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Lotus: Teams to skip first F1 test

LONDON, England - Lotus will not be the only team to miss Formula 1's first pre-season test in Spain on January 28 2014, reports team principal Eric Boullier.

Lotus finished fourth overall in 2013 year despite financial difficulties. The team has, announced that it would skip the Jerez test because its F1 car would not be ready.

Boullier told the BBC the decision to skip the test was no cause for concern.

‘WE SAID IT WOULD BE TIGHT’

Boullier said: "Everything is fine here. Lotus will be on the grid in 2014 and for a long time. You will see, we will not be the only team not being in Jerez. I know this for a fact.

"We already said in December 2013 that it (being ready for Jerez) was 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 soon 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 a new V6 turbo engine with energy recovery systems and only three four-day tests available before the season starts in Australia in March 2014.

Reliability is always a concern with a new engine and Jerez will be the first opportunity to assess development and identify gremlins.

MORE TESTING IN BAHRAIN

The other two tests are scheduled for Bahrain, where conditions will be far hotter and more consistent but where the teams will be much further away from their factories if they need urgent spares.

Boullier said: "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."

Lotus is the only team yet to announce its engine deal for 2014, although existing partner Renault said co-operation with the team it once owned was proceeding as normal.

McLaren is due to launch its new car online before testing while Mercedes and Caterham have said theirs will be presented on the first day at Jerez.

Sauber driver Adrian Sutil told Reuters that he would be testing in Jerez: "I'm not sure who is in for the first day but I will definitely be at the test."
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