Lotus suffered a disappointing result in Monaco as neither car finished the gruelling 78 lap race. If the race had been 70 laps, Lotus could have celebrated a one car finish and this article would be rather short. However impatience got the better of Jarno Trulli on lap 74 when the Italian decided to play leapfrog with Hispania rival Karun Chandhok at the exit of La Rascasse.

In truth Chandhok was fortunate not to have been seriously injured as the 650kg Lotus narrowly missed the Hispania cockpit. The crash effectively brought an end to the race as the remaining laps were driven behind the safety car, the fourth over the race distance. It’s fair to say at this point Mike Gascoyne and Tony Fernandes would have been pulling their hair out (If they had any hair left) on the pit wall.

However despite the team’s anguish at losing both cars towards the end of the race this was the first real crash for Lotus in 2010, with mechanical problems being the main issue throughout the season. The race in Monaco might have given the team a hefty repair job but it will have also given them more experience for the future.

Kovalainen would suffer technical problems with his car retiring on lap 62 the mechanical woes have deprived Lotus of promising results this season, and the preparations and developments for their 2011 car will need to reflect some degree of progress in the reliability department.

If there was any consolation from the race in Monte Carlo it was that the team completed the most race distance out of the new teams. However if Trulli had kept his patience through La Rascasse he would have finished 15^th just behind Chandhok.

Despite the rather disappointing result Lotus still appear to be one of the fan favourites on the F1 paddock. Although lacking the pedigree of the established teams their determination as an underdog has won them great applause and adoration from the spectators.

The team have already started planning for the 2011 season with the new car and their performances in 2010 will provide a marker for where they are strong and where they need to improve. Let’s be honest on their current performances there is definitely room for improvement in 2011.

However when Lotus look back on their return to Formula One as a new team they will undoubtedly be proud of what they’ve achieved, particularly as sustainability has been a key requirement this year. The team still have some big ambitions for the future and with the guidance of Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne the team will flourish in the sport.

If there is any comfort which can be taken from the race in Monaco, it’s certain that Trulli’s crash produced one of the most entertaining conclusions to a race in Formula One. The squad might have to schedule some late nights before the next race in Turkey but one thing is for sure, for Lotus the future looks bright.

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