LONDON: Lotus have said they will put driver decisions on hold while they sort out the Formula One team’s finances for next season.
Team principal Eric Boullier told a website that finalising a deal with new investors was more of a priority than hiring a replacement for the departing Kimi Raikkonen.
“I want to close this (deal), because it is important for the team. It will give it the financial stability for more than five years and it will give us also two steps forward in terms of revenue,” he said.
Raikkonen is moving to Ferrari next season to partner Fernando Alonso. Romain Grosjean is expected to remain with Lotus.
Raikkonen said, after his move was announced, that one of the reasons for his decision to switch was that Lotus had failed to pay his salary.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa, who lost his place at Ferrari to Raikkonen, have been mentioned as frontrunners for the vacant Lotus seat. (Reuters)
