Lotus set to evaluate DRS options

Lotus is set to evaluate its own version of the double DRS system being used by Mercedes after failing with a protest against the device during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. The Enstone-based team had protested against the device in Shanghai only for stewards to dismiss the argument put forward, leaving rival teams to now look into how they can incorporate the device onto their cars. The Shanghai weekend saw Mercedes reap the benefits of the device – which channels air to the front wing when DRS is deployed – as Nico Rosberg secured pole position and then won the race. Speaking ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, Lotus technical chief James Allison admitted that the ruling stating that the part was legal now left his team needing to evaluate its own system although he said there was no guarantee that the team would push ahead with a version. “We are at the point of making estimates of how big the gain might be and eyeballing up the difficulty in actually realising that gain,” he said. “It's anyone's guess how powerful any existing system is, but that's not the issue; it's how powerful we think we can make any system which we can now develop now we know how the rules can be interpreted. “There are systems like Mercedes has, but the interpretation allows other permutations too. So it could be an interesting time for developments in this area.”