The 2014 Formula 1 season was one the Lotus F1 team would rather forget. It was a season full of challenges, including problems with their Renault powered engines, tyre issues, and reliability problems. After another tough weekend that saw Romain Grosjean penalized and Pastor Maldonado’s car catch fire, the team was more than ready to pack up and head home to Enstone where it can shift the focus to next season when the E23 will run with Mercedes power.
Lotus Abu Dhabi GP Review
From the very beginning of the weekend, Lotus experienced problems. Early runs showed a great deal of promise, with Romain Grosjean climbing as high as sixth and Pastor Maldonado as high as eighth. However, as Q1 drew to a close there was a sudden jump in the pace and both drivers were pushed down the rankings and out of the session. The loss of place didn’t effect Grosjean as much as Maldonado, as Grosjean was handed an engine penalty that left him starting twentieth regardless. Both drivers seemed to attribute their qualifying challenges with the familiar problem of tyres. The tyres, especially those in the front, had a problem getting up to temperature and caused issues with the front brakes, slowing both drivers down considerably.
The race itself proved to yield no better a result. During the race, Maldonado’s car caught fire, setting the stage for the rest of the race and ending a promising run. Maldonado commented that “Unfortunately, my race had to end early. The flames showed the engine wasn’t working too well which also mean it was getting quite hot in the car!” Grosjean also was reaping the benefits of a better car and began his march up the grid, settling for thirteenth at the end of day, thirteenth earned after passing Rosberg.
When Romain spoke of the race he said, ““We did the best we could today…My race wasn’t that eventful and unfortunately it came to an early end for Pastor, so I think that we are all glad that the season is now over. I’m already looking forward to being in the simulator to test the E23. We obviously have a new Power Unit and aerodynamically next year’s car is looking like a great step forward. Now it’s time to take a break, recharge our batteries and look forward to 2015.” Team Principal Federico Gastaldi couldn’t agree more saying, “2014 won’t go down as a memorable season in terms of results for Enstone, but it will be a year we remember for really testing our resolve and strengthening our character,” he said.
At the end of the day, and at the end of the season, Lotus is heading home, weary eyes cast forward to the 2015 season. Their eighth place finish in the Constructor’s Championship, while failing to be impression, serves as a great motivator to come back from the 2014 season. With the added advantage of Mercedes power coming in 2015, Lotus looks forward to the next season with hope, determination, and an endless supply of heart carrying them to the front of the grid and beyond.
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