Lotus technical director Nick Chester says the team is expecting a "very challenging" start to the 2014 Formula 1 season.
The new E22 missed the first winter test and when it did eventually take to the track in Bahrain, it proved to be the least reliable of this year's machines.
Romain Grosjean and new recruit Pastor Maldonado collectively managed just 241 laps in total over the eight days of running. Both drivers failed to complete a long run (due to the car breaking down) and head to Australia without any real race preparation in the Renault-powered car.
"There is a degree of frustration coming away from winter testing," Chester said. "Clearly, we would have liked to have done more mileage and had an opportunity to run our race preparation programme as planned.
"On the positive side we can see plenty of potential in the chassis. However, as was evident in Bahrain, we have much more work to do with the power unit itself to ensure that it is working correctly with the chassis."
He added: "We are starting further back than we would like to be. I think that the first two races of this season will be very challenging for us, however it also depends on the solutions that Renault Sport F1 will be able to bring to the table too. Overall, and for all teams, we will see much more reliance on the power units than we have seen in the past.
"Despite this initial challenge, I think that over time those gaps will get smaller and the chassis differences will start to come through, and I believe that the E22 will be a very strong proposition. The start of the season will certainly be interesting for everyone."
Renault's Rémi Taffin, head of trackside operations, today said ahead of the opening race: "We don’t hide the fact it is not going to be easy, but we are on course with our recovery plan and Melbourne will be the next stage in this."
Despite the problems with the chassis and power-unit, Grosjean says the first round of the season will not be another test session. "No, the aim is to finish the race and maybe score points," the Frenchman said. "We’re not yet in the place we want to be competitively, but we will be there to compete and you never know what could happen with everyone else too.
"I don’t think any team can say that they are where they want to be heading to the start of the season. Yes, we’re not in a nice situation but it doesn’t mean that it’s game over. We’ll try to score as many points at every opportunity during the season."
Team-mate Pastor Maldonado says he is settling in well at Lotus: "Everything feels good and it’s going in the right direction. Even though there are a lot of resources and people, it feels so close knit and efficient. I like the team and I already have a good relationship with everyone I am working with. Hopefully it will get better and better during the year.
"For sure we are in a difficult moment because we didn’t run enough with the car in pre-season testing, but you can feel that the team are fully focussed on working hard to solve problems quickly. I’m looking forward to attacking and being competitive as soon as possible and right through to the end of the season."
The first few races may look tough, but the Venezuelan believes the E22 has strong potential. Both Lotus drivers are looking forward to returning to racing and enjoy the tricky Albert Park Circuit.
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| © Lotus F1 Team |
Romain Grosjean and new recruit Pastor Maldonado collectively managed just 241 laps in total over the eight days of running. Both drivers failed to complete a long run (due to the car breaking down) and head to Australia without any real race preparation in the Renault-powered car.
"There is a degree of frustration coming away from winter testing," Chester said. "Clearly, we would have liked to have done more mileage and had an opportunity to run our race preparation programme as planned.
"On the positive side we can see plenty of potential in the chassis. However, as was evident in Bahrain, we have much more work to do with the power unit itself to ensure that it is working correctly with the chassis."
He added: "We are starting further back than we would like to be. I think that the first two races of this season will be very challenging for us, however it also depends on the solutions that Renault Sport F1 will be able to bring to the table too. Overall, and for all teams, we will see much more reliance on the power units than we have seen in the past.
"Despite this initial challenge, I think that over time those gaps will get smaller and the chassis differences will start to come through, and I believe that the E22 will be a very strong proposition. The start of the season will certainly be interesting for everyone."
Renault's Rémi Taffin, head of trackside operations, today said ahead of the opening race: "We don’t hide the fact it is not going to be easy, but we are on course with our recovery plan and Melbourne will be the next stage in this."
Despite the problems with the chassis and power-unit, Grosjean says the first round of the season will not be another test session. "No, the aim is to finish the race and maybe score points," the Frenchman said. "We’re not yet in the place we want to be competitively, but we will be there to compete and you never know what could happen with everyone else too.
"I don’t think any team can say that they are where they want to be heading to the start of the season. Yes, we’re not in a nice situation but it doesn’t mean that it’s game over. We’ll try to score as many points at every opportunity during the season."
Team-mate Pastor Maldonado says he is settling in well at Lotus: "Everything feels good and it’s going in the right direction. Even though there are a lot of resources and people, it feels so close knit and efficient. I like the team and I already have a good relationship with everyone I am working with. Hopefully it will get better and better during the year.
"For sure we are in a difficult moment because we didn’t run enough with the car in pre-season testing, but you can feel that the team are fully focussed on working hard to solve problems quickly. I’m looking forward to attacking and being competitive as soon as possible and right through to the end of the season."
The first few races may look tough, but the Venezuelan believes the E22 has strong potential. Both Lotus drivers are looking forward to returning to racing and enjoy the tricky Albert Park Circuit.
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