The real reasons Lotus must survive

Headlines concerning the Lotus Formula 1 team in recent years have not made for pleasant reading.

Unpaid bills have stacked up, leading to court action and threatening the future of the team.

Salaries have been delayed, while there was even a time when Enstone's canteen lacked any food!

Yet, on track, Lotus has scored enough points to make it the sixth best F1 team on the planet.

It's a remarkable achievement and one that is down to the hardworking, diligent and talented people on the ground.

Being strong in the face of adversity must be part of the job description if you apply for a role at Enstone.

Through its various guises - Toleman, Benetton, Renault and Lotus - the team has rarely had it easy.

The team has regularly battled through adversity © LAT

It has often been a battle of survival - hardly the ideal situation for the employees, the majority of whom are on 'normal' salaries and have mortgages to pay and mouths to feed.

Even when Renault made Benetton its works team, the French manufacturer's CEO, Carlos Ghosn, made it clear that the squad's future was on shaky ground.

The team was hit hard by the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix scandal, while in '09 it threatened to pull out because it disagreed with the FIA's proposed budget cap.

Luxembourg-based venture-capital group Genii Capital stepped in and rebranded it Lotus when Renault followed through on its threat to quit.

But after an encouraging first couple of seasons, things reverted to type. The team racked up debts - and fast.

When money from potential investor Quantum Motorsports never materialised, the situation took a further dive. It struggled to pay suppliers and its driver Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn eventually grew tired of the situation and moved on.

The team was left to again cobble things together to get by, race-by-race, with no foundation for future planning.

F1 is difficult enough without having to compete with one hand tied behind your back.

For a large chunk of the team, some of whom have been there since the Toleman and Benetton days, they had seen it all before.

Lotus struggled to pay Raikkonen before his departure © XPB

Amid the constant threat of losing their job, they continue to work long hours, spend weeks away from home over the course of nine months, and work tirelessly to do what they can with what they have to go racing. The team engenders real loyalty.

Former technical director James Allison is a good example. He didn't want to leave the team for Ferrari. He could have done so far earlier than he did. But part of the reason he stayed was because there were so many problems he wanted to help sort out.

This year, the situation has got worse. Debts spiralled and the team found itself facing a winding-up petition.

When Caterham went to the wall, with Marussia almost following suit before rising from the ashes as Manor, many suppliers felt the pinch. They started requesting money up front, which put further pressure on the team's cash-flow.

In Hungary, Pirelli delayed releasing its tyres to Lotus because of a supposed banking technicality, while at Spa bailiffs guarded the team's equipment following a legal dispute with former reserve driver Charles Pic. Lotus head of trackside operations Alan Permane described this season as its worst financially.

Earlier this week, the team found itself back in court over unpaid debts to HMRC totalling £2.7 million in PAYE (income tax and national insurance) - £900,000 each for June, July and August - and facing the threat of administration, only to be granted a third adjournment after Renault provided Justice Birrs with letters declaring its interesting in taking over the team.

The two parties now have 10 weeks to finalise the deal, which could secure the team's future and go someway to rewarding the loyalty of its staff.

Evidence of the team's problems has been clear to see... © LAT

With Lotus entering into negotiations and a period of due diligence with Renault in late May/early June with regards the French manufacturer taking a 65 per cent stake in the outfit, trading was effectively suspended.

This has meant very little development on the car, which makes Romain Grosjean's podium at Spa in August all the more impressive. Those back at the factory have had to be efficient with target areas for development and complete windtunnel testing with very limited funds.

Last weekend's race in Japan was the scene of the latest bit of misery the staff have had to endure this year. The team was locked out of its hospitality unit because of contract issues. The situation remained unchanged for the duration of the weekend, leaving employees to rely on the generosity of rival teams for meals.

Lotus's sea freight arrived late too, after more contract problems. It was embarrassing. But, despite the situation, every member of staff just got on with it. "I've always said the people at Enstone are unbelievable and this is the proof," said Grosjean.

They worked flat-out to ensure everything was ready to go in time for practice, and didn't let up all weekend. The reward was seventh and eighth for Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado - only their second double-points finish of the season.

"It's not easy for those in the team to concentrate," said Permane. "People are worried about their jobs and their families, but we got our heads down and got on with it.

"We have done decent pitstops, done good race preparation, the drivers have performed well and the result is two cars in the points to score more than our immediate rivals, which is all I can ever ask for from my team.

...but on track, the performances have been strong © XPB

"The race team have been fantastic but also those back at the factory as well.

"There are many people who are refered to as the unsung heroes who you don't see week-in, week-out at the track but who are designing parts and trying to cobble together bits.

"The whole team is strong. They have done a great job. It is phenomenal."

When a stable budget is in place, this team has all the ingredients to succeed.

Only a small number of companies can build F1 cars, even fewer can do it competitively and on a shoestring.

Those who work for Lotus have the belief they can win - no matter what the predicament.

"The team at Enstone have won world championships, we have a good facility, we know we can do a good job," added Permane.

"We know what we have to do. No one is scared of having to do that, to try to get ourselves back up and to challenge for wins and titles again. We all believe we can do that again."

Lotus represents everything that Formula 1 is about - hard work, determination, ingenuity and a passion to go racing.

They've had to put up with a hell of a lot and yet they keep going. It's for that reason that F1 cannot afford to lose this squad.

The team has survived because of its staff, and that's a headline of which they can be proud.