1 2015 LOTUS F1 TEAM PRESS PACK 2015 LOTUS F1 TEAM PRESS PACK 2 CONTENTS 3 Lean Mix: Matthew Carter CEO Q&A 18 Lotus F1 Team History in Numbers 4 Opportunity Knocks: Federico Gastaldi Q&A 19 The Socialites: Social Media Communications 5 Fighting Back: Romain Grosjean Q&A and CV 20 Partner Features 7 Bouncing Back: Pastor Maldonado Q&A and CV 23 Information on Official Team Partners 9 Man Friday: Jolyon Palmer Q&A and CV 26 Information on Official Technical Partners 12 Stepping Forward: Nick Chester Technical Director Q&A 29 Contact Details 14 E23 Technical Specification 15 Power Unit Specifications 17 Lotus F1 Team Statistics 2015 LOTUS F1 TEAM PRESS PACK 3 Lotus F1 Team’s CEO, Matthew Carter, looks at the challenges for the season ahead. MATTHEW MATTHEWCARTER How would you describe the 2015 benefit from 12 months of hard work; we are How big a change is it operationally What is possible from the year ahead? specification Lotus F1 Team? ready to return to our rightful place at the working with a new Power Unit partner Certainly far better race results than we saw CARTERLean and hungry to return to the kind of pinnacle of the sport. like Mercedes AMG High Performance last year! We expect to be back to regularly successes we’ve enjoyed in the past. We’ll Powertrains? points scoring and we’re fighting to get back get last year out of the way quickly; for What are the main challenges facing the It’s a significant change and one we believe to being on the podium. We’re particularly a variety of reasons we didn’t deliver a team for the season ahead? brings many benefits. There is a tremendous focused and determined to achieve this performance near where we wanted to be On track we need to drag ourselves back amount of talent at Enstone, so seeing the aim and we have put all the pieces in place and this has made us very hungry to deliver up the performance ladder relative to our struggles we faced in 2014 was very difficult to enable this to happen. We have a great in 2015. We’ve addressed the issues we opposition, who are all working very hard to take. It was clear we needed to make a driver line-up with Romain, Pastor and now faced and with the benefit of the knowledge to improve their performance too. We’re fundamental change and everything points Jolyon joining us as Third Driver so gained last year we know we are in a far confident that we’ve made the correct to this having been the correct plan of action. everything is in place for us to deliver. better position in every regard. decisions to enable us to be racing much We’re very excited at all the benefits of our closer to the front of the grid right from new partnership with Mercedes and we are What does the E23 Hybrid represent for the the start of the season and we have a good working closer and closer with them as the team? programme to ensure we can continue to relationship develops. There is tremendous The E23 Hybrid represents a new era for deliver strongly throughout the year. We potential. Lotus F1 Team, not only in the change to a continue to evolve behind the scenes at Mercedes Benz Power Unit, but also it is the Enstone to enable us to operate as efficiently After a difficult season like 2014, how do you fruition of a busy winter behind the scenes. as possible. We know we offer our sponsors maintain the DNA and appeal of the team? Improvements within our design, aero and a fantastic return for their faith in us and The DNA of Enstone runs deep and the simulation departments have all contributed we expect to be rewarding them very well team has always had the ability to bounce to the development of a car which is a huge indeed with a much improved on track back from a difficult season. We’ve seen step forward. As a team we are confident performance this season. that before and I’m confident that we will that the new car coupled with additions see it again in 2015. No-one liked the lack to the race team will enable a huge leap of results we achieved last year so rest forward and we are full of optimism going assured, everything has been done to into the new season. It is time to put the address this and perform far better over disappointment of last season behind us and the season ahead. WE’VE REACTED TO THE CHALLENGES AND ARE SET TO SURPRISE IN 2015 2015 LOTUS F1 TEAM PRESS PACK 4 Lotus F1 Team’s Deputy Team Principal, Federico Gastaldi, gives his take on the team’s prospects. FEDERICO FEDERICOGASTALDI What’s the potential for Lotus F1 Team in the new car. The drivers are integral to this from a strong motor racing background. 2015? through their feedback. We know there’s He won the GP2 Series championship last GASTALDIIt’s a very exciting time for us. We have a always a lot of focus and speculation about year in impressive fashion and we know great looking new car with a fabulous new testing at the start of the year, but there are from our two race drivers – both GP2 Series Power Unit and two race drivers who are no points for being fastest and no penalties champions themselves – that GP2 is a great very eager to get the results. 2014 shook for being slowest at any test; it’s when the proving ground. Jolyon will be our Third and up the order in Formula 1 so 2015 will be season starts and you’re at a Grand Prix Reserve driver and will spend a lot of time all about some teams trying to fight back that the lap times and the car’s reliability in our simulator. He’ll be at every Grand whilst others try to maintain their positions. is crucial. We’ll use testing to run through Prix, in every driver debrief and meeting and It’s going to be an interesting battle. We’re our programmes with the target of being as will also be driving the car for a significant definitely a team set to fight back and we’ll competitive as possible in Melbourne. number of Friday practice sessions. be battling for every point available. There are big changes in the team in terms What do you expect the excitement to be How are you expecting the team to start the of a new Power Unit supplier, but continuity when we get to Melbourne? season? in terms of the driver line-up. What’s your There’s going to be a lot to look out for. It’s I think there’s the potential that we could appraisal of this combination? a fabulous city and a great place to start surprise a lot of people. We have the pre- We have two great race drivers who know the season. Everyone will want to know how season tests first, when every team will the team well and work in a very positive improved the reigning champions will be and run different programmes so you won’t fashion together. We do have something of a how much of a fightback the rest of us have necessarily get a true reflection of where revolution on the power supply side of things been able to make. It’s always a fascinating everyone stands in the pecking order, and putting these two factors together gives time of year, the first few races, as it is an but once we get to Melbourne we should us all a good feeling heading into the start of important part of how the entire season be ready to give a glimpse of the strong the year. There’s great potential. plays out. There’s going to be a lot to look potential we offer. out for. It’s a fabulous city with a great race; The team has a new Third Driver with very well organized by our dear friend, How important is it to show well in testing? Jolyon joining the squad. What can he bring Ronald Walker, and his excellent team of Testing’s primarily for the engineering to the party? collaborators; indeed a great place to start department to learn, refine and develop Jolyon is a fabulous talent who comes the season. I THINK THERE’S THE POTENTIAL THAT WE COULD SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE 2015 LOTUS F1 TEAM PRESS PACK 5 ROMAIN ROMAINGROSJEAN After the highs of 2013, the lows of 2014 arrive at a race track or are learning a new Are you happy with the direction of a good couple of months where I’ve been tried to deliver a sucker punch to Lotus F1 car. For this year I have new race engineer, development for the E23? able to relax with my family and recharge GROSJEANTeam’s Romain Grosjean. Our Swiss-French Julien, who I know well from working with There are some elements I’m very happy my batteries as well as do lots of training – driver is made of pretty stern stuff and is him over the past years when he has been about and it’s no secret that I can’t wait even when it involves getting outside in the ready to remind people of how good he can in a different position.