Lotus Are Finished!

[KoolMonkey 0]

About a year ago I let it rip on team Lotus after they failed yet again in one of their abysmal pit strategies. Then things got better, and then even better this year. Afterawhile I thought I had made an over reaction and was happy I was wrong in my assessment of Lotus. But now I've come to reaise tht assesment was actually right. It's just that they managed to pull the wool over my eyes, as I truly believed they were a changed team.

They were making less stupid mistakes, less bad pit stop strategies and were winning over fans and non fans alike with their impressive social media happenings. They were the team RBR should have been when it came to fun and PR. But they were better, as they had Kimi.

But after seeing the utter trash that is Alan Permaine denegrating Kimi in that fashion for the whole world to hear, everything they have built up is taking a serious blow at the moment. Lotus are being killed at the moment on Twitter, Facebook and forums all around the place. Permaine is taking a battering. Lotus are deleting Facebook posts wholesale and if you've ever paid attention to companies that try to shove a scandal under the carpet by deleting fans and users posts from their pages, it NEVER works. It has always backfired and ended up blowing up into something a thousand times worse.

I think it's an over reaction, but people are reacting non the less. Imagine Ferrari doing that to Alonso, or Merc to Hamilton. It's unfathomable. Maybe Kimi is an easy target because no matter what, he seems to keep it pretty well contained. I mean he never spoke out or against Ferrari when he was dropped. But this time it's the fans who are speaking up and defending him.

Permaine's pathetic attempt at a non apology only made matters worse. He's right, his life and his families well being should never been threatened. That is plain wrong. But he has to accept the tsunami that is coming his way as he lost his head, and I think gave us a true reveal for those few seconds of how Lotus now see Kimi.

I've already tossed what few Lotus items I had in the bin. It won't hurt them financially, no one will care, I certainly know most on here won't care, but it does matter to me. I'm done supporting this misfit, arrogant and flat out bulls##t team. Kimi is a F1 legend. He will be talked about in decades to come in the same way Hunt and Gilles Villeneuve are. Alan Permaine will not be remembered even a year after his last F1 race on the pitwall.

I've never in my entire life seen or heard something as disrespectful and flat out wrong as how Alan treated Kimi over that radio message.

Lotus are finished. What goodwill they built up with having Kimi in the team, and their fantastic social media team is already being destroyed as I type this. They will not be able to come back from this to the heights they have been during these past 2 years. GRO is a better driver no doubt than he was last year, but Kimi has dragged this team up to where the are, not GRO and scored most of their points. Plus his 2 wins and hes brought alot of pricemoney to Lotus. GRO has cost the yeam alot of money through his various car wrecks and indisgressions. Anyway, its not GRO's fault this is happening, it's Permains, and Boullier has done nothing to difuse or rectify. Luca wouldn't put up with this behaviour from one of his team members. Ron Dennis would have never, I'm sure Brawn wouldn't either. But Boullier and Gerard Lopez have not publicly reprimanded Permaine or come out and stated their support of Kimi. Thus their silence = support of what Permaine said.

Also, there really is something rotten in that team. They have debts like no other team, have not followed through with a single title sponsor despite them even having a few press releases about it. Plus they still call themselves Lotus, when Lotus don't pay a cent in sposorship and have zero connection with their team. I know why they still call themselves Lots however, it's to try and get sponsors in the door. As Genii Capital Racing just doesn't have the same drawcard to it.

It makes so much more sense now seeing Allison leaving when he did. He's not a fool. Kimi's not a fool either.

Do you guys think potential sponsors will be lining up to support this team after one of their personell trashed possibly the driver with the largest worldwide fanbase? The answer is of course no.

Since Kimi annouced he was leaving for Ferrari, Lotus have been acting weird towards him. If it is true they havn't paid him, then they are a disgrace. Here's a driver risking his life and giving 110%, and they treat him in that manner. Add in Permaine's behaviour and they are team possibly one season away from imploding.

It hasn't gone unnoticed to me either, that Kimis "motivation' is again suspiciously popping up in the news. It used to be Ferrari fanning those flames back in the day, to make them not look like such jerks for letting Kimi go, but now I think it's Lotus doing the same thing to make GRO look better. What does the guy have to do to bury that BS once and for all? Break the record for the longest points scoring finish in F1? Move up to the top 5 in the all time fastest laps? Have more passes than any other driver in this years championship? Done, check and succeeded. Nope apparently he's lacking in motivation. Yet here he is possibly not being paid at all, driving for the thrill and joy of it, because he wants to race, and Lotus treat him in this way.

Even the Kimi haters here have to give the guy credit for being a professional and just getting on with the business of racing. He could have easily let it rip on Lotus but he hasn't. Put Webber in his shoes and we'd be up to autobiography #5 by now lol

It was fun supporting Lotus whilst Kimi was there, but they have been revealed as truly a bunch of nitwit amatuer pricks. I can't wait for Kimi to be rid of those losers.

It was fun while it lasted. They could have been gracious and professional about it, and yet they handled things like this. Kimi's fans won't be forgetting this one for years to come. Bad bad move by them. This will hurt them, and cost them millions in the end.

[mikathegreat2 2]

Interesting read. It seems they very much could be 'finished'. Couldn't believe it when I heard that radio message to Kimi. Really surprised he hasn't just walked out of the team yet. Very disrespectful to one of the best drivers on the F1 grid. With regards to being finished; well they're the only team on the grid to have yet secured an engine deal for 2014 & have yet to confirm even one driver for next year either. After that horrible radio message, I doubt even Yuji Ide would wanna race for them next season.

[F1 FANatic 1]

I have to agree that was unwise of Lotus to say that over the radio and for Alan to loose his head. And I like Kimi as a driver, and I can see that he is being treated badly by the team since he announced he would go to Ferrari, but boy I think Alan had a right to be angry. There is no reason Kimi should have moved over on RG like that. That is the kind of crap Webber pulls. And if i were Ferrari I would not be happy either. I really don't see why Ferrari got Kimi to partner Alonso. Either the two constantly fight each other and let the other teams run away or Kimi says "f*ck it" drives to earn his paycheck and does no better than after his WDC at Ferrari. I really don't see Ferrari in a top position.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

I have to agree that was unwise of Lotus to say that over the radio and for Alan to loose his head. And I like Kimi as a driver, and I can see that he is being treated badly by the team since he announced he would go to Ferrari, but boy I think Alan had a right to be angry. There is no reason Kimi should have moved over on RG like that. That is the kind of crap Webber pulls. And if i were Ferrari I would not be happy either. I really don't see why Ferrari got Kimi to partner Alonso. Either the two constantly fight each other and let the other teams run away or Kimi says "f*ck it" drives to earn his paycheck and does no better than after his WDC at Ferrari. I really don't see Ferrari in a top position.

A reply from someone on facebook that says it all...."Did you actually hear the full conversation? Kimi said he will move out of the way when he gets a chance. Not sure what you (and Permane for that matter) actually expected he'd do, stop at the side of the track and wave Grossjean through?"

Also it's not Kimi's fault RG decided to pass on a bloody curve!!!!

Do I have to count the times RG almost took out Kimi when he passed RG????????????????????????????????????

[dribbler 6]

About a year ago I let it rip on team Lotus after they failed yet again in one of their abysmal pit strategies. Then things got better, and then even better this year. Afterawhile I thought I had made an over reaction and was happy I was wrong in my assessment of Lotus. But now I've come to reaise tht assesment was actually right. It's just that they managed to pull the wool over my eyes, as I truly believed they were a changed team.

They were making less stupid mistakes, less bad pit stop strategies and were winning over fans and non fans alike with their impressive social media happenings. They were the team RBR should have been when it came to fun and PR. But they were better, as they had Kimi.

But after seeing the utter trash that is Alan Permaine denegrating Kimi in that fashion for the whole world to hear, everything they have built up is taking a serious blow at the moment. Lotus are being killed at the moment on Twitter, Facebook and forums all around the place. Permaine is taking a battering. Lotus are deleting Facebook posts wholesale and if you've ever paid attention to companies that try to shove a scandal under the carpet by deleting fans and users posts from their pages, it NEVER works. It has always backfired and ended up blowing up into something a thousand times worse.

I think it's an over reaction, but people are reacting non the less. Imagine Ferrari doing that to Alonso, or Merc to Hamilton. It's unfathomable. Maybe Kimi is an easy target because no matter what, he seems to keep it pretty well contained. I mean he never spoke out or against Ferrari when he was dropped. But this time it's the fans who are speaking up and defending him.

Permaine's pathetic attempt at a non apology only made matters worse. He's right, his life and his families well being should never been threatened. That is plain wrong. But he has to accept the tsunami that is coming his way as he lost his head, and I think gave us a true reveal for those few seconds of how Lotus now see Kimi.

I've already tossed what few Lotus items I had in the bin. It won't hurt them financially, no one will care, I certainly know most on here won't care, but it does matter to me. I'm done supporting this misfit, arrogant and flat out bulls##t team. Kimi is a F1 legend. He will be talked about in decades to come in the same way Hunt and Gilles Villeneuve are. Alan Permaine will not be remembered even a year after his last F1 race on the pitwall.

I've never in my entire life seen or heard something as disrespectful and flat out wrong as how Alan treated Kimi over that radio message.

Lotus are finished. What goodwill they built up with having Kimi in the team, and their fantastic social media team is already being destroyed as I type this. They will not be able to come back from this to the heights they have been during these past 2 years. GRO is a better driver no doubt than he was last year, but Kimi has dragged this team up to where the are, not GRO and scored most of their points. Plus his 2 wins and hes brought alot of pricemoney to Lotus. GRO has cost the yeam alot of money through his various car wrecks and indisgressions. Anyway, its not GRO's fault this is happening, it's Permains, and Boullier has done nothing to difuse or rectify. Luca wouldn't put up with this behaviour from one of his team members. Ron Dennis would have never, I'm sure Brawn wouldn't either. But Boullier and Gerard Lopez have not publicly reprimanded Permaine or come out and stated their support of Kimi. Thus their silence = support of what Permaine said.

Also, there really is something rotten in that team. They have debts like no other team, have not followed through with a single title sponsor despite them even having a few press releases about it. Plus they still call themselves Lotus, when Lotus don't pay a cent in sposorship and have zero connection with their team. I know why they still call themselves Lots however, it's to try and get sponsors in the door. As Genii Capital Racing just doesn't have the same drawcard to it.

It makes so much more sense now seeing Allison leaving when he did. He's not a fool. Kimi's not a fool either.

Do you guys think potential sponsors will be lining up to support this team after one of their personell trashed possibly the driver with the largest worldwide fanbase? The answer is of course no.

Since Kimi annouced he was leaving for Ferrari, Lotus have been acting weird towards him. If it is true they havn't paid him, then they are a disgrace. Here's a driver risking his life and giving 110%, and they treat him in that manner. Add in Permaine's behaviour and they are team possibly one season away from imploding.

It hasn't gone unnoticed to me either, that Kimis "motivation' is again suspiciously popping up in the news. It used to be Ferrari fanning those flames back in the day, to make them not look like such jerks for letting Kimi go, but now I think it's Lotus doing the same thing to make GRO look better. What does the guy have to do to bury that BS once and for all? Break the record for the longest points scoring finish in F1? Move up to the top 5 in the all time fastest laps? Have more passes than any other driver in this years championship? Done, check and succeeded. Nope apparently he's lacking in motivation. Yet here he is possibly not being paid at all, driving for the thrill and joy of it, because he wants to race, and Lotus treat him in this way.

Even the Kimi haters here have to give the guy credit for being a professional and just getting on with the business of racing. He could have easily let it rip on Lotus but he hasn't. Put Webber in his shoes and we'd be up to autobiography #5 by now lol

It was fun supporting Lotus whilst Kimi was there, but they have been revealed as truly a bunch of nitwit amatuer pricks. I can't wait for Kimi to be rid of those losers.

It was fun while it lasted. They could have been gracious and professional about it, and yet they handled things like this. Kimi's fans won't be forgetting this one for years to come. Bad bad move by them. This will hurt them, and cost them millions in the end.

[dribbler 6]

This is why I'm not here anymore.

Pathetic, childish and not even one ounce interesting. I fear that you may be around humans in real life.

[rodders47 2]

I have to wonder WHERE this info is that KIMI is a great driver that everyone says he is ??? Like he is totally hopeless as a PR guy for the team, and he doesn't care about not being involved, which is even more un team like. To be a good race car driver in this day and age it is just not good enough to be fast on the track you also have to race within the team. Nobody can convince me that Kimi didn't know that he was slower then his team mate, so why then would he act as he did that warranted team orders??? Reason Kimi is Kimi and F*&^$%#$$%&^* everyone else. It will be very interesting to see how Ferrari will cope with this B.S.

[Insider 0]

Hmmm. Lotus have done themselves irreparable harm over this incident no matter who may be deemed to be in the wrong. They have a good package and they can progress to the top but they need the discipline that comes with financial stability and probably only Renault can do that. They haven't done an engine deal because they still owe for this year's crop.

[Emmcee 0]

I have to wonder WHERE this info is that KIMI is a great driver that everyone says he is ??? Like he is totally hopeless as a PR guy for the team, and he doesn't care about not being involved, which is even more un team like. To be a good race car driver in this day and age it is just not good enough to be fast on the track you also have to race within the team. Nobody can convince me that Kimi didn't know that he was slower then his team mate, so why then would he act as he did that warranted team orders??? Reason Kimi is Kimi and F*&^$%#$$%&^* everyone else. It will be very interesting to see how Ferrari will cope with this B.S.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Hmmm. Lotus have done themselves irreparable harm over this incident no matter who may be deemed to be in the wrong. They have a good package and they can progress to the top but they need the discipline that comes with financial stability and probably only Renault can do that. They haven't done an engine deal because they still owe for this year's crop.

Now thats spot on from a neutral view!

[Quiet One 15]

This is why I'm not here anymore.

Pathetic, childish and not even one ounce interesting. I fear that you may be around humans in real life.

This is usually where I make light of Steve's comments and say welcome back...sadly, I agree and it's keeping me away as well.

[Guest]

This place is just a pretty good refection of the sport:

Predictable, quite boring .....and dominated by the same few as always!

[Jem of the Shire 0]

What is this conversation about?? I watched the BBC coverage which mentioned that Kimi had been told to "get out of the f**king way" and that Kimi replied saying "don't shout at me" - is this what this is about? If so does anyone know what the actual transmissions were? I'd love to know. And if an engineer did speak like that to their driver, I can only assume that driver must have ignored several previous requests to move over!!

[mikathegreat2 2]

What is this conversation about?? I watched the BBC coverage which mentioned that Kimi had been told to "get out of the f**king way" and that Kimi replied saying "don't shout at me" - is this what this is about? If so does anyone know what the actual transmissions were? I'd love to know. And if an engineer did speak like that to their driver, I can only assume that driver must have ignored several previous requests to move over!!

Basically yes. Perhaps Kimi did ignore previous instructions to let Grosjean pass but surely Permaine could have dealt with it with a little more subtlety. Personally if I was in that situation & my manager shouted "get out of the f**king way" I would get quite disheartened by it & it would knock a lot of confidence out of me. Luckily Kimi doesn't have that problem. He's won a world championship; what have "Lotus" achieved??

[Massa 0]

The cultural difference between F1 and NASCAR is quite amusing. That radio transmission would be considered mild on the stock car scene...

Which doesn't make it justifiable (or unjustifiable). I just think the bigger issues with Lotus than language use relate to money. There's a lot of uncertainty there, and has been for a while.

[KoolMonkey 0]

Massa, the uproar blowing up Facebook and Twitter isn't because swear words were used. You can use swear words and be funny, sweet or many other things. But how Alan Permaine talked to Kimi was one of utter disrespect. That's what's p**sed people off to no end. Kimi swearing back was correct in my view because he didn't initiate the "conversation" and had every right to tell Permaine to not talk to him in that fashion.

There have been a few times now during the past 2 years where Kimi in the faster car has been stuck behind GRO for 4-5 laps losing time. Even possibly costing race wins. GRO was behind Kimi for not even half a lap. Where was Lotus on the radio telling GRO to move the F over during those past incidents? They weren't. And when they did, they didn't swear at the guy, insult him and disrespect him. They asked him in a nicer way, or apologetic way.

Boullier has released an apology. It's too late if you ask me, and doesn't really address the issue, which is the continual disrespect shown to a driver who has bought more attention, sponsorship and price money than the driver in the #2 car to his team. If they couldn't land a title sponsor at Lotus with Kimi in the team, then there has to be reason why and I put that down to the sponsors not liking Lotus' books so to speak and deciding against parting with any money. Now that Kimi is leaving, and seeing this PR bomb explode in their faces, that won't help their aspirations for getting more sponsors on board.

Permaine should be the one who is apologizing. Instead he tweeted about getting death threats towards his family, which at first got some sympathy replies. But this being the internet, others decided to investigate further and went all CSI on his lying a##. Turns out there were not death threats. All anyone could find was that asian guy tweeting FU over and over, which the screenshot has been posted in many places.

The Brit press hasn't bothered to look into this any further, but that's usual for them these days. All they care about is Anti Vettel this, RBR cheating that, and Hamilton's repeated bizarre comments on how great Alonso is, and putting down Vettel at any chance he can get, or saying how he would have integrity and wouldn't want to win in a dominating car.

If let's say McLaren did this to Hamilton last year, wow the world would truly stop in it's tracks. All credit to McLaren by the way. They handled Hamilton leaving to go to Merc very nicely. Lotus, well it's like they are 13 and a girl, a French girl, whose been dumped by her first "love", and just can't come to grips with anything.

This will hurt Lotus massively in the pockets, and they don't have a very good financial foundation at the moment. If they couldn't even pay Kimi, who else haven't they paid? You would think Kimi would have been the first person they would have paid before he signed with Ferrari. Thus it would make sense there is all sorts of skeletons in the closest that will unravel in that team at some point.

I still had no ill will towards them when it came out they hadn't paid Kimi, but after this, it's 3 more races cheering Kimi on wearing those colours, and then Gerard Lopez Racing will be nothing more than a memory.

Massa, uncertainty over money doesn't give anyone license to disrespect another. Kimi's driving for them for free pretty much, earning them points which equates to prize money, and they are all emo and angry about it? If that's the case, they deserve to fold as a team.

jemstride, yes there was that exchange during the race. Permaine shouted at Kimi to move the F out of the way, Kimi replied saying don't F shout at me, and then said how he was goign to move over, but couldn't in the middle of a fast corner.

After the race, Kimi parked at the end of pitlane. Permaine met him somewhere down pitlane and a fan captured it on camera. You can't hear what was said, but from the comments I've seen, people said the body language was way off, and it was clear they were having a heated discussion.

Then afterwards, Canal resported another incident that occured though I havn't been able to find out much on that.

If I was Boullier I would be very worried. They are a team that looks to be in it's last few breaths at the moment, and Permaine has cause seriously PR and most certainly financial damage to his team.

You don't disrespect a driver with quite possibly the largest fanbase, who is liked my many up and down pitlane, and expect there not to be consequences.

[Massa 0]

Massa, the uproar blowing up Facebook and Twitter isn't because swear words were used. You can use swear words and be funny, sweet or many other things. But how Alan Permaine talked to Kimi was one of utter disrespect. That's what's p**sed people off to no end. Kimi swearing back was correct in my view because he didn't initiate the "conversation" and had every right to tell Permaine to not talk to him in that fashion.

Massa, uncertainty over money doesn't give anyone license to disrespect another. Kimi's driving for them for free pretty much, earning them points which equates to prize money, and they are all emo and angry about it? If that's the case, they deserve to fold as a team.

I understand, but that same type of disrespect occurs over the radio in NASCAR. Again, that is not a justification of it; I don't believe in being disrespectful, personally. Just pointing out how interesting it is that there are very different standards in each series.

I apologize if my post was unclear and suggested that they had a right to be disrespectful. That was not my intent at all. I was simply trying to say that Lotus will be finished due to the financial issues, not due to this. I wasn't trying to connect the two. Sorry for not making that apparent.

[KoolMonkey 0]

Yeah I got it. The thing is I'm not the only person to write this too, as I have read it elsewhere. Where in F1's history, or even recent history have you seen this? It may be common place in Nascar, but this isn't Nascar, it's F1.

I have NEVER seen or heard anything like this before. And I'm not talking about the swearing, I'm talking about the disrespect shown by Permaine. That's what got people majorly p**sed off at the moment.

It looks like Lotus have given up editing and censoring their FB page. Yes they will be finished due to financial issues, but this isn't helping them financially is it. p**sing off a massive fan base, a fan base that bought Lotus merchandise. For me, the first thing I've bought since a McLaren team shirt from the early 00's. That's in the bin already, as it was only a pen and notepad.

Lotus simply cannot continue in this form and fashion. This has only hastened this demise. I would not be surprised to see them in F1 next year, but not called Lotus. They will either be Renault, or called something else.

It's a shame. 2 years of social media goodwill, funny postings, Mini Kimi, and being the funnest F1 team to follow online, and in a few seconds destroyed by Permaine. He looks like a bloke you'd see down at the local Irish Tavern, totally wasted, but still standing on his feet ready for bareknuckle fight. And I mean no offense to the Irish either.

Boullier's apology lack sincerity, and it was too little too late. It needed to happen after the race. But no, we got stories in the media of how disappointed Lotus were of Kimi. For real!? I don't recall ever hearing how disappointed they were when GRO totalled several cars, nearly decapitated Alonso, and smashed his way to a suspension. Nope, they stuck behind him and said he just needed to calm down and all would be ok. As it turned out, that's how it played out thus far, but GRO also comes across on race radio as need his a## wiped half the time, kind of like how Smedley pushes Massa around the track.

They seem happy to burn bridges with Kimi, give him 6.7 second pitstops, 54 lap runs on a single set of tyres, and then disrespect him in that manner, and think all is going to be ok at the end of the day. It's not. Their behaviour towards Kimi once he announced his signing with Ferrari has been total and utter BS.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Yeah I got it. The thing is I'm not the only person to write this too, as I have read it elsewhere. Where in F1's history, or even recent history have you seen this? It may be common place in Nascar, but this isn't Nascar, it's F1.

I have NEVER seen or heard anything like this before. And I'm not talking about the swearing, I'm talking about the disrespect shown by Permaine. That's what got people majorly p**sed off at the moment.

It looks like Lotus have given up editing and censoring their FB page. Yes they will be finished due to financial issues, but this isn't helping them financially is it. p**sing off a massive fan base, a fan base that bought Lotus merchandise. For me, the first thing I've bought since a McLaren team shirt from the early 00's. That's in the bin already, as it was only a pen and notepad.

Lotus simply cannot continue in this form and fashion. This has only hastened this demise. I would not be surprised to see them in F1 next year, but not called Lotus. They will either be Renault, or called something else.

It's a shame. 2 years of social media goodwill, funny postings, Mini Kimi, and being the funnest F1 team to follow online, and in a few seconds destroyed by Permaine. He looks like a bloke you'd see down at the local Irish Tavern, totally wasted, but still standing on his feet ready for bareknuckle fight. And I mean no offense to the Irish either.

Boullier's apology lack sincerity, and it was too little too late. It needed to happen after the race. But no, we got stories in the media of how disappointed Lotus were of Kimi. For real!? I don't recall ever hearing how disappointed they were when GRO totalled several cars, nearly decapitated Alonso, and smashed his way to a suspension. Nope, they stuck behind him and said he just needed to calm down and all would be ok. As it turned out, that's how it played out thus far, but GRO also comes across on race radio as need his a## wiped half the time, kind of like how Smedley pushes Massa around the track.

They seem happy to burn bridges with Kimi, give him 6.7 second pitstops, 54 lap runs on a single set of tyres, and then disrespect him in that manner, and think all is going to be ok at the end of the day. It's not. Their behaviour towards Kimi once he announced his signing with Ferrari has been total and utter BS.

TRUTH

and that they ediited the comments from fans on their facebook is totally disgusting

[Ikyrotz 0]

Boullier's apology lack sincerity, and it was too little too late.

In Boullier's defense,I think he has tried to keep things under control, it has been Lopez and Permane who seem the most upset with Kimi's decision to leave for Ferrari.

[KoolMonkey 0]

My view of Boullier has grown during this year. Permaine won't enjoy attending F1 this year I can bet, and could endure years or payback and torment by peoplo. It's certainly possible. But he earned it due to his behaviour. He was the one who should have apologised, not Boullier. I don't know enough about Lopez, but I get the sense things are shady behind the scenes. He's funding alot of things there, but then why ring up huge losses on the books, and then reveal that it's not really losses, since you owe most of your debts to yourself. I'm not an accountant, but I sense something isn't right with this outfit.

Brad, in this day and age, editing, censoring or removing peoples posts on social media is a huge no no. Not because you can't do it, but because when people find out about it, whatever scandal or small thing that has going on, blows up and goes wild. I hate using that term viral, but small things turn into huge massive PR nightmares because they essentially disrespect their own followers, supporters and fans. A bad bad move by Lotus. Surely this isn't the same social media crew behind Mini Kimi and the other cool things they have done these past 2 years right?

[rodders47 2]

Hey all this chat about Lotus etc. Well next year I bet there will not be such discussions because the person causing the ruckus will be with another team i.e. Kimi. Hey he is a good driver, not great but good, but hey he is Kimi and no amount of anyone telling him what to do will make him do what he don't want to, so if you guys and his new team except that, then whatever the outcome will be will be, end of story. Kimi, INMHO, is a teams worst nightmare....

[KoolMonkey 0]

Kimi's already a great. He doesn't need your approval for that either. Many highly regarded F1 pundits, journalists, team principals, tech directors, pit crew etc., have all given their words of approval for him over the years. But after reading your comments, I imagine he might just fold and leave F1 immediately.

Boullier the Team Principal of Lotus, their main public representative in the media made an apology to Kimi. Your comments about Kimi creating this ruckus and him being a teams worst nightmare is so wide of the mark, I'd feel regret in trying to explain things to you in such a simple way you'd get it, because I'd never get the time back spent to do so.

[pabloh20 1]

The Brit press hasn't bothered to look into this any further, but that's usual for them these days. All they care about is Anti Vettel this, RBR cheating that, and Hamilton's repeated bizarre comments on how great Alonso is, and putting down Vettel at any chance he can get, or saying how he would have integrity and wouldn't want to win in a dominating car.

Would that be because it's a complete non-story and not even worthy of looking into?

I would be interested in seeing the articles of the Brit press being anti-Vettel and especially saying RBR are cheating. That would leave them open for a bit of a suing, I would imagine, seeing as it is an unfounded theory.

Are the bizarre Hamilton comments from his own column, which he writes and submits himself, presumably?

[Jem of the Shire 0]

Would that be because it's a complete non-story and not even worthy of looking into?

I would be interested in seeing the articles of the Brit press being anti-Vettel and especially saying RBR are cheating. That would leave them open for a bit of a suing, I would imagine, seeing as it is an unfounded theory.

Are the bizarre Hamilton comments from his own column, which he writes and submits himself, presumably?

I agree. I read british press and I haven't seen anything anti-Vettel at all, in fact it's all been the opposite, constantly banging on about how great he is.

I also have read absolutely nothing about this Lotus situation, so I can't see that it's a big deal at all. Where's this Eric Boullier apology??

Why on earth would Lotus be in demise? No sponsor has come out saying they're going to dump Lotus.

You don't disrespect a driver with quite possibly the largest fanbase, who is liked my many up and down pitlane

Lol sorry mate I think you might be a bit deluded there...