20/03/2012
NEWS STORY
The Enstone family is unique in its 'human' approach to Formula 1; a strategy Team Principal Eric Boullier believes will drive the team forwards.
Eric, if you had to sum-up the Australian GP in one word, what would it be?
Eric Boullier: Pride, I think.
Why?
EB: Well, we are coming back from a tough 2011 season. From a human and a technical point of view, last year was very, very tough. We took some risks with an innovative concept that didn't pay off, and we paid the price for that. However, when we approached the subject of 2012 this experience did not prevent us from being brave once again. The team proved that they were not scared to think outside the box once again. This is exactly what I was expecting. I guess this is in the DNA of Enstone. As a Team Principal, I can only be impressed with this approach.
Were you expecting the E20 to perform so well in Melbourne?
EB: Before qualifying nobody really knew what to expect. Possibly to a greater extent than in previous years, there was very little reliable information to be learned from winter testing. We knew our car was quite quick, but as for the others we had absolutely no clue. Saturday was a relief: you don't reach the second row of the grid by chance.
What about Sepang, then?
EB: It will be a totally different track from Albert Park of course. This said, we think that the E20 should be competitive there. One of its bigger assets is very low tyre degradation. Considering the very hot conditions in Malysia, this can only be a help. We think we can be competitive there.
Romain and Kimi seem to be a very competitive line-up...
EB: Yes, and that was our target for this year. The two of them get on well and they push each other. This is an ideal situation for us. We knew it from the beginning. Romain was really unlucky in Australia as he could have fought for the top places there. Unfortunately, he's been taken out of the race by another driver. This is part of the game I guess, but it was really frustrating. Such manoeuvres from opponents are unnecessary in the first few laps of a race. This driver did not see the finish line either, so I guess there is some justice in that... Kimi managed to gain 11 places over the course of the race, which shows how motivated he is.
The 2012 championship will be decided on development, presumably. Will the team be able to cope with it?
EB: Development means resource and investment. With Genii Capital behind us, we know that we'll benefit from a strong a reliable asset. They will do whatever it takes to help us design and produce the parts we need to be more competitive. Genii did not get involved in Formula 1 to finish second.
How can the team fight against Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull? Your budget does not have anything in common with these teams...
EB: You're right, but our philosophy is that money does not buy wins and championships. For us, Formula 1 is all about being clever and cost efficient. The E20 is the first Enstone car designed with our 60% scale wind tunnel and upgraded CFD facility. In a few weeks, our brand new simulator will be operational. People in Enstone have the right tools to push forward and we're investing where we have to. That said, people should not think of us as a second class team. With Lotus, Total, Rexona, Clear and Microsoft Dynamics on board, we're clearly among the most attractive outfits around.
You have been the only team this year to announce a commercial deal with worldwide groups...
EB: Exactly. This means that our approach seduces the biggest companies in the world. When partners sign with Lotus F1 Team, they don't enter into a commercial relationship: they become part of a very special family. The human aspect of Formula 1 is usually neglected, but we make it the number one priority on our list. Our communications and marketing philosophy is unique within the sport. We are honest, open, approachable, and sometimes a bit cheeky as well. We love our fans, and we never lie to the media. This is unusual in the paddock and this is what makes Lotus F1 Team a very unique organisation. This will pay off eventually. The good guys always win in the end.
The E20 has performed well at three circuits in 2012. Can the team unlock Sepang's secrets? Technical directer, James Allison shares his thoughts.
What was your take on the first race of the 2012 season?
James Allison: A solitary seventh place from the race doesn't tell the full story. Overall we can be proud of the way that the car, the team and our drivers have performed. The E20 has looked fast at Jerez, at Barcelona, and now at Albert Park too. Romain did a terrific job to qualify in third position. He was unfortunate with his start and more unfortunate still to have suffered an impact with another driver causing his untimely departure from the race. We took some satisfaction from Kimi's solid drive which converted his rather lowly grid position into a handful of points.
How much did we learn from the weekend in Albert Park as it wasn't a straightforward weekend due to a wet Friday limiting running?
JA: We felt from winter testing that we were in a reasonable position. We didn't think we had the quickest car, but we had a good feeling. We could also see that it was close between all the teams. The wet running on Friday [where we instructed our drivers not to run rather than expose the car to unnecessary risk] meant that we had to wait until Saturday to find out the true pecking order. It was both satisfying and relieving in equal measure to see the car perform at the upper end of our pre-season estimates.
How different is the challenge in Malaysia?
JA:Although slightly unusual, Albert Park is actually not a bad weather vane for the season. Its range of corner speeds and traction demands means that cars which are quick in Melbourne tend to do OK over the remainder of the season. The next race will be much hotter, which poses different challenges for the cars, the tyres and the drivers, but we are confident that our Melbourne form, coupled with our reasonable pace in Jerez and Barcelona, will translate into a competitive showing in Malaysia.
Any changes to the car for the second round?
JA: We don't have any big upgrades to the car. It is a tight turnaround with a back to back race and we will be concentrating on finding a good setup with the package we have to make sure that we are using the tyres well. Sepang is quite challenging in this regard, due the high track temperatures that we can expect.
How is progress in finding a steering set-up exactly to Kimi's liking?
JA: We have a baseline steering set-up which Kimi is able to live with. It is not ideal for him, and it is our duty to ensure that we give him a system that meets his demands perfectly. We brought a new option to Melbourne for him to try but the wet weather meant that we were not able to judge whether it was a step forwards. We reverted to the "old faithful" out of an abundance of caution. We will keep persisting until we produce a set-up which is exactly to his requirements.
What area specifically about the steering are the team focusing on?
JA: Each driver is different in what he wants from his steering setup. All of the drivers have a hydraulically assisted powered steering unit in the steering rack as the loads on the wheel would be intolerable otherwise. The engineers adjust the level of assistance that this unit provides to suit the individual requirements of the driver. Kimi likes to drive with quite a light steering wheel, but one which also has great precision. Our baseline rack is precise, but it is not light enough for Kimi's driving style. Our challenge is to produce a hydraulic rack that is more powerful than the current unit, but which sacrifices none of its precision. We have not got there yet, but we will do.