(Alastair Staley for the Lotus F1 Team)
Lotus F1 Team Chairman Gerard Lopez has revealed that the chance for his outfit to be powered by Mercedes Benz next season was 'too goo to pass up.'
It was announced ahead of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi that the Enstone outfit would make the switch from Renault power units to the Silver Arrows for the 2015 season and beyond having been with Renault power since the 1995 Formula One season.
Speaking to Autosport Lopez stated:
'Clearly Mercedes has the engine; we expect them to continue having it - they've just done a better job. And we were one of the rare independent teams that could have access to that engine.'
The Lotus F1 Team join Williams Martini Racing and the Sahara Force India Formula One team as a Mercedes customer along with 2014 Constructors champions Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Lotus have endured an extremely difficult season in 2014 and head to the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas having scored just eight points this season.
Speaking about the situation with Renault Lopez said that he feels that the switch to Mercedes power is good for the team while saying:
'I think Renault has already been focusing quite a bit on one team, or at least two teams, in terms of rolling road (dyno) testing and so on.'
The Enstone outfit will be hoping that they can do in 2015 what the Williams Martini Racing Team did following their own switch from Renault to Mercedes for the 2014 season. Williams are on target to finish the season in third place in the Constructors championship behind Mercedes and 2013 champions Infiniti Red Bull Racing.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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