Lotus team principal Gerard Lopez has warned his team “not to swagger about” heading in to the 2015 season despite expecting a big improvement on last year.

Lotus has been buoyed by a switch to the Mercedes power unit as well as an encouraging opening pre-season test which has seen Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado note the steps forward with the new E23. However, coming off the back of a season in which Lotus scored just 10 points, Lopez has told the team that it can’t get carried away with its belief that 2015 will be significantly better, insisting only hard work will ensure that is the case.

“Two years ago, we claimed one win and secured 13 podiums,” Lopez told AutoHebdo. “We were right up there with Red Bull and challenged Mercedes and Ferrari for a top-three finish in the Constructors’ championship, while edging out McLaren, Force India, and Williams. Only to suffer a massive drop the following year.

“After such a tough season, I think it’s wiser not to swagger about. Let’s keep a low profile, stay humble in the face of the hardships we experienced, and remain careful not to hit the repeat button.

“First, let’s work very hard to recover and return to our 2013 form. Only then can we talk about aiming higher. All I can say is that we did not finish where we belong in 2014. Let’s reclaim our rightful place first and revise our targets next.”

Feature: A closer look at the Lotus E23

Click here for the full gallery of the new Lotus E23

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Komatsu: F1 teams united against Audi 2026 cost-cap offset

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that nine Formula 1 teams stand in opposition…

54 mins ago

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 in trouble-free FP1

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…

2 hours ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United…

2 hours ago

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

11 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

13 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

14 hours ago