Team Lotus decided to make an online launch of its car before hitting the testing track of Valencia like the rest of F1 teams, in a move aimed to steal a march on rivals Lotus Renault Grand Prix. Futuristic Studio photoshoots demonstrate the classical yellow-green Lotus livery in comparison to the tobacco-oriented black-gold livery of Lotus Renault GP. Moreover the team uses the same "Lotus" logo just like their rivals, as the trial about the name and logo dispute hasn't terminated yet.
The T128 features a Renault engine combined with an Red Bull gearbox and has a dramatically different aerodynamic design in comparison with T127. However, the team has decided not to use KERS due to the difficulties of getting the system to work effectively. Lotus is aiming for points this year after failing to score in its debut season and has even targeted a 7th place finish in the constructors' championship.
Technical director Mike Gascoyne commented:
"This year's car is a much more contemporary design. The car really will be a midfield runner. It's a modern F1 car I'm very confident it is a big step up and it's the start of a process that takes Team Lotus back to the front of the grid. There's been almost no carry-over of parts for the 2011 car, whereas normally you'd have ... the chance to optimise last year's parts. It looks substantially different from last year's car. It has a much more current feel about it. And it's the basis of our cars for the future.
Team Lotus has kept the same experienced and talented driving lineup of Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli. Moreover Indian Karun Chandock has been named a new reserve driver of the team after the departure of Fairuz Fauzy.
"Sitting on the grid in Bahrain this year will feel very different … a different tension. Last year we were just aiming to finish the race. This year we'll be aiming to finish in the points. But with the package we have, that should be achievable."
