The design of the Lotus is under close scrutiny

Force India keeps an eye on the progress of the team’s Lotus Formula 1 design, as team sources claim to be concerned about the similarities between the former Force India car and the new Lotus.

Lotus recently released photographs of the model used in the wind tunnel that will form the basis of its new car. At the time, there was a debate about the similarities with Force India, particularly because the former technical director of Force India, Mike Gascoyne, is currently working on the Lotus project with the collaboration of Aerolab, which was also working for Force India until September of this year.

Sources suggest that there were details about the wind tunnel model that became a cause for concern among Force India’s senior executives. They relate to the design of the entire front wing, which Force India believes is practically identical to the one the team started with last season.

Moreover, the team is concerned that the Lotus model was equipped with tires bearing the writing of Force India staff, which means they could only have come from the team based in Silverstone.

Sources indicated that Force India is keeping a close eye on the situation, even though no official decision has yet been made on the matter. However, this situation could change when Lotus signs the Concorde Agreement. Lotus will then have to comply with the clause stipulating that no part of the car must have been designed by anyone working for another team.

Lotus technical director Mike Gascoyne has downplayed any possibility that the Lotus is a copy of Force India. He says that any similarities between the cars are purely coincidental because it was designed by people who already have a good understanding of current F1 regulations and have worked on other F1 projects before this one.

« Obviously, our wind tunnel model was designed for us by Fondtech in Italy,» said Gascoyne to Autosport. « It is based around a 2010 chassis, because there is a large fuel volume in it, it has a Cosworth engine, an Xtrac gearbox, our suspension, and other stuff designed by us. The Fondmetal guys added some generic bodywork [for the tests].»

Certain staff members had worked on different projects. And while you cannot copy something or ideas, you can use your expertise. And you will base it on what you know and understand which directions to take. That’s what happened.

Gascoyne added that, since Lotus outsources its design work to Fondtech, any complaint from Force India should be addressed to them and not to Lotus.