Lotus become first F1 team to launch a 2013 car, the E21 - and keep the 'boxer's nose'

The wraps have come off for the 2013 season after Lotus unveiled the E21 amid high hopes their new charger will drive them into F1's mainstream during the upcoming campaign.

And with the team as a whole having finished a strong fourth in last year's Constructors' Championship, their hierarchy made clear the minimum target for 2013 was to move into the top three - which in effect means breaking Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren's recent stranglehold on the sport. "Our expectation is to do better than we did last year, which is quite a lofty expectation, but that is what we are shooting for," declared owner Gerard Lopez. Eric Boullier underlined that target, stating: "We will try definitely [to do better]. Third place is at least an achievement we would like to have next year. "We obviously expect to build on the momentum from 2012. Stability in the regulations, both drivers I think more eager than ever and 500 people here at Enstone who delivered quite a nice car and are really keen to do better than 2012. "So we will fight everything we can to be in [the] top three." Lotus also confirmed that they had signed reigning GP2 Champion Davide Valsecchi to the role of third driver for 2013, with Belgian Jerome D'Ambrosio continuing as the team's reserve.
The 2013 car launches
Lotus - January 28th, Enstone.
McLaren - January 31st, Woking.
Force India - February 1st, Silverstone.
Ferrari - February 1st, Maranello.
Sauber - February 2nd, Hinwil.
Red Bull - February 3rd, Milton Keynes.
Mercedes - February 4th, Jerez.
Toro Rosso - February 4th, Jerez.
Caterham - February 5th, Jerez.
Marussia - February 5th, Jerez.
Williams - February 19th, Barcelona.