Lotus’ 35 per cent team investor Quantum wants Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel in 2014, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.<\/p>\n
However, the Enstone based team is running out of time as it waits for the deal to be completed, and has set a mid-November deadline, the German trade magazine said.<\/p>\n
If the deadline passes, Lotus will surely resort to signing Pastor Maldonado, whose PDVSA backing is estimated at up to a staggering EUR 41 million per year.<\/p>\n
An insider is quoted as saying: “When will Pastor realise that everyone is only after his money, not him?”<\/p>\n
Until Lotus gets its hands either on Venezuela’s or Quantum’s money, team owner Gerard Lopez is reportedly dipping into his own pocket.<\/p>\n
“The budget will not be touched (reduced),” he is quoted as saying.\u00a0 “We want to finish second in the championship.”<\/p>\n
Lotus is currently fourth, but the difference between finishing behind Ferrari and Mercedes or ahead of them is reportedly EUR 15 million in Concorde Agreement cash.<\/p>\n
That might help pay for German Hulkenberg.<\/p>\n
Team boss Eric Boullier was asked if the sport has taken a worryingly bad turn if competitive teams cannot afford to sign someone as talented as the German.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to comment,” he said.<\/p>\n
Team owner Lopez, however, said: “With Grosjean and Hulkenberg, we would have the best driver pairing for the future.”<\/p>\n
Quadruple world champion Alain Prost has joined those who think it is ridiculous that F1’s financial situation could lock the promising Hulkenberg out of the grid.<\/p>\n
“You would like to see him have five offers on the table and he can choose the best one for him,” said the Frenchman in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n
“30 years ago,” Prost told the German newspaper Welt, “a guy like Hulkenberg would have been snapped up by a top team.”<\/p>\n
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