266 replies to this topic

[Gilles4Ever]

BBC5liveF1 @BBC5LiveF1

.@Pastormaldo will join @RGrosjean at @Lotus_F1Team for 2014

 

http://adamcooperf1....maldonado-deal/

[Rickyf1]

Feel sorry for Hulk

[Richard T]

Oh really?

[Richard T]

Hey? Didn't that Mansoor guy announce Hulkenberg months ago? 

 

[DampMongoose]

A couple of years back, this would be seen as some sort of demolition derby dream team... if only Romain hadn't gotten all sensible lately.

[Gilles4Ever]

As previously reported here Maldonado and his Venezuelan backers opted for Lotus over Sauber in Brazil on Sunday, after a frantic final day of discussions with both teams.

 

However, it has taken most of this week to finalise what is obviously a complex deal. It’s believed that the sponsors wanted to ensure that their funding goes into the operating budget of the Enstone team, rather than straight towards paying off loans or debts, and also there was the matter of ensuring that Grosjean’s backer Total and PDVSA could work together.

 

http://adamcooperf1....maldonado-deal/

[Zoetrope]

Good. Hope they can bring him a decent car so he can fight with top runners, might be interesting.

[swerved]

Those quotes from Boullier on Adam Coopers blog, it almost seems like announcing Maldonado was an afterthought

 

No welcome for him from Grosjean either, not really surprised about that though.

[billm99uk]

The wallet has landed!

[Gilles4Ever]

Romain Grosjean @RGrosjean

Really proud and happy to stay with @Lotus_F1Team for next year and looking fwd to it! Very challenging year ahead and welcome @Pastormaldo

[Francesc]

Hopefully we get to see some battles between Pastor and Hamilton like in 2012 taking each other out.

[OvDrone]

I can already envision Pastor saying this, to Grosjean:

 

[DampMongoose]

That gulping sound just then was Pastor's cash being swallowed!

[OccasionalCommenter]

Feel sorry for Hulk

Why? I'm pretty confident that it was his decision to not join Lotus, because it's possible that the team will implode within near future.

[Gilles4Ever]

Adam Cooper @adamcooperf1

So Lotus now has the 2010 and 2011 GP2 Champions. Remains to be see whether 2012 champ @davidevalsecchi remains as third driver...

[dau]

Meanwhile, at Lotus' carbon fibre provider:

 

 

(Yes, i know that joke is old.)

[pacificquay]

I suspect we will see the team slide down the grid a bit next season

[kosmos]

Pastor better mature quickly this winter because he had a very bad attitude ths year.

[Anja]

Why? I'm pretty confident that it was his decision to not join Lotus, because it's possible that the team will implode within near future.

 

Maybe, but at the same time Lotus was forced to sign a paydriver.

[RayInTorontoCanada]

If this happens then that isn't all bad - for more than a couple of reasons:

 

1. It means Lotus can survive - probably for another 2 years (?) - instead of going down the debt toilet;

 

2. It means that Hulk can have a choice of 2 other teams, instead of only 1 team.

 

[If Maldonado didn't sign with Lotus, then he would have taken a seat at either Sauber or Force India. This way, Maldonado leaves a spot open for Hulk at either Sauber or Force India. Lotus not getting Maldonado didn't guarantee Hulk a spot there because Enstone would have only taken someone else with a budget before considering a driver they'd have to pay.]

 

3. It also means that we keep Grosjean in F1 and we get to see Grosjean V Maldonado...AND it also means that we might get to see Hulk V Perez;

 

The last thing we needed was Lotus out of business, and along with them, a driver of either Hulkenberg or Grosjean out also.

[emmanuelrubi]

So this means PDVSA will pay for Lotus debts ?

[Gilles4Ever]

So this means PDVSA will pay for Lotus debts ?

 

 

As previously reported here Maldonado and his Venezuelan backers opted for Lotus over Sauber in Brazil on Sunday, after a frantic final day of discussions with both teams.

 

However, it has taken most of this week to finalise what is obviously a complex deal. It’s believed that the sponsors wanted to ensure that their funding goes into the operating budget of the Enstone team, rather than straight towards paying off loans or debts, and also there was the matter of ensuring that Grosjean’s backer Total and PDVSA could work together.

 

http://adamcooperf1....maldonado-deal/

No

[Atreiu]

Good luck.

[Ferras]

lotus f1 team and it's sense of humor

https://www.facebook...&type=1

[PoleMan]

Whither Quantum? Back to pizzas?

[senna da silva]

I hope Pastor doesn't have any bouts of the red mist at the front of the field next year. 

 

Not sure its the strongest pairing but both Pastor and Romain have got genuine speed. 

[emmanuelrubi]

So this means Pastor will be fighting for wins in 2014 ?

[DampMongoose]

lotus f1 team and it's sense of humor

https://www.facebook...&type=1

 

The fans aren't laughing quite so much are they...

[AvranaKern]

A driver, who has been consistently making rookie errors even after so many races and a win, who has just accused his own team deliberately sabotaging his car, who has the attention span of a knat when racing wheel to wheel with drivers, are capable of f finding a top seat, replacing a world champion and a great racing driver. I just don't understand the mechanics of this sham.

[DampMongoose]

So this means Pastor will be fighting for wings in 2014 ?

 

fixed it!

[Santosdf]

Feel sorry for Hulk

with the new engine and regulations FI may be a better car than Lotus next year and Lotus development doesn't look too promising given their finantial situation, so no need to feel sorry for Hulk IMO

[billm99uk]

People are forgetting Pastor is pretty fast, as well as rich, annoying and accident prone! Anyone who can win a race in a Williams in the last few years has something.

[Fastcake]

A driver, who has been consistently making rookie errors even after so many races and a win, who has just accused his own team deliberately sabotaging his car, who has the attention span of a knat when racing wheel to wheel with drivers, are capable of f finding a top seat, replacing a world champion and a great racing driver. I just don't understand the mechanics of this sham.

 

This helpful graphic should aid you:

 

[billm99uk]

Feel sorry for Hulk

 

No point in picking Hulkenberg if the team goes broke before the first race, is there?

[Jerem]

[Gilles4Ever]

Nice gesture after all that's gone down

 

Pastor Maldonado @Pastormaldo

I would like to thanks @WilliamsF1Team for all the experiences in the last 3 years, I'll wish a great future for you...

[swerved]

The fans aren't laughing quite so much are they...

 

Ouch  "I hear the HR department is sweating on how many employees come back from lunch these days"  

[thegamer23]

Maldonado showed some great speed with a competitive car in 2012,
It will be an interesting pair. 

Edited by thegamer23, 29 November 2013 - 16:44.

[Nobody]

Radio chat should be fun

[Nemo1965]

Meanwhile, at Lotus' carbon fibre provider:

 

 

(Yes, i know that joke is old.)

 

I never saw it and I really like it. Almost the best one since one annoying poster on these here threads stated he did not have children, and one poster reacted with: 'And there was much rejoicing.'

[st99]

I think Lotus popularity has just gone out of the window. It's a shame that even the team that finished 4th in the WCC has to go for money over talent

At least they keep Grosjean, I'm looking forward to see him as team leader

[Lights]

Go back a year and both drivers were ridiculed to the max. I wonder how much they've really matured in their driving when it comes to it.

 

On paper both drivers were still beaten by their teammates this year and if Lotus remain to be at the top I somehow feel this is an undeserved line up.

[aray]

lotus f1 team and it's sense of humor

https://www.facebook...&type=1

there is a good chance of such scenario exploding on their face in 2014..

[sergeym]

I think Lotus popularity has just gone out of the window. It's a shame that even the team that finished 4th in the WCC has to go for money over talent

At least they keep Grosjean, I'm looking forward to see him as team leader

 

We will see. I think last year a lot of people throught Grosjean is on the same level, if not worse than Maldonado. Yet now he is regarded as one of the top drivers.

[TheWilliamzer]

You never know with the new rules, maybe Lotus will produce a FW35esque dud that gets lapped every race..

 

Looking forward to see how they gonna push each other, The Cook and The Reverend.

[metz]

You never know with the new rules, maybe Lotus will produce a FW35esque dud that gets lapped every race..

 

Let them bring back that highly successful forward facing exhaust...

[emmanuelrubi]

2014

 

1,2 Mercedes or Ferrari

3,4 McLaren or Red Bull

 

5,6,7 Lotus or FI or Williams

 

8,9 Toro Rosso or Sauber

 

10,11,12 Marussia, Catherham, Los Pollos Hermanos Racing (New Entry)

[quidam]

Don't dream too much for 2014, you will have the same order.

[st99]

We will see. I think last year a lot of people throught Grosjean is on the same level, if not worse than Maldonado. Yet now he is regarded as one of the top drivers.

 

I never thought he was on the same level as Maldonado and it's worth remembering that last year he was more or less a rookie (he only had 4-5 races with Renault). Maldonado has been in F1 3 full seasons and he keeps making the same mistakes he did in his first year (and I'm not only talking about the on track actitude).

Edited by st99, 29 November 2013 - 17:01.

[jrg19]

Some PDVSA/Total livery photoshops anyone?