Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsLotus F1

Lotus already looking to 2016

Lotus is already looking at how it can make a further step up the grid in 2016, according to deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi.

Having been competitive in both 2012 and 2013 - winning a race in each season - Lotus struggled under the new power unit regulations last year, scoring just 10 points in total. This season has seen a clear step forward following a switch to Mercedes power, while both drivers have praised the consistency of the E23 chassis.

With the progress still not enough to put Lotus back in podium contention, Gastaldi says the team is already allocating resources to next season in order to continue its momentum.

"It’s amazing, but already almost a third of the way through the season and we’ll be at the half-way mark in two months’ time," Gastaldi said. "Naturally, we’re already looking at next season, whether it be technically, commercially or in other ways too.

"We’ve made a huge step back towards the front of the grid this season after our troubles in 2014, and we hope to make a further step forward in 2016 too."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.