In many ways, the ongoing saga at Lotus is similar to a previous saga at Lotus, the one when the struggling Enstone outfit was expecting Mansoor Ijaz, in the form of Quantum Motorsport, to buy a 35% stake in the troubled team.

First announced in June 2013, months later Ijaz was still insisting the deal would go through, as was (then) team boss Eric Boullier.

After months of talk but no action, it was pointed out to Boullier, not for the first time, that Ijaz had history. Indeed, it was made clear to the Frenchman that all he needed to do was Google the businessman's name.

"We don't have to base our judgement only on Google," said Boullier. "We have very serious proof of funds and good compliance of what is Quantum Motorsport," he insisted.

Of course, Quantum Motorsport and Mansoor Ijaz were never heard of again.

Consequently, after months of apparent inactivity following Renault's claim that it had signed a 'letter of intent' in terms of buying a large stake in Lotus, many sceptics - of which there are a few - in the F1 community, are feeling a distinct sense of deja vu.

The feeling that history is repeating itself will hardly have been helped by CEO Matthew Carter's interview with the official F1 website. The Briton, who at one stage looked to be on the verge of departing the team as Renault prepared to send in 'its men', now talks of "confidence" that the deal will go ahead, a word hardly likely to inspire confidence (sorry) given the history.

"Renault issued a letter of intent, so behind the scenes the Renault and Lotus senior management are working flat out to make sure that we get the deal done," he said. "Things are progressing, but these things take time. I am confident that the deal is going to happen, but as I said, it needs time to get it across.

"We know that in business anything can happen," he added, "and as long as there are no signatures on the documents the deal is not concluded… but confidence is very high!"

Asked, should the deal happen, what sort of stake Renault would have in the team, he replied: "They will hold the controlling interest. That is stated in the letter of intent. They would run the team as a manufacturer's team, like Ferrari and Mercedes are doing at the moment.

"I don't know how the structure would be," he adds. "Until the deal is concluded I don't think that any of these details have been finalised. If they buy the team they are moving into Enstone because that is part of what they are buying: the facility and operation of Enstone, the manpower that we've got there, and the race team. That is what they are buying. With regards to the senior management, I honestly I don't know."

Of course, the dilly-dallying has other important ramifications, that of what engine the Enstone team will be using next season, after all, one can hardly have a Mercedes=powered Renault.

Again, Carter's response hardly inspires confidence in the Renault deal.

"We have two options for next year," he admits, "either we go with Mercedes or Renault. We are progressing along that route. We've got two designs for next year's car and we are pushing forward with both options.

"(It) is a rather unlikely option that we will go into the 2016 season with a Mercedes engine," he adds. "And if we were to that would mean that the Renault deal fell flat. But my strong guess is that it will be a Renault engine next year."

Hmmm... and presumably, if the Renault deal does happen, the Lotus name (don't go there) will disappear from the grid.

"If the deal with Renault goes through, then yes. Then the team will not be called Lotus - then the name will fall out of Formula One. Right now we have a license to use the name Lotus - and that license will be terminated. So someone else could go for that name!"

Anyone else getting a bad feeling about this... again.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by mickl, 12/11/2015 0:33

"I reckon Renault are still waiting on Red Bull confirmation whether they will stay or pull out. Surely the possibility of getting Adrian Newey and RB chassis expertise in the deal is worth a punt."

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2. Posted by copy_dude, 10/11/2015 21:24

"Posted by F One, 2 hours ago"Hmmmm maybe Renault are waiting until they do go bust then they can pick them up for nothing right?

Why not. The English 'pre pack' law does allow seriously inebted companies to be washed clean. Who wouldn't take advantage of this.

According to a Christian Sylt article in Forbes, Lotus have the highest net debt of any team on the grid. By some zillions."

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3. Posted by F One, 10/11/2015 18:21

"Hmmmm maybe Renault are waiting until they do go bust then they can pick them up for nothing right?"

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4. Posted by copy_dude, 10/11/2015 14:24

"The editor wrote: 'Anyone else getting a bad feeling about this . . . '

I have been following this for some time. I certainly agree that I do not feel 'confident' about the deal. For a team principal to have only a 'strong guess' about engines for next year also suggests he is completely in the dark. The 'Letter of Intent' was also full of disclaimers and caveats . . . For a while, it has seemed to me as if Renault is trying to force the team into administration. I am also not convinced, if the deal goes ahead, that Renault will launch a rebranded team next year. There is, so far, nothing in place for this to happen. No engines, no management structure, so on. What would be the marketing benefit of launching a hopelessly unprepared, backmarker team. So many things don't 'fit' . . . "

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5. Posted by petes, 10/11/2015 4:13

"As they say in Brazilian, for sure."

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Carter "confident" of Renault deal

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