Hulkenberg to Lotus

[gaz1234]

MartG said:

Lol

id be quicker than schumacher!

[fatbutt]

gaz1234 said:

id be quicker than schumacher!

Ralf?

[gaz1234]

fatbutt said:

Ralf?

Rolf

[rubystone]

Has Maldonado's move to Lotus been confirmed yet?

[toppstuff]

rubystone said:

Has Maldonado's move to Lotus been confirmed yet?

I thought he was taking his money to Sauber?

[MartG]

toppstuff said:

rubystone said:

Has Maldonado's move to Lotus been confirmed yet?

I thought he was taking his money to Sauber?

If he does well in the next two races, I wonder if Kovaleinen could be a wildcard as far as the 2nd Lotus seat is concerned

[KieronGSi]

toppstuff said:

rubystone said:

Has Maldonado's move to Lotus been confirmed yet?

I thought he was taking his money to Sauber?

The way it looks to me is Maldonado will be in the lotus seat.

I really hope I'm wrong though.

[Vaud]

rubystone said:

Has Maldonado's move to Lotus been confirmed yet?

All dependent on the Lotus money being finalised - due today?

If they don't get it, Maldonado is the funding source.
If they do get it, then Hulkenberg? And Maldonado to Sauber or FI.

[Crafty_]

MartG said:

If he does well in the next two races, I wonder if Kovaleinen could be a wildcard as far as the 2nd Lotus seat is concerned

Lotus said there are 4 drivers in the picture, I reckon they are

Hulkenberg - quick
Maldonado - money
Kovalainen - nice chap, outside choice as he will probably be at caterham next year, so they need to tempt him away.
Perez/Di Resta ?

[rubystone]

Vaud said:

All dependent on the Lotus money being finalised - due today?

If they don't get it, Maldonado is the funding source.
If they do get it, then Hulkenberg? And Maldonado to Sauber or FI.

I am told that regardless of the funding, they are taking him. I assume that they will announce it next week after the Quantum deadline is passed?

[Vaud]

rubystone said:

I am told that regardless of the funding, they are taking him. I assume that they will announce it next week after the Quantum deadline is passed?

Someone (Ferrari) taken an option on Hulk then for 2015/16 in case Kimi doesn't perform?

[skeggysteve]

Very interesting article about Quantum here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1qqqjz/w...

I think Lotus might be needing Pastor's cash!

[Crafty_]

Just said on Sky that the PDVSA president/CEO etc has said Pastor is signed at Lotus in the Venezuelan press

[McClure]

They've said during FP3 that the president of Maldonado's sponsor has announced Maldo's signed for Lotus.

Other than the obvious comedy potential of a team comprising Grosjean & Maldonado, F1 is in an appalling state at the moment.

[Chrisgr31]

skeggysteve said:

Very interesting article about Quantum here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1qqqjz/w...

I think Lotus might be needing Pastor's cash!

Doesn't come as a great surprise as you can see from my posts in this thread on 4th November.

[rubystone]

rubystone said:

I am told that regardless of the funding, they are taking him. I assume that they will announce it next week after the Quantum deadline is passed?

The plan was to announce it next week but it looks like Enstone's hand has been tipped. Options are running out for Di Resta. Some rumours that Chilton might even take his cash to Williams leaving Bottas without a drive.

[m0rris]

This silly season is really getting rather silly... Possibly too silly. Quantum isn't going to happen by the looks of things, which leaves Hulk out of the Lotus seat. Can he stay at Sauber, hasn't Sirotkin just fallen through? What about Force India?

All in all, F1 seems to be in a pretty parlous state. Next season I suspect the gulf between Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren is going to be huge. None of the other teams, Torro Rosso excluded, seem to have any money to speak of. It'll certainly offer Marussia and Caterham a chance to close the gap and join the "midfield".

[rubystone]

Sauber urgently need a cash injection. They will have no choice other than to take 2 pay drivers next year unless Peter injects some more cash into the team.

[Crafty_]

Esteban & Chilton then ? I don't think anyone else brings money ? not even any of the GP2 lot ?

Maybe Perez if the telmex money shows up ?

[rubystone]

Crafty_ said:

Esteban & Chilton then ? I don't think anyone else brings money ? not even any of the GP2 lot ?

Maybe Perez if the telmex money shows up ?

The Telmex money is always there and Slim Jnr will want to see Checo placed in the best possible seat...which should still be the Sauber.

It is reasonable to assume that Hulk declined because he had been told that the Lotus seat for 2014 was taken.