Formula 1 News

Team Lotus launch Lotus T128 F1 single seater 

Team Lotus have launched their 2011 F1 car – codenamed Lotus Renault T128 – earlier this morning via the team’s online magazine Team Lotus Notes.

Here are a few selected quotes from Team Lotus staff on the new T128.

Marianne Hinson, Head of Aerodynamics: “In aero we started thinking about the new car around Spring last year, a bit before any of the other departments. The start of the process is a really fun period, when you’re looking through the new rules, thrashing out ideas and trying to find loopholes.”

Lewis Butler, Chief Designer: “The biggest design challenge was trying to package everything a bit smaller. We were trying to get that area around the driver really tight so the aerodynamicists were happy with it.”

Elliot Dason-Barber, Head of R&D and Vehicle Dynamics: “We’re definitely going to take a step forward with this car. Quite how much we’ll close the gap to the teams in front of us we’ll see, but my hope is we’ll be competing with the teams that were a second or two ahead of us last season.”

Keith Saunt, Chief Operating Officer: “You can just see that this car will be faster than last year’s. It’s got the right sweeps and curves on it – it’s the very latest iteration of what an F1 car should be.”

Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer: “I think that basically this car looks like a front-running car in every area. We said very clearly that we want to start challenging the established teams and I think that’s very achievable.”

Riad Asmat, Chief Executive Officer: “T128 takes Team Lotus in exactly the right direction. We have said since day one of the Team Lotus dream that the plan for our second year was to take the fight to the midfield, and with this car we are all confident that is what we will be able to do.”

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: “There has been so much focus off-track it’s a thrill to be able to get back to talking about racing. The launch of the T128 is a big step forward for Team Lotus and I want to thank the whole team for the amount of hard work that has already gone into the car, and I want to thank Renault and Red Bull Technology for their tremendous support in helping us make this step forward and for being such great team partners.”

Lotus Renault T128 Technical Specifications:

• Engine: Renault V8 RS27-2011
• Chassis material: Carbon Fibre
• Bodywork material: Carbon Fibre
• Front Suspension: Carbon Fibre
• Rear Suspension: Carbon Fibre
• Dampers: Penske & Multimatic
• Steering: Team Lotus
• Gearbox: Red Bull Technologies
• Clutch: AP
• Discs: Carbone Industrie or Hitco
• Calipers: AP
• Pads: Carbone Industrie or Hitco
• Cooling system (radiators, heat exchangers): Team Lotus
• Cockpit instrumentation: MES
• Seat belts: Schroth
• Steering wheel: Team Lotus
• Driver’s seat: Team Lotus
• Extinguisher system: FEV
• Wheels: BBS to Team Lotus Specification
• Fuel cell: ATL
• Battery: Yuasa
• Fuel provider: Total
• Lubricants provider: Various
• Wheel base: More than 3000 mm
• Overall Length: Approx 5 metres
• Overall Height: 950mm

Images © Team Lotus