Team Biography

The ruling also confirmed Fernandes as the owner of the Team Lotus name, having bought the rights to the name from Hunt. However, the court ruling stated that Group Lotus had sole right to use the name "Lotus" on its own, and could enter Formula One using "Lotus" for a team name, the black and gold livery, and the Lotus roundel.

Consequently, in 2012 the Enstone team - formerly Toleman, Benetton, Renault and Lotus Renault GP - will race as Lotus F1 Team, while Fernandes outfit will compete as Caterham F1 Team.

In late November 2011, Lotus F1 Team announced that it had been informed by Robert Kubica that he was unable to commit to driving for it in 2012.

Days later, the team announced that it had secured the services of 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn returning to F1 after an absence of two seasons. A couple of weeks later, despite Vitaly Petrov having a valid contract, Romain Grosjean was confirmed as Raikkonen's teammate.

Ironically, on 11 January 2012, now out of contract with Renault and therefore a free agent, Kubica slipped on ice whilst walking near his home in Italy and broke his right leg in exactly the same spot it had been broken eleven months earlier.

After 300 Grands Prix, 2012 sees Renault with a new name, a new driver line-up and new ambitions. While one applauds the team for its (failed) experiment in 2011, one has to wonder if it isn't taking another risk already, in terms of Raikkonen, while there are those who also doubt Eric Boullier's abilities as a team boss.

In much the same way a purists will never see Lotus F1 - or any of the other Lotus derivatives - as anything to do with Colin Chapman's legendary marque, others will feel that Lotus F1 is diluting the F1 legend that is Renault also. Time will tell.

Statistics - at the end of the 2011 Season

Drivers' Titles: 2
Constructors' Titles: 2
Seasons in F1: 19
Grand Prix: 300
Wins: 35
Poles: 51
Fastest Laps: 31

Best result in 2011: 3rd (2 Times)
Best qualifying 2011: 6th (2 Times)
Worst qualifying 2011: 24th (Heidfeld - Spain)

2011: Heidfeld out-qualified Petrov 3 Times
2011: Petrov out-qualified Heidfeld 8 Times
2011: Petrov out-qualified Senna 4 Times
2011: Senna out-qualified Petrov 4 Times

2011: Completed 2025 out of 2266 laps (89.4%)
2011: Finished 32 times from 38 starts (84.2%)

Technical Specifications

Lotus E20

Chassis: Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member.

Front suspension: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.

Rear suspension: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse-mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing. Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.

Transmission: Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear. "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts.

Fuel system: Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL.

Cooling system: Separate oil and water radiators located in the car's sidepods and cooled using airflow from the car's forward motion.

Electrical: MES-Microsoft Standard Electronic Control Unit.

Braking system: Carbon discs and pads. Calipers by AP Racing. Master cylinders by AP racing and Brembo.

Cockpit: Removable driver's seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point or eight-point harness seat belt by OMP Racing. Steering wheel integrates gear change, clutch paddles, and rear wing adjuster.

KERS: Motor generator unit driving into front of engine with batteries as an energy store. Motor Generator supplied by Renault Sport F1. Electronic control unit by Magneti-Marelli.

Dimensions

Front track 1450 mm
Rear track 1400 mm
Overall length 5038 mm
Overall height 950 mm
Overall width 1800 mm
Overall weight 640 kg, with driver, cameras and ballast

RS27-2012