Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has dismissed Nico Hulkenberg's weight as a major obstacle for signing him for the 2014 season.
The Frenchman has insisted that driver talent is the main priority for Lotus, not hiring a driver who weights a few kilograms less.
The minimum weight limit for the 2014 season will rise from the current 642kg to 690kg. This is to accommodate the introduction of V6 Turbo engines. However, with the engines reportedly weighing heavier than expected, hiring a heavier driver could run the risk of the car running over the limit.
Team bosses and drivers recently spoke out about the on-going concerns, calling for the weight limit to be increased. Hulkenberg himself commented on the problem, saying: "It is not under my control but maybe in terms of regulations you have to raise the weight a bit more to make it fairer for different weight levels."
Grand Prix Drivers Association director Jenson Button, who is also on the taller and heavier side despite having just 6% body fat, also admitted that it was becoming an issue: "It is a big problem, and next year we don't know how bad it's going to be, but it's going to be very tricky."
Even team bosses have raised their concerns on the matter with Martin Whitmarsh and Christian Horner both saying that the weight limit needs to be looked at. Reports even suggested that Hulkenberg, who is 184cm tall and weighs 74kg, lost a chance to drive for McLaren because of his weight.
The German driver is highly rated in the F1 paddock and has raised his reputation further with some stand-out performances at the Italian and Korean Grand Prix's. He was one of the first names to be linked with a seat at Lotus after it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen would return to Ferrari next season.
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| (c) Sauber F1 Team |
The minimum weight limit for the 2014 season will rise from the current 642kg to 690kg. This is to accommodate the introduction of V6 Turbo engines. However, with the engines reportedly weighing heavier than expected, hiring a heavier driver could run the risk of the car running over the limit.
Team bosses and drivers recently spoke out about the on-going concerns, calling for the weight limit to be increased. Hulkenberg himself commented on the problem, saying: "It is not under my control but maybe in terms of regulations you have to raise the weight a bit more to make it fairer for different weight levels."
Grand Prix Drivers Association director Jenson Button, who is also on the taller and heavier side despite having just 6% body fat, also admitted that it was becoming an issue: "It is a big problem, and next year we don't know how bad it's going to be, but it's going to be very tricky."
Even team bosses have raised their concerns on the matter with Martin Whitmarsh and Christian Horner both saying that the weight limit needs to be looked at. Reports even suggested that Hulkenberg, who is 184cm tall and weighs 74kg, lost a chance to drive for McLaren because of his weight.
The German driver is highly rated in the F1 paddock and has raised his reputation further with some stand-out performances at the Italian and Korean Grand Prix's. He was one of the first names to be linked with a seat at Lotus after it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen would return to Ferrari next season.
Eric Boullier has insisted that Hulkenberg's weight will not impact the decision on whether they hire his services for 2014: "We’re more interested in the talent and potential of a driver rather than the difference of a few kilos.
"We have confidence in our development
team to be able to produce a car for the 2014 regulations which should
be competitive in the hands of any driver we consider for next year. For me he is not overweight. He is at the limit, but not overweight."
Meanwhile Hulkenberg has fired a warning shot at Lotus and any other teams interested in his services for next year. He wants to know his future by the end of the month, not wanting to wait and potentially miss out on a drive like he did at the end of 2010.
He told AUTOSPORT: "I want to have some certainty about my future – and not in November. It needs to be at the end of the month, for sure. There is obviously a certain cut off point. I have experienced falling over the back in 2010, and I am not going to risk doing that again."
Meanwhile Hulkenberg has fired a warning shot at Lotus and any other teams interested in his services for next year. He wants to know his future by the end of the month, not wanting to wait and potentially miss out on a drive like he did at the end of 2010.
He told AUTOSPORT: "I want to have some certainty about my future – and not in November. It needs to be at the end of the month, for sure. There is obviously a certain cut off point. I have experienced falling over the back in 2010, and I am not going to risk doing that again."
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