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<b>FIRST F1 CAR REVEAL OF 2013:</b> Team Lotus hopes to take on top-tier teams in the 2013 F1 season with its just-launched E21 cars.
LONDON, England - Lotus technical boss James Allison thinks many teams will continue to use step noses in 2013.
Lotus' E21, the first 2013 car to be unveiled, still features the indecorous step synonymous with the 2012 grid, despite the FIA now allowing teams to please the fans by installing a so-called "modesty" laminate.
It is believed that Williams and Ferrari will indeed race cars with smooth noses in 2013.
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Allison thinks the majority of the field will continue to feature questionable aesthetics: "I would not be surprised if the majority of the grid chose not to make use of it (the modesty panel).
"The panel will add a few grams of weight and so is only likely to run on the car if a team can find a performance benefit for doing so."
The new Lotus E21 was revealed during a Youtube launch on January 29 2013, does however feature the Twitter hashtag #imsexyandiknowit on its livery.
Allison admitted the car is a combination of redesigned parts and evolution.
Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will race, while the new GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi has signed up as "third driver".
Valsecchi (26) said: "I hope this is the beginning of a career in F1."
Jerome d'Ambrosio retains his role as a "reserve driver", while Nicolas Prost, the son of the famous four-time world champion Alain, "will perform development driver duties", Lotus announced.
Lotus' E21, the first 2013 car to be unveiled, still features the indecorous step synonymous with the 2012 grid, despite the FIA now allowing teams to please the fans by installing a so-called "modesty" laminate.
It is believed that Williams and Ferrari will indeed race cars with smooth noses in 2013.
PROST NAME JOIN LOTUS
Allison thinks the majority of the field will continue to feature questionable aesthetics: "I would not be surprised if the majority of the grid chose not to make use of it (the modesty panel).
"The panel will add a few grams of weight and so is only likely to run on the car if a team can find a performance benefit for doing so."
The new Lotus E21 was revealed during a Youtube launch on January 29 2013, does however feature the Twitter hashtag #imsexyandiknowit on its livery.
Allison admitted the car is a combination of redesigned parts and evolution.
Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will race, while the new GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi has signed up as "third driver".
Valsecchi (26) said: "I hope this is the beginning of a career in F1."
Jerome d'Ambrosio retains his role as a "reserve driver", while Nicolas Prost, the son of the famous four-time world champion Alain, "will perform development driver duties", Lotus announced.
