Share

Lotus to switch to Merc power in 2015

SILVERSTONE England - Mercedes wants to continue supplying engines to four Formula 1 teams in 2015 with Lotus expected to take the place of McLaren.
 
Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff, asked by Reuters about a likely Lotus deal, offered a carefully-worded reply after the qualifying sessions the day before the 2014 British F1 GP scheduled for Silverstone on Sunday (July 6 2014).
 
"I think nothing has been communicated yet," he said, smiling when the word 'yet' was repeated back at him. "We have had four teams this year and you build up a structure for four teams. "We'd rather have four teams than three."

RENAULT FOCUS NEEDED
 
McLaren is in the last year of its Mercedes agreement and will be powered by Honda in 2015 in a deal guaranteeing them exclusivity for some time to come. Mercedes also supplies Force India and Williams as well as its own championship-leading factory team.
 
Renault, whose engine has been out-performed by Mercedes this season, could also benefit from being more narrowly focused. Red Bull principal Christian Horner said earlier in the week that the French manufacturer should have concentrated its development on his team.
 
Shedding Lotus would leave just Red Bull and sister junior team Toro Rosso, along with struggling team Caterham, on Renault's books.


AMERICAN TEAM
Remi Taffin, Renault's head of trackside operations, told the autosport.com website: "If it is three teams next year it will be less of an income from customers but not at a level that will prevent us from doing the job we want to do next year or the year after.
 
"If anything, Renault would cover this and would even help more than that to help Renault Sport to get back to the top."
 
Ferrari is F1's third engine manufacturer and supplies Sauber and Marussia as well as its own team; it is also expected to power the new US-based Haas team when it debuts in 2016.

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Silverstone F1 GP weekend.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE