Why unloved Lotus 76 may be Colin Chapman's most significant car
A wide variety of Lotus cars are often proffered as the ultimate F1 game-changer – but was the Lotus 76 an unusual candidate which trumps them all?
Mark Webber has won his first Grand Prix, Sébastien Loeb hasn’t denied rumours that he’ll race a Formula 1 car at Abu Dhabi, Sébastien Bourdais has been dropped by Toro Rosso, British Formula 3 champion Jaime Alguersuari has been drafted in to replace him, and Bernie Ecclestone has been named the new co-president of the FIA along with Max Mosley. Well, that last bit’s not strictly true.
It’s been a busy few weeks in F1 though and, as Webber says, these next two races could be the most important in the championship. The Brawns have new upgrades, the track temperature at the Hungaroring should be higher – suiting the tyres of Button and Barrichello – and they may well be able to trouble the Red Bulls once more.
But let’s not discount Ferrari, McLaren, Williams or even Renault. They all looked much quicker in Germany and I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of them was on the podium.
Predictions always end up being wrong in these situations, though. If I put my neck out and say any of the drivers in these teams will win, then Nakajima and Piquet will crash into each other, Räikkönen will retire for ice cream, Massa’s engine will blow up, Hamilton will overcook it at the first corner taking Kovalainen with him, and Barrichello will drive clean into Button in a fit of rage. Meanwhile Vettel and Webber will cruise to a one-two. I almost preferred the sport when it was predictable.
A wide variety of Lotus cars are often proffered as the ultimate F1 game-changer – but was the Lotus 76 an unusual candidate which trumps them all?
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