16 replies to this topic

[emmanuelrubi]

Can Lotus F1 be considered a top Team based on the recent results ? , and were do you expect them to be in 2014 ?

[Kingshark]

In 2013 they were. They wont be in 2014 though.

Edited by Kingshark, 28 November 2013 - 18:38.

[emmanuelrubi]

I think they will be in 5th in the constructors, since McLaren will beat them, nobody has an idea how the Renault turbo will be, they lost important people like James Allison, they are struggling on the financial front, and i personally don't think Pastor Maldonado will score as Many points as the Iceman, they could be in worst case scenario fighting with either Williams (since their 2014 looks promising) or Force India (With a very good lineup).

[Anja]

They were almost up there in 2012 (maybe not quite a top team but miles better than midfield) and definitely a proper top team in 2013. As for the future we'll see but it doesn't look good.

[Bawdy]

Results wise they have indeed been a top team this year, 2nd in WCC was up for grabs. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the case next year. It's possible ofcourse but not likely for obvious reasons, sadly.

[Shiroo]

Well I believe top team should have proper backing. They do not have it at the very moment.

I would say that they have brilliant bunch of engineers, and with inferior budget they kept the pace and had 2nd best car in the last few races.

Yet is race performance enough to be called top?  In my opinion it isn't.

 

Engineering and result wise they are / were top.

Financal wise they are not.

[Ryan94]

Was. This year they were a top team but with finance issues/no Kimi, they'll slip back into the midfield at least, or maybe fold completely before the end of the season

[jstrains]

Everytime when someone is talking about top teams, the most mention Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and RBR. But hstorically Williams is a top team for me as well. Maybe even more than RBR .

Edited by jstrains, 29 November 2013 - 03:52.

[packapoo]

Well, doesn't it all depend on THAT cheque????

[halifaxf1fan]

Lotus shouldn't be considered a top team.  They don't have a solid foundation or business plan on which to build a sustainable operation.  Lotus's inability to pay their bills and employee salaries shows that they were perhaps nothing more than an out of time failed get rich quick scheme.

 

Not a top team.

[Jovanotti]

They don't have the funds of a top team, but their tech staff is ace. What they are doing on their limited budget is truly impressive.

[William Hunt]

Let's not forget that we are talking about a team that won titles before, under their previous names Benetton and Renault but it's the same team that's still based in Estone. What changed is the owners. 

[boldhakka]

No, but if it folds or goes through a period of low finances beginning next year, it will grow to become a "once was a top team" in people's minds.

[Gorma]

Let's not forget that we are talking about a team that won titles before, under their previous names Benetton and Renault but it's the same team that's still based in Estone. What changed is the owners. 

Minus the resources and key people.

[Shiroo]

Minus the resources and key people.

 

Key people? I believe only Alan Permane and Allison was around, when they had the successes as Renault. And as Benetton, probably only Permane.

Enstone one of stronger points is that they pretty soon replace peps.

[wrcva]

Maybe they are/were a decent team but I am not sure what to make of it after this Quantum mess which raised major leadership judgement issues.     Results were OK and real as they raised their game with Kimi on board but it is a bit scary to see Lopez and EB employ the services of a conman to mask their financial mismanagement gambling with the welfare of the whole organization.   If you want to play at the top you have to think and act big (which Lopez did) but building the whole organization on such a hollow core is not sustainable.    Did they extract the maximum possible racing results with all available resources?  imo, no but as it is turning out it was a ballsy move on Lopez's part to employ Kimi knowing full well he was not going to fulfill the performance contract he willingly signed for.   As you extrapolate that kind of decision making into other areas it is hard to see it as anything more than a visionary gambler who had fun while it lasted in a easy come easy go mentality.   We'll never know what the end result would have been if Kimi played along (without getting paid) as was the grand design but it is a bit sad to see the whole thing crumble because they obviously have respectable talent willing to raise their game under the right conditions with an ace driver producing results.   The whole thing reminds me of an old movie called "Commitments"...

[Reinmuster]

Top team + **** owners = Was Top Team.