Lotus E23 Hybrid

Lotus E23 Hybrid
	Romain Grosjean driving the E23 Hybrid at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Lotus
Designer(s)	Nick Chester (Technical Director); Chris Cooney (Engineering Director); Martin Tolliday (Chief Designer); Simon Virrill (Project Leader); Nicolas Hennel (Head of Aerodynamics); Jon Tomlinson (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	Lotus E22
Successor	Renault R.S.16
Technical specifications
Engine	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid Turbo 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 engine (90°), limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motor	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K) Mercedes PU106B Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H)
Transmission	Semi-automatic, sequential; 8 forward gears, 1 reverse gear
Power	930 hp (690 kW)
Weight	702 kg (1,548 lb)
Fuel	Petronas
Lubricants	Petronas
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrants	Lotus F1 Team
Notable drivers	08. Romain Grosjean; 13. Pastor Maldonado
Debut	2015 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Lotus E23 Hybrid is a Formula One racing car which Lotus used to compete in the 2015 Formula One season. The chassis was designed by Nick Chester, Chris Cooney, Martin Tolliday and Nicolas Hennel with Mercedes supplying the team's powertrain. It was driven by Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. This was the team's only car to use Mercedes engines, after a 20-year period of racing with Renault based powerplants. The E23 Hybrid was also the first Enstone-based car not to used a Renault-based engine (including the period between 1998 and 2000 where the team used Playlife badged Renault-based Mecachrome/Supertec V10s) since the Ford-powered V8 powered Benetton B194 in 1994, as well as first full British team to utilize Petronas fuel and lubricants.

Images of the 2015 car were released on 26 January 2015.^[2]^[3]

The Lotus-Mercedes partnership was originally intended to last for six years (until 2020), but was terminated five years earlier as the team returned to Renault power unit after a single season and thus bought ill-fated Lotus stake from 2016 onwards and renamed back to Renault Sport Formula One Team.

^ "Mercedes provide early look at 2015 car". Grand Prix 247. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
^ "2015 F1 race, test and launch dates". F1 Fanatic. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
^ Collantine, Keith (26 January 2015). "Lotus reveal first images of new E23". F1 Fanatic. Retrieved 26 January 2015.

[1] "Mercedes provide early look at 2015 car". Grand Prix 247. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

[2] "2015 F1 race, test and launch dates". F1 Fanatic. Retrieved 25 January 2015.

[3] Collantine, Keith (26 January 2015). "Lotus reveal first images of new E23". F1 Fanatic. Retrieved 26 January 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]