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Fernandes hails Renault 'stability'

ESPNF1 Staff
September 28, 2011 « Doctor says Kubica will return | Exhausts cost performance - Allison »
Tony Fernandes will continue to work closely with Red Bull as Lotus receives its KERS unit on top of its gearboxes © Sutton Images
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Tony Fernandes says that the new Renault engine deal is extremely important to Lotus "because it gives us stability".

Lotus announced in Singapore that it would be remaining with Renault until the end of 2013, and also receiving Red Bull gearboxes and KERS as part of the deal. Having run Cosworth engines in its debut season last year, Fernandes told ESPNF1 that working with the same team for consecutive seasons would allow Lotus to focus on improving the aerodynamic side of its car in search of performance.

"It's a big significance, because it gives us stability," Fernandes said. "Next year will be the first year we have the same engines for two seasons, the same gearbox, and it's going to aid development tremendously because we've got the same team, virtually, and the same components. Last time we had to rebuild 8,000 components, now we're really just working on the aero and trying to design that."

Fernandes also said that Lotus would be remaining with Renault once the new engine regulations come in to force in 2014, despite the new deal only initially running until the end of the V8 era.

"We have (committed for the new regulations). No, we are, we just don't know what the deal is going to be, but we have already made an agreement with Renault that we will be looking at 2014 and 2015."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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