Doubt was cast over whether or not Lotus would compete in the final race of the season when on Wednesday evening, the team’s freight had yet to arrive at the Abu Dhabi circuit.
However on Thursday morning the Enstone outfit’s cars and equipment finally arrived in the paddock, giving them just under a day to set up their garage and prepare for Friday practice.
The exact reason behind their delayed freight isn’t known, but it isn’t the first time their equipment hasn’t arrived on schedule, with previous problems down to unpaid bills to multiple suppliers.
Lotus are currently awaiting the final word from Renault as to whether the French manufacturer will complete its takeover of the team, something co-owner Gerard Lopez recently stated was a “done deal”.
It’s expected Renault will make a formal announcement this weekend, with CEO Carlos Ghosn giving the green-light for a works team in 2016.
