(Alastair Staley for the Lotus F1 Team)
Lotus F1 Team Chairman and Team Principal Gerard Lopez has
confirmed that he approached Fernando Alonso about the possibility of the
Spaniard driving for the Enstone based outfit in 2015.
Lopez made contact with the double world champion when it
became clear that he was leaving Ferrari. However Lopez admitted that it soon
became clear to him that Alonso was set on a return to McLaren Honda for 2015.
The Lotus F1 Team will have a new power unit supplier in
2015 with Mercedes replacing the Enstone outfit’s long term engine partner
Renault, following a difficult 2014 Formula One season which saw the team
finish in 8th place in the championship having scored just ten
points all season. When discussions with Alonso failed to materialise, Lopez
decided to re-sign Romain Grosjean for a fourth season with the team.
Lopez went on to congratulate Alonso on his new contract
with McLaren and wished the Spaniard every success as he embarks on the new
challenge with the Woking based outfit and their new power unit partner Honda,
who return to Formula One for the first time since 2008.
Alonso won both of his Formula One world champions with the Enstone outfit when it was the Renault 'works' Formula One team in 2005 and 2006 before moving to McLaren-Mercedes in 2007.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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