Lotus Renault GP is pleased to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. He has now signed a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.
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raymondu999 wrote:Why not Raikkonen for Renault? They might have a free seat.
Also, if I remember correctly, back then Toyota wanted a superstar pairing of Raikkonen-Kubica.
Renault and the Genital Capital/Group Lotus non-existent money house of cards is set to come crashing down sooner rather than later. Raikkonen was right to slap Boullier down last year and he was right to dismiss Toyota despite the money allegedly offered. He might like his vodka Kimi but you can't say he doesn't put his foot down when it comes to making a decision.
Last edited by munudeges on 18 Sep 2011, 18:31, edited 1 time in total.
donskar wrote:RBR "pissed off" because Williams get Renault engines?! You're joking, right? Do you seriously believe RBR see ANY threat fromWilliams?
No, completely true. Can't remember where I read it now but when the Williams deal was announced with the Renault people fawning over the resurrection of Williams Renault Red Bull were more than a bit put out.
I think one of the things to watch out for is the GP2/F2/FR3.5 champs and where they are going to be. Every year, it looks like there is less and less room for champions of lower formulae.
"You're so angry that you throw your gloves down, and the worst part is; you have to pick them up again." - Steve Matchett
the times when F3000 or GP1 drivers had a granted entry in f1,when was that ? I think that ended already with Formula2 a looong long time ago.winning these championships clearly is not much of an indicator if you are going to make it in F1...real talent gets spotted way earlier todays
raymondu999 wrote:Why not Kimi for renault? If kubi can't make it back that is
gee that would a great move...
Generally I don't care about what people say. I have to be clear with myself. When everything goes well, people celebrate you, when you make mistakes people criticize you.
Sebastian Vettel
Lotus group got some massive investment and will launch a bunch of new roads cars in the next few years. This is old news but I wonder if that extends to F1. They were talking about taking on Ferrari and being a genuine competitor again. Sticking it to Ferrari in F1 would be a serious PR boost to this claim. 'If we can do it on the track then we can do it on the road' etc I doubt they are on a downward spiral. They will have 4 teams running their engines next year (admittedly branded Renault not lotus) an one is clearly the best.
I worry that Lotus are heading down the TVR route with their road car expansion plans beyond their financial capability. I also doubt they could run the Renault team without Geminii backing, and I don't trust Geminii to stay for too long
MIKEY : Renault engines are a separate entity from the Renault/Lotus F1 team. Nobody will be running Lotus engines, rebranded or otherwise.
Renault engines are made by Renault and Lotus have no stake in that enterprise. I have also seen no indication that the engine plant is for sale. I've even hear rumours that Renault Sport have been considering dumping their former works squad, as supplying Williams will drive their supply over capacity.
"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine ..."
Lotus have to pull in their belts now, Proton has said so, they need to save $75m a year now in costs, and the $55m they give GenII is the prime thing they will save on as Proton management want to stay involved in GT2/GT3 as this is demonstrating their product racing. They are also keeping on sponsoring the KV Racing team in Indy as well as this is more cost effective that F1. GT2/GT3 and Indy cost Group Lotus arround $45m a year.
Lotus do have an option to buy the Renault team and the Renault Sport plant in France, but they have to commit to the Renault Sport plant by the end of this year at a cost that is the same as the F1 team, both arround €150m. As Renault have just strengthened the relationship with Red Bull, id say Renault Sport is safe.
Renault F1 Team, id recon will be renamed by the start of 2012, i doubt it will be Renault or Lotus though, as i understand that Renault F1 team at the present moment are selling off IP to Renault Sport for certain paert of the KERS design package. Im not sure if this is to pay in fill or in part of the €10m bill Renault Sport have given Renault F1 Team this year for engine supply as Red Bull have now been given this year free i belive. Renault F1 Team has been in contact with Cosworth for a engine supply for 2012 as the Cosworth price is much less, arround €5m to €7m, such is the state of the finances at Renault F1 team.
Im expecting the Renault F1 Team to loose Renault Sport engine supply, and be renamed apporperatly and take Cosworth power. This will hit the team alot as they will then loose the Historical payment as well, this would mean two things, the loss of €20m a year in revinue in addition to the loss in FOM money from change in chassis name, this id recon will be arround €65 by estimation.
I think Renault are desperate to make Williams their #2 team behind Red Bull with Team (Lotus/Caterham/Airasia) as they their #3 team.
We will see whats happening before the end of they year as there is seemingly an aggreement for all teams to have alot of details sewn up before a deadline in December sometime.
raymondu999 wrote:Why not Raikkonen for Renault? They might have a free seat.
Also, if I remember correctly, back then Toyota wanted a superstar pairing of Raikkonen-Kubica.
Renault and the Genital Capital/Group Lotus non-existent money house of cards is set to come crashing down sooner rather than later. Raikkonen was right to slap Boullier down last year and he was right to dismiss Toyota despite the money allegedly offered. He might like his vodka Kimi but you can't say he doesn't put his foot down when it comes to making a decision.
Do you have any support for this assertion, or are you just venting?
Enzo Ferrari was a great man. But he was not a good man. -- Phil Hill
marcush. wrote:the times when F3000 or GP1 drivers had a granted entry in f1,when was that ? I think that ended already with Formula2 a looong long time ago.winning these championships clearly is not much of an indicator if you are going to make it in F1...real talent gets spotted way earlier todays
Enough money will also get the attention of teams as well. A real shame that some great drivers will never race because they have rivals with a lot of sponsor backing.
"You're so angry that you throw your gloves down, and the worst part is; you have to pick them up again." - Steve Matchett
richard_leeds wrote:I worry that Lotus are heading down the TVR route with their road car expansion plans beyond their financial capability.
They will be getting more than 700 million pounds! They are trying to get away from the TVR route. They are talking quality and carbon fibre spaceframes and style (therefore no smell of glue) not noise and power.
Anyway it don't make sense to me that Renault (engine supplier) would drop Lotus (black/gold) and keep other lotus while taking on Williams. Why trade a reasonably good team while keeping a rubbish one and taking on a pretty poor performer (5 points this season!?!).
donskar wrote:Do you have any support for this assertion, or are you just venting?
Sigh............ I do wish people would try and read existing threads here, namely the large Group Lotus one, about how shaky Group Lotus is as opposed to trying to be clever. There is also ample evidence around as to how poor a state the Lotus car company is actually in. I'm not rinsing and repeating because people can't be bothered.
If they are so shaky then I do wonder how they hired:
the ex-design director from Ferrari
the guy who ran engineering and production projects at AMG
AMG's old production boss
one of Ferrari's top marketing men (also did time at Aston and Porsche)
the bloke who used to set up factories for Porsche
Claudio Berro (apparently ex-Ferrari F1 team manager)
Plus these part time advisers:
an ex-BMW chief designer
and the current head of quality control for all of VW group
They see potential. They can't all have not done their homework.
MIKEY_! wrote:
...
Anyway it don't make sense to me that Renault (engine supplier) would drop Lotus (black/gold) and keep other lotus while taking on Williams. Why trade a reasonably good team while keeping a rubbish one and taking on a pretty poor performer (5 points this season!?!).
I think the so called "Lotus Renault" team has become a liability for Renault, suppling engines to a peanut team at a price is one thing, like with Team Lotus and Williams, but having "Renault" written all over the thing is quite another.
RBR is Renault's factory team now anyway, why I wouldn't be surprised to see Lotus-Genital with Cosworth next season.
"I spent most of my money on wine and women...I wasted the rest"
