Lotus 'learning' about the new car and should be competitive by Spain

(Francois Flamand DPPI -Renault Sport F1)

Lotus F1 Team deputy team principal Frederico Gastaldi has admitted that his outfit are still learning about the E22 following a horrendous opening race of the 2014 season in Australia last weekend which saw both Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado retire from the race with identical ERS problems.

Speaking to the official Formula One website Gastaldi said: 'The aim is to keep learning' He is hopeful that for the Malaysian Grand Prix and Bahrain that if everything goes according to plan with Renault Sport F1 the team will progress and should be in a position to challenge in the championship by the Spanish Grand Prix, the first race of the European leg of the season that takes place in May.

At this point last season, the Enstone team had one win under their belts as Kimi Raikkonen took a surprise win for the team, fast forward twelve months and Raikkonen is gone, James Allison is gone and Eric Boullier has gone. The team have brought in Pastor Maldonado from Williams and also have a new sponsor in PDVSA so it will take time for them to improve but they will see results from their reshuffle in time.

After all it is the same team that finished last years title in fourth place in the Constructors championship and as Gastaldi has said they have many of the same personnel who were with the team during their championship winning years in 2005 and 2006 and indeed during Michael Schumacher's championship years of 1994 and 95 so he believes that they are ready to fight to return the team to where they belong which is to be challenging for podium's and win's.

©Ben Johnston 2014