Breaking news
Formula 1 Italian GP
Lotus ready for Monza as Renault speculation intensifies
Lotus has finally been able to push on and begin preparing its cars for the Italian Grand Prix, after its trucks arrived at Monza on Wednesday evening.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Sep 3, 2015, 8:54 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
As the team awaits final confirmation from the Renault board about a potential takeover, its race staff have faced delays in its preparation for the Italian Grand Prix.
After bailiffs impounded the team's equipment in Belgium as part of a dispute with former test driver Charles Pic, it took until early this week for the matter to get sorted.
It meant the trucks were only able to travel from where they were held in Belgium on Tuesday night, arriving at Monza on Wednesday evening.
Work began immediately in preparing the two cars, garages and infrastructure.
Although the situation is not ideal, and it will be missing some elements that would have been in place on a more typical weekend, the team is confident it will be ready in time to begin running on Friday.
It also reckons this can be done without breaking F1's curfew limits.
Renault rubber stamp
Renault has been pushing on with trying to finalise a takeover of Lotus, as it looks to bring a works team effort back to F1.
Meetings between the car manufacturers' management and Lotus owners have been taking place this week in a bid to close the deal, and it is understood that it now rests on a final seal of approval from the Renault board.
That could come within the next 24 hours, which may then open the way for a formal announcement about its intentions to be made over the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
Renault is likely to become majority shareholders in the team, with Gerard Lopez and Alain Prost also holding stakes.
Lotus has been hamstrung by a lack of finance over recent months, as the team's current owners hold fire on investment until the Renault situation is clear.
It is hoped that a green light for the Renault deal will allow it to begin ramping up its operation again and allow it to exploit the car that helped Romain Grosjean take third place at the Belgian Grand Prix.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Analysis: When will the Italian driver renaissance come?
Next article Williams retains Bottas, Massa for 2016
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Lotus F1 Team
The Lotus 72 was "an extension of my body," Emerson Fittipaldi reveals
Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
The Lotus 72 was "an extension of my body," Emerson Fittipaldi reveals
Romain Grosjean turns 40 – here’s his career in 10 key moments
Formula 1
Formula 1
Romain Grosjean turns 40 – here’s his career in 10 key moments
Ayrton Senna's 1986 Lotus F1 car hits auction for eight-figure estimate
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season 2
Ayrton Senna's 1986 Lotus F1 car hits auction for eight-figure estimate
Latest news
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 57 min
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe