Jan.8 (GMM) The new F1 team Lotus' 2010 car will not be ready to run at the opening two group tests of the pre-season at Valencia and Jerez next month, Mike Gascoyne has admitted.

Autosport.com reports that the Malaysian team's single seater will instead be driven for the first time at the third test, at Jerez, in the middle of next month.

Lotus technical boss Gascoyne said the team will also travel to the final test at Barcelona prior to the Bahrain season opener.

"That (Jerez) will be the first time the world will see the car in action -- and we are hoping that chassis two will run for the last two days of the Barcelona test," he said.

Gascoyne told the same website that double diffusers, controversially introduced and then declared legal by the FIA in 2009, are likely to be banned for 2011.

"I think it is very sensible and very easy to do -- just tighten up the regulations and it is done," he said.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version