Lotus F1 took the covers off their new E20 challenger on Sunday as they bid to climb up the grid with Kimi Raikkonen at the wheel.
Rebranded team adopts 'boxer's nose', although in more curved form
Lotus F1 took the covers off their new E20 challenger on Sunday as they bid to climb up the grid with Kimi Raikkonen at the wheel.
The team launched the car via an official team video on Sunday, with the machine featuring a more curved version of the 'boxer's nose' that all teams bar McLaren have adopted so far.
It is the first car to be launched since the team rebranded themselves after claiming sole usage of the Lotus name in Formula One.
A second launch will take place on Monday when the car will be presented to the media in Jerez before being given a demonstration run on the same day.
Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will then test the new car over four days at Jerez, with the former driving on Tuesday and Wednesday and the latter on Thursday and Friday.
Former world champion Raikkonen is confident that, as long as the new car is competitive, he can get back to his best after two years out of F1.
"I'm not really (nervous). It will be something slightly different that it used to be, with a different team and a little bit different regulations," the Finn said in the video.
Difficulties
"Some people have more difficulties to get used the new stuff - it depends a lot on the car. If you have a good car it makes your life much easier than if you have an average car.
He added: "I think the (Lotus) people know how to build a good car but even the biggest teams cannot produce a winning car every year.
"They are very capable people, they have a good feeling and they are pushing hard so hopefully we will get the good results, that's what they deserve."
The E20 hit the headlines before it had even been officially unveiled due to an innovative mechanical system that stabilised the ride-height of the car under braking.
The device was designed to keep the ride-height of the car constant, when it would normally be lowered at the front under stopping forces.
It was initially approved by the FIA as it was not classified as a moveable aerodynamic device and was not operated by the driver, but that decision was later overturned and the system was banned.
The team, who were named Lotus Renualt GP in 2011, finished fifth in last years' constructors championship with Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld's third places in Australia and Malaysia respectively their best results.
