The Lotus F1 Team had to rely on equipment generously loaned by rival teams in order to take part in qualifying at Monza, it's emerged.
Lotus suffered damage to their own equipment in an early morning storm during the Italian Grand Prix. When team personnel arrived on Saturday morning, they found that water from the earlier torrential downpour had soaked into the tyre blankets.
Limited running in final practice confirmed that below-temperature tyres were seriously compromising their ability to participate, but Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Sauber stepped in and offered to loan the team new blankets to tide them over.
Lotus was already on the back foot having arrived late following legal problems which tied up equipment at the previous round at Spa-Francorchamps.
"External factors made it something of a challenge getting ready for Monza," admitted Lotus F1 Team deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi.
"It was a mark of everyone at Enstone that we took it in our stride and we were able to compete over the weekend.
"I think we need to make particular mention of everyone on the race team, especially our set-up crew who put our Racebase – the home for our engineers and technical personnel – together in record time so we could operate over the weekend.
"Thanks too for our fellow teams, all of which offered their assistance and of particular note are Ferrari, Sauber and Toro Rosso who lent us tyre blankets for Saturday after the overnight storm had damaged ours."
Unfortunately after all the scramble to get ready to take part in the race, the event itself turned sour for the team.
"It was a big stinking race for us - well, a short and frustrating one," admitted Gastaldi, after both drivers were forced to retire following incidents at the first corner of the race.
"After all everyone had done to get the cars there, then start from the top ten, we saw the infamous first corner claim both our cars. There was some choice language for a little while after that.
"Then, we gathered up all the pieces and focused on the next races. There’s no time for 'what could have been' in motor sport, you get on with the next challenge."
Gastaldi certainly seems happy with Singapore being that next challenge: "It is one of the most colourful races – even if it does take place at night! It’s always very well organised and a party most becoming to the sport!
"A fantastic place with a superb race venue, the people are very warm and welcoming; we’re always very happy to go there."
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