Lotus Renault GP R31 Launch

This is not the final body/aero spec that will be used for testing/1st race, Boullier said they wanted to keep some bits a secret still, I'm sure the front wing is just there for show too.
 
The red Total logos ruin everything lookswise. It should have been all black and gold, or rather black and copper.

Yup, well and its just not a nice design full stop. Would have preferred it with thinner gold lines that match the flow of the chassis better and cleaned up all those tiny logos. What were they thinking with the website stuck on the engine cover?

You think the other drivers are bringing in some sponsorship money? Maybe thats why they have them.

Almost certainly:
Fauzy = Malaysian, Proton interest.
Grosjean = French, Renault interest (plus being affiliated with Gravity).
Senna = Obvious connections with JPS Lotus Renault images, Group Lotus interest.
Ho-ping Tung and Charouz = Gravity management drivers.

They've already suggested Petrov would be replaced with Senna if the need arises...
 
I agree with all the comments about the red 'TOTAL' bits. When every other sponsor accepted to have thier logos either in black or gold to complement the livery why did total have to go and ruin the look!

Robin.
 
How many reserve drivers does Renault need? Jan Charouz, Bruno Senna, Romain Grosjean, Ho-pin Tung, Fairuz Fauzy...who else?
They're all a part of Gravity's driver development programme. They're a part of the team so that they can drive older-model Formula 1 cars.

They've already suggested Petrov would be replaced with Senna if the need arises...
No, they've said that Senna is the first in line to take over from any driver who cannot race. That's vastly different to saying "Senna will replace Petrov if Petrov cannot keep up". It's true that Senna would replace Petrov if Petrov is dropped, but your implication is that Senna is only in the team to replace Petrov.
 
Senna and Fauzy have never been Gravity drivers, so no, thats not why. Quite clearly, these two have been hired for their marketing value and very little else (though Boullier suggests otherwise). I doubt very much they intend to run Fauzy in any particular capacity beyond demo runs in Malaysia or whatever. If they do, I'd blame Proton/Group Lotus for that.
Grosjean is probably the only hiring based on ability, possibly Senna but the obvious Lotus connections make it difficult to tell.

Boullier's comments about Senna are a pretty clear message to Petrov, considering he has made similar comments on Petrov's standing in the team previously.
Why else would he make a point of telling everyone which driver is ready? Why not just say nothing or something more diplomatic like "Senna will be a great addition, with his recent experience".
Put it this way, he obviously isn't suggesting Senna replaces Kubica other than in injury.

To be honest, I think Boullier and Renault are out of line saying all this stuff about Petrov or creating pressure on him in the media. Its almost like they want him to fail. Sure, you make a few noises and keep your drivers on their toes, but Petrov sure seems to get a kicking in the press.
 
Put it this way, he obviously isn't suggesting Senna replaces Kubica other than in injury.
Well, I've been seeing a lot of people who are really playing up Senna's role in the team. A lot of people assume that it's not so much a case of if Senna will repalce Petrov, but when. On the other hand, I think some of Boullier's other comments have been quite positive:
"I think Vitaly in his first year was expecting it to be more easy, but it is up to him to go [to Kubica]. That is one of the many subjects that we have discussed with him, that if he wants to deliver he has to find it by himself. Not expecting people to give him for free - and it is the same for the relationship he has with Robert."
So evidently they've been talking with him, about many things, and even if Petrov underestimated how difficult the season would be, he's obviously instilled enough confidence in the team for them to take him on for another year. And Robert Kubica obviously thinks that life won't be so rough for the Russian:
"I think Vitaly will have less problems this year than he did last year, and it was normal for a rookie driver that joining the team won't be easy. It's definitely an easier task than it was for him last year.

"I'm happy to have Vitaly as a team-mate and that's it."
A lot of people just rail against Petrov because they saw him as unworthy of his racing seat. They seem to forget that at the beginning of 2010, Renault were looking for a low-key season. They had a three-year plan to get back into a position where they could win races, but they started getting feedback on the R30 and realised they'd out-done themselves so much that they could bump their development window forward by an entire year.
 
Well, its hard to really see anything other than pressure on Petrov right now, Boullier has made it clear in the past that he isn't going to get unlimited chances and he does have to show signs of improvement.
Having said that, I don't really get them giving him a two year contract unless its got some major performance clauses for 2012. That or the money is too good.

I really doubt Renault were happy to see Petrov bin it every few races just because they didn't expect the car to be good. "It's fine, its better than we thought!". :lol:

I'd say Senna has about an even chance as Hulkenburg of being promoted.
 
Uh, where were you in 2009, when Grosjean spent most of his time spinning around? Petrov might crash, but at least he crashes because he's pushing too hard and trying to find the limit.

Remember that Roman came along mid season, with no testing of that car. The R29 being perhaps the worst car of 2009. The R30 was said to be one of the easiest cars on the 2010 grid to drive. That Petrov could lose control of it so often is unimpressive.


Please tell me Senna is the most likely of them to get a race seat. Now I hope that Petrov has a poor season and gets sacked. :D
 
I hope Ferrari have a terrible season Peter.:p

As for the car, I love the livery. I think it's actually better then last years one, and I loved that one.(look at my avatar) I really hope they get the head start on the rest of the field as well. Hopefully Petrov is a little less crash-prone. I'm thinking a good year for Renault.
 
Wishing a poor season on a driver - particularly when that driver does have a history of crashing - is one step short of this.
Having said that, I don't really get them giving him a two year contract unless its got some major performance clauses for 2012. That or the money is too good.
According to his manager, he has no financial obligation to the team. He brings sponsors, but he doesn't have to. And she said it in front of Eric Boullier at the press conference where Petrov's two-year deal was announced. He made no move to correct her.
 
I think you've misunderstood that, 'ludes. Renault may not be demanding money...but they sure do need it, they aren't going to drop Petrov so easily with all that money behind him. However, there is a limit, or at least Boullier keeps suggesting there is.
I never said the cash flow was the problem, that in fact is helping him keep his seat. Its the skill behind the wheel that is the problem, keep lagging severaly behind Kubica and spinning off when in good positions and that money becomes less and less useful.
 
Well, they've made moves to get him to dig deeper. He moved from Valencia to somewhere outside Enstone, and they're trying to get him to improve his English. If you watch some recent videos of him and compare them to ones from earlier in the season - Martin Brundle's Melbourne gridwalk springs to mind - he's really improved on that one. Plus, he knows what is expected, and he's had a few good races (Turkey, Hungary and Abu Dhabi) to reflect on and try to recapture the mood. If he could tap into what he showed in Budapest, he'd be strong enough to lead the team if and when Kubica leaves. And if it's a race of attrition, he could well snare a podium or two.

Renault obviously feel there is potential in him. But I'm completely underwhelemed by their reserve team. Senna was fairly useless last year, and Grosjean was in the habit of spinning around in 2009. Fauzy was eight seconds slower than the leaders during free practice in Abu Dhabi when he was driving a car that was only three seconds off the pace. Ho-Pin Tung was replaced mid-season in GP2 by Grosjean, and I don't even know what Charouz does ...
 
Well if you want to convince yourself its all roses and wine at Renault, fine, but Petrov is under pressure to perform this year. And we all know how much contracts are worth these days.

Senna is no less a driver than Maldanado or even Grosjean. I don't know what your problem with Grosjean is, but its pretty clear his brief stint in 2009 isn't very representative, look at what he's done since!
Fauzy, Tung and Charouz I agree aren't really much, but even they are not the worst drivers ever. Fauzy had some decent races in A1GP and GP2 Asia, Tung also had some moments in A1 and in Superleague. Charouz has done more in GT than he has in open-wheel. These three aren't really F1 champion material, but are ok.

I don't really mind any of these drivers being reserves so much, its more that there is 5 of them.

I'd be happy to stick my neck out and say that Grosjean and Senna are better drivers than Petrov.
 
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As a Petrov fan, I believe in him, he did 3 seasons of GP2 (not including asia series), and finished 13th, then 7th, then 2nd overall, I am sure he will have much better results this year but hey in GP2 everyone has the same base car, so it's a little different, but hell, he came 13th overall in f1 last year.
I honestly believe though that if his first half of 2011 is like 2010, he will be replaced, if that were to be the case, then I would prefer to see Senna take his place rather than Grosjean.

Of the 5 rookies that took seat last year, Petrov is the only one left with a seat for 2011, I'm so glad he chose to go to Renault rather than Campos (why wouldn't you go to renault!), who of course became HRT.
 
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Careful, it's massive:

dmk1101fe93.jpg
 
Just read this, seriously where do you guys think the exhausts are?

motorsport.com
Renault stuns F1 with 'invisible' exhausts

According to widespread speculation at Valencia, Renault's claim that its 2011 car is "aggressive" and innovative is not just standard pre-season rhetoric.

Many insiders were left impressed and scratching their heads after the new black and gold R31 was unveiled in the Ricardo Tormo circuit pitlane on Monday.

Even the closer inspection of close-up photographs did not solve a mystery about the whereabouts of the car's engine exhaust exits -- amid rumours the outlets could even be near the front of the car for aerodynamic purposes.

Team owner Gerard Lopez told reporters the 2011 car is "quite revolutionary in a number of areas", and technical boss James Allison is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport as saying the R31 is a "very bold design".

France's Auto Hebdo quoted Allison as saying: "It is right to say this car is ambitious and differs in its entire concept not only from last year but from all the cars previously made by this team."

Auto Motor und Sport also said the purpose of two channels alongside the airbox and engine cover is "not yet apparent", adding that an element of the rear wing is "also unusual".

Also exciting the technically-minded observers is the Red Bull-like pull-rod rear suspension, but Polish driver Robert Kubica told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he is not setting his heart on race wins.

"I don't want to say too much because the last time we spoke about winning races, I was with BMW and half the season was a disaster," he said.

Robin.
 
Just read this, seriously where do you guys think the exhausts are?



Robin.

We already know, just ahead of the sidepods/barge boards.
 
OK cool, I haven't seen that picture 👍. Obviously the journalists are not as well informed!
 
Autosport and here are my reference points. That way you get everything pretty much the moment it's out.
 
Front facing exhausts? That's a new one on me. About as predictable as someone using rear wheel steering :lol:
 
Surely on the straights the speed of the car and the air resistance will cause the exhaust fumes to backfire into the engine and destroy it?!
 
I think the exhausts at the front kind of facing forward/sideward isnt a bad idea at all although pretty unusual... It will leave alot of space around the rear end for KERS system and help make the whole rear design sleeker.. thus hopefully more aerodynamic.
 
8523.jpg


A smaller side-along shot to the one above. It's not compressed, so you can see the detail.

Now that we know the exhausts come out the front, there's also some interest emerging about a bulge at the rear end, around where the exhaust would normally go.
 
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