Formula 1

Quesnel admits contact with Lotus' Lopez

GMM

Published: Feb 11, 2014, 5:56 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Feb.11 (GMM) Olivier Quesnel, the former Ctiroen and Peugeot rally boss, has admitted he has had contact with Lotus owner Gerard Lopez about becoming the Enstone team's new sporting boss.

The 64-year-old Frenchman told the L'Equipe sports daily that the first contact in fact dates back "four years" -- long before Eric Boullier's recent McLaren switch.

"I will not pretend that I am not interested," said Quesnel. "From what I understand, there is a shortlist that I appear to be on."

He told France's RMC Sport that the current talks with Lopez are ongoing.

"I know him well," said Quesnel. "We talked, and we did talk about the F1 team.

"Lotus is a great team. I am currently at (sports car team) Oak Racing so I am continuing my job as usual.

"Gerard knows where I am and he will call me when he has made his decision."

RMC claims Quesnel is Lopez's top choice, but the Luxembourger is still to convince the board.

Lopez told France's Infosport Plus that there are "three candidates" on the list. One of them, it is known, is ousted McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh.

"Nothing is done," said Lopez. "The only thing I cannot hide is that Olivier Quesnel is on the list.

"We know he has succeeded at the highest level. Each (of the candidates) has their strengths, but all three have few weaknesses," he added.

"We need to make a decision quickly, because we have things to prepare. It will be at the latest within a week, ten days."

He denied that former Mercedes boss Ross Brawn is the third candidate.

"We already knew his situation," said Lopez. "He is no longer interested in F1, even though it would have been interesting to have a serious discussion with Ross Brawn."

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 Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article No Renault crisis for new Lotus debut

Next article Departed Pujolar says Williams 'didn't feel right'

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

GMM



The season is still very long - Rosberg

Formula 1

Formula 1

The season is still very long - Rosberg



Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes

Formula 1

Formula 1

Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes



Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position

Formula 1

Formula 1

Chinese GP

Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position

More from

Ross Brawn



What made Ross Brawn an F1 legend

Autosport Awards

Autosport Awards

What made Ross Brawn an F1 legend



Promoted: Ross Brawn on moving the sport forwards for fans

Formula 1

Formula 1

Promoted: Ross Brawn on moving the sport forwards for fans



Brawn is wrong over potential F1 electric move, says Agag

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brawn is wrong over potential F1 electric move, says Agag

More from

Mercedes



The 'difference' between Kimi Antonelli's F1 title and Lewis Hamilton's according to Toto Wolff

Formula 1

Formula 1

Mexican GP

11 h

The 'difference' between Kimi Antonelli's F1 title and Lewis Hamilton's according to Toto Wolff



Marco Antonelli: "I saw the champion in Kimi after his Australia crash"

Formula 1

Formula 1

Mexican GP

16 h

Marco Antonelli: "I saw the champion in Kimi after his Australia crash"



Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate

Formula 1

Mexican GP

Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate

Latest news



NASCAR VP explains Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry penalties

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Martinsville II

7 h

NASCAR VP explains Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry penalties



Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicense quest continues

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

7 h

Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicense quest continues



NASCAR issues penalties to Carson Hocevar and Josh Berry for Martinsville brake-checks

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Martinsville II

9 h

NASCAR issues penalties to Carson Hocevar and Josh Berry for Martinsville brake-checks



NASCAR making progress with short track show but drivers still want more

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Martinsville II

9 h

NASCAR making progress with short track show but drivers still want more

Feature

Discover prime content



How Ryo Hirakawa performed on his surprise F1 debut in Mexico

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

How Ryo Hirakawa performed on his surprise F1 debut in Mexico



Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Stuart Codling

Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate



How Ferrari's loss became Max Verstappen's gain at F1's Mexico GP

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

How Ferrari's loss became Max Verstappen's gain at F1's Mexico GP



The seven moments that defined Kimi Antonelli's F1 title win in 2026

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The seven moments that defined Kimi Antonelli's F1 title win in 2026

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:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe