Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
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Constructor | Lotus | ||||||||||
Designer(s) | Nick Chester (Technical Director) | ||||||||||
Predecessor | Lotus E21 | ||||||||||
Successor | Lotus E23 Hybrid | ||||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||||
Chassis | Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the Renault V6 as fully stressed member | ||||||||||
Suspension (front) | Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights | ||||||||||
Suspension (rear) | Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse-mounted damper units mounted inside the gearbox casing. Aluminium uprights | ||||||||||
Engine | Renault Energy F1-2014 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6, turbo | ||||||||||
Transmission | Lotus 8-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear. | ||||||||||
Weight | 692kg, with driver, cameras and ballast | ||||||||||
Fuel | Total | ||||||||||
Lubricants | Total | ||||||||||
Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet) | ||||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||||
Notable entrants | Lotus F1 Team | ||||||||||
Notable drivers | 8. Romain Grosjean 13. Pastor Maldonado |
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Debut | 2014 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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The Lotus E22 is a Formula One racing car designed by Lotus to compete in the 2014 Formula One season. It was driven by Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado, who replaced Kimi Räikkönen after Räikkönen left the team to rejoin Ferrari. The E22 was designed to use Renault's new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine, the Energy F1-2014. This was the last car of the Enstone-based team which used Renault engines until Renault RS16, before a new one-year deal with Mercedes.
The team was forced to miss the first pre-season test at Jerez de la Frontera, but released computer-rendered images of the car in the week beforehand, showing a distinctive asymmetrical forked nose design.
After disappointing results in the first few races, the car picked up pace when the season came to Europe, with Romain Grosjean qualifying fifth and coming home in eighth position at the Spanish Grand Prix. Lotus nevertheless struggled to earn points throughout the season, with only two more point-scoring finishes at Monaco for Grosjean and in the United States for Maldonado. The team would admit that a fundamental design flaw on the chassis was hugely responsible for the poor performance during the season. Thus, the team stopped development of the car relatively early to concentrate on the E23 chassis after developments on the troublesome car brought no improvements to its performance. Therefore, Lotus ended the season a disappointing eighth in the Constructors' Championship standings, compared to fourth in 2013.