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According to the article Hulkenberg didn't want to be part of Lotus but didn't give a reason. I somehow can't believe it because the Lotus seat is pretty good and for a young up and coming driver like Hulk it would be perfect for him. I can't help but think it ultimately came down to money. I mean Heikki? Wow!
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"In IndyCar, no one makes money. It's just great, pure racing." - Sebastien Bourdais -
It's not that unusual when you think about it. Kovalainen drove for Renault before, and the Lotus/Caterham team which has significant links with today's Lotus. So he's not an unknown quantity to that group.
The really weird thing to me is Hulkenberg turning down the ride... that's a puzzler. -
Looks like Mika Salo finally got one right.Comment
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So, Nico has not been paid and if he goes to Renault for the last two races he will be in breach of contract.Aus vertraglicher Sicht wنre dies kein Problem gewesen, da der Emmericher immer noch auf Gehaltszahlungen wartet und sein Arbeitgeber damit vertragsbrüchig wurde. Hülkenberg-Manager Werner Heinz bestنtigte aber bereits, dass es zu keinem kurzfristigen Wechsel kommen wird und sein Schützling - zumindest vorerst - bei Sauber bleibt.Comment
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I bet Davide Valsecchi is absolutely thrilled with all of this.
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I hope this doesn't hurt Hulkenbergs long term chances at a better ride.
I say get crazy and let Rossi in the Lotus!Indianapolis 500: '95, '14
Milwaukee Indyfest: '12, '13, '14
Road America: '16, '17, '18Comment
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What's crazy is that they apparently sounded out Schumacher (Michael, not Ralf) about driving for them. If they couldn't afford to pay Kimi, how would they afford Michael?Comment
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Hmm, unlikely to have anything to do with money, as Kovalainen has (if my memory serves me correctly) said several times that he won't raise sponsorship funds to pay for a drive. He does at least have recent experience driving at F1 race weekends, if only during FP1. Interesting choice, but probably a (slightly) better known quantity than Valsecchi. Still, if I were Valsecchi I'd be wondering why it was worth being their 3rd driver.Originally posted by Hitokiri View PostComment
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And this is now also official:
Some pacifying words for Valsecchi from Lotus are included. But one has to wonder if he will ever get a shot in F1.
and apparently I'm having a conversation with myself here. I always knew I was a bit crazy... well maybe more than a bit.Comment
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As my grandmother was fond of saying, "Sometimes I like to talk to somebody who knows something."Originally posted by Deutsch View PostComment
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Well, Hekki, is the first driver to drive for both new Lotus teams! Also, as mentioned, for Renault, too, so he is a known quantity.
There's a lot of money on the line for the constructor's rankings.And don't forget the heat!Comment
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Back to my self-conversation. I thought I heard some voices that weren't mine, but I can't be sure...
Hülkenberg said that he would have taken the drive if he was going to join Lotus next year (for sure), but because that's not guaranteed, he didn't want to risk souring his relationship with Sauber, where it's not sure that he will leave.
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Lotus was offering The Hulk the seat only for 2 races and then they would talk about next year. If I was Hulk I would stay put as not harm done, seeing as how the Lotus seat will be open next year unless they take Pastor's Sponsorship package....Plus you do know that the Hulk would ride out another year at Sauber in hopes of a 2015 ride with Ferrari....FerrisComment
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Valsecchi has now said that he is considering his role with Lotus. While he understands the decision they made to select Kovalainen, he feels a bit like there was no point to his role with the team if he wasn't going to be given the opportunity to race when the seat opened up.
"Considering when it's the right time to use me I missed the chance; they used someone else and that means I was not very useful for the team this year."Comment
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The money that was supposed to come from Quantum when they took part ownership of Lotus has not arrived yet.
If it never arrives, than GenII still own the team and lack the money to run it, so in order to keep going they would probably need to bring in Pastor Maldonado's paycheck next year.
If Hulkenberg takes the seat and Lotus disappears off the grid, he'd find himself shuffled out of the F1 paddock.Comment
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