Nico Hulkenberg’s chances of securing a competitive seat for 2014 have reportedly been hindered by his height and weight, with the German amongst the tallest and heaviest on the grid.
With the new cars and heavier engines coming into play next season, the issue weight is more important than ever as the engineers try to squeeze as much as possible into a tight package.
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier however insists they will not base their decision on that alone, but they’re more interested in what a driver can do as they look to replace the outgoing Kimi Raikkonen.
“We’re more interested in the talent and potential of a driver rather than the difference of a few kilos,” he said, hinting directly at Hulkenberg who Lotus are believed to be considering for next year.
“We have confidence in our development team to be able to produce a car for the 2014 regulations which should be competitive in the hands of any driver we consider for next year,” he added.