Lotus miss scrutineering in Abu Dhabi

2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Lotus has been granted a waiver by the stewards after failing to present its cars in time for pre-race scrutineering in Abu Dhabi.

The team will be able to participate in the race weekend providing their cars pass the technical inspection tomorrow.

“The stewards have received a request from Lotus F1 Team for a waiver, under Article 24.2 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, in respect of the scrutineering of cars 8 and 13,” noted the stewards.

Article 24.2 states: “Unless a waiver is granted by the stewards, competitors who do not keep to these time limits will not be allowed to take part in the event.”

The stewards have granted the dispensation, but noted the team’s cars “must undergo scrutineering before the start of first practice on Friday morning.”

It is the latest in a series of setbacks for the team in recent races. In Japan they were left without hospitality arrangements for their staff due to their ongoing financial troubles.

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    Keith Collantine
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    8 comments on “Lotus miss scrutineering in Abu Dhabi”

    1. Liam McShane (@)
      26th November 2015, 14:24

      This is worse than the state HRT where in by the end. At least they showed up on time even if they didn’t have TV’s for the drivers.

    2. Even if Lotus were healthy it would take a while to bring them up to the standards of a manufacturer team. If Renault buy them in this state it will take a year or so to build them up to ground zero and then another period of time to build them into a competitive manufacturer outfit. Would probably be cheaper in the long run if Renault had tried to buy Torro Rosso or maybe they did try.

      1. Renault has had many chances of buying STR, I bet RB wouldn’t sell it anyway out of spite. I think your suggestion makes a lot of sense although procrastination should be expected of state owned company. I want to throw a wild theory. I think RB is prepared to swap around their teams, STR for RBR, if they can get a decent PU contract for either of them.

      2. They did try and Didi was willing to sell but Renault/Prost never followed up on it, probably to expensive, Franz Tost said it earlier this year.

    3. For me the saddest part is this is a team that has won worlds championships under the name of Benetton and Renault, and still fighting for wins and podiums regularly in 2013.

      1. What’s even sadder than that is how innovative Colin Chapman was.

        1. No disrespect to Colin Chapman but I sure hope they change the team name. Using the Lotus name was such a farce.

    4. They are fighting, trying to save money anywhere and using all the good faith of the organizers. I hope regardless of what there future holds, this team pays everything they owe, the same applies to SFI. So many millionaires on the premier league and no 2 can buy 2 competent teams.

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