the simplest, but probably the best system."
The news could also explain Romain Grosjean's struggle versus Kimi Raikkonen so far in 2013.
Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt said the 'Fric' systems are notoriously difficult to tune.
Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez admits: "The suspension tuning window is very small, and we get it right more often with Kimi than with Grosjean."
This is due to the drivers' respective driving styles, with Frenchman Grosjean reportedly preferring understeer to Raikkonen's oversteer.
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Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:31 pm
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" title="ty" /> miezi, great read 
t" title="hat" />
" title="huh" /> now? I'm reading it since many years, and especially enjoying his amazing photos 
h" title="hih" /> but why don't they find another watch sponsor? 
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y" title="wink" /> 
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