Lotus will not be the only team to miss Formula One’s first preseason test in Spain this month, principal Eric Boullier said yesterday.
Lotus, who finished fourth overall last year despite financial difficulties, announced that they would skip the testing, which begins on January 28 in Jerez, because their car would not be ready.
Boullier told the BBC that the decision not to attend was no cause for concern. “Everything is fine here. Lotus will be on the grid this year and for a long time,” he said. “You will see, we will not be the only team not being in Jerez. I know this for a fact already.
“We already said a month ago that it [getting the car finished for Jerez] is going to be tight. Actually most of the teams agreed it was going to be tight. Then it was a decision we took.
“It is true the car will not be ready on time, but we will be ready shortly after that – and in some ways, it is not bad, because we will have time to watch what the others are doing and nobody will be able to watch what we are doing.”
The first 2014 test is seen as particularly important, with teams working with new, smaller V6 turbo engines with energy-recovery systems, and only three four-day test sessions available before the season starts in Australia in March. Reliability is always a concern with a new engine and Jerez will be the first opportunity to assess development.
The other two tests are scheduled for Bahrain, where conditions will be far hotter and more consistent, but the teams will be much farther from their factories if they need urgent spares.
“We took the decision bearing in mind we would miss a third of the testing, so we have to focus on doing things a little bit differently to make sure we do not lose too much,” Boullier said.
Lotus are the only team yet to announce formally their engine deal for 2014, although existing partner Renault said cooperation with them was proceeding as normal.
McLaren are due to launch their new car online on the Friday before testing, while Mercedes and Caterham have said theirs will be presented on the first day at Jerez.
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