The Lotus F1 Team will be racing next season with Mercedes engines, switching over from Renault. Under the terms of the agreement, Enstone-based Lotus will be supplied with Mercedes-Benz Power Units by Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) based in Brixworth, UK.
The Mercedes-Benz Power Units have been dominant this year, powering the Silver Arrows to the constructors' title with three races to go. Mercedes uses Petronas lubricants, which means that Lotus' partnership with French oil company Total will end as well.
However, Lotus will continue to design and manufacture its own transmission at Enstone where work is already underway on the team's 2015 challenger, the E23 Hybrid.
"We are pleased to have been chosen by Mercedes AMG HPP in a significant long term deal. We intend to return to the front of the field with the goals of winning Grands Prix and being a strong championship contender once more and we see this new agreement as one step towards this aim," said team CEO Matthew Carter.
"The Mercedes-Benz Power Unit has shown good performance on track and it is our goal to marry this motive force to our chassis expertise. It is our desire that the E23 Hybrid, powered by Mercedes-Benz, heralds a new era of success for Enstone," he added.
As Lotus joins Merc's customer list next year, McLaren will be leaving the three-pointed star to rekindle a relationship with Honda. McLaren-Honda - sounds good, doesn't it?
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