Lotus E23 Hybrid
The Lotus E23 Hybrid is a Formula One racing car which Lotus used to compete in the 2015 [Formula One season]. The chassis was designed by Nick Chester, Chris Cooney, Martin Tolliday and Nicolas Hennel with Mercedes supplying the team's powertrain. It was driven by Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Images of the 2015 car were released on 26 January 2015. The E23 Hybrid attained one podium with Grosjean at the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix, which would be the last with the Lotus name, and finished sixth in the Constructors' Championship.
At the time of its competitive debut at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, where it scored a double retirement, the E23 Hybrid was the Enstone team's only car to use Mercedes engine after a 20-year period of racing with Renault based powerplants. The E23 Hybrid was also the first Enstone-based car not to use a Renault-based engine since the Ford-powered V8 powered Benetton B194 in, as well as first full British team to utilize Petronas fuel and lubricants. The Lotus-Mercedes partnership was originally intended to last for six years, but was terminated five years earlier as the team returned to Renault power unit after a single season and thus bought ill-fated Lotus stake from 2016 onwards and renamed back to Renault Sport Formula One Team. The Renault works partnership was terminated following the conclusion of the season following poor results with the power unit, and the Enstone based team, rebranded to Alpine since 2021, is set to return to customer Mercedes power units for the 2026 Formula One World Championship.
Season summary
After the team's dramatic slump in 2014, the 2015 season marked a small improvement in form. The car was considered an improvement compared to the disastrous Lotus E22, which suffered from reliability issues and struggling for competitiveness due to the underpowered and unreliable Renault power unit and the fundamental flaws of the E22 chassis. However, both driver errors and unreliability cost the team points finishes in many races, limiting the car's potential of consistent points scoring. Maldonado retired in 5 out of the first 6 races either due to collisions or car problems. Grosjean and Maldonado collided with each other, in Spain and Britain. A highlight of the season however was Grosjean's podium finish in Belgium. Lotus ended its last season with 78 points and a 6th place in the World Constructors' Championship, before its buyout from Renault Sport.Sponsorship and livery
The livery was completely changed with a new gold graphics design and the red accents were mostly removed while retaining the triple stars behind the cockpit. The team had lost the Rexona sponsorship as Unilever switched into Williams. This was the final year for the following sponsors: Yotaphone, Saxo Bank, PDVSA and Proton.The team promoted the movie Mad Max: Fury Road at the Spanish Grand Prix. The team sponsored Pharrell Williams' recording label I Am Other in Monaco. The team paid tribute to Jules Bianchi in Hungary, with "#JB17" present on the engine cover. At Singapore, Lotus celebrated the launch of the Forza Motorsport 6 and to celebrate, drivers wore green Xbox overalls.