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[Jensonb]

It's great that they qualified; now let's see if they can finish the race; between engine cut off switch failures and smoking HRT's; it may be tough to finish the race but it's good progress! If they could organise themselves better and find stable funding; they could possibly beat Lotus to be the first of the new teams to break into midfield obscurity.

Don't count on it.

Despite all Lotus' ambition; they aren't much better than they were last season

Baloney, if Kovalainen hadn't lost time to his previous best in the first two sectors, he'd have gotten into Q2.

[acosmichippo]

It's great that they qualified; now let's see if they can finish the race; between engine cut off switch failures and smoking HRT's; it may be tough to finish the race but it's good progress! If they could organise themselves better and find stable funding; they could possibly beat Lotus to be the first of the new teams to break into midfield obscurity.

Don't count on it.

Despite all Lotus' ambition; they aren't much better than they were last season

Baloney, if Kovalainen hadn't lost time to his previous best in the first two sectors, he'd have gotten into Q2.

How is that a positive? I'm sure the other drivers that failed to get into Q2 had their own "what if" moments.

[myownalias]

It's great that they qualified; now let's see if they can finish the race; between engine cut off switch failures and smoking HRT's; it may be tough to finish the race but it's good progress! If they could organise themselves better and find stable funding; they could possibly beat Lotus to be the first of the new teams to break into midfield obscurity.

Don't count on it.

Despite all Lotus' ambition; they aren't much better than they were last season

Baloney, if Kovalainen hadn't lost time to his previous best in the first two sectors, he'd have gotten into Q2.

Would have; could have's mean nothing in F1; it's the first car to cross the line... given the Renault engine and hydraulics from Red Bull; Lotus have been massively disappointing this season, HRT disappointed last GP but this weekend they have done well and made a massive jump in performance with a lesser budget and lesser drivers (IMO) than both Lotus and Virgin!

[vlad]

Lotus is getting better every day.. By Barcelona race they will have some more upgrades, so we may even expect to see them in Q2...

[Jensonb]

It's great that they qualified; now let's see if they can finish the race; between engine cut off switch failures and smoking HRT's; it may be tough to finish the race but it's good progress! If they could organise themselves better and find stable funding; they could possibly beat Lotus to be the first of the new teams to break into midfield obscurity.

Don't count on it.

Despite all Lotus' ambition; they aren't much better than they were last season

Baloney, if Kovalainen hadn't lost time to his previous best in the first two sectors, he'd have gotten into Q2.

Would have; could have's mean nothing in F1; it's the first car to cross the line... given the Renault engine and hydraulics from Red Bull; Lotus have been massively disappointing this season, HRT disappointed last GP but this weekend they have done well and made a massive jump in performance with a lesser budget and lesser drivers (IMO) than both Lotus and Virgin!

Because the Lotus potentially has the pace to challenge the Q2 stragglers right now. And they're not going to sit on their behinds all season and let HRT leapfrog them, they're a serious outfit with serious credentials, they're going to move on. Fast. Marussia on the other hand are precocious and lacking in resources. HRT could easily spring a trap on them

[myownalias]

It's great that they qualified; now let's see if they can finish the race; between engine cut off switch failures and smoking HRT's; it may be tough to finish the race but it's good progress! If they could organise themselves better and find stable funding; they could possibly beat Lotus to be the first of the new teams to break into midfield obscurity.

Don't count on it.

Despite all Lotus' ambition; they aren't much better than they were last season

Baloney, if Kovalainen hadn't lost time to his previous best in the first two sectors, he'd have gotten into Q2.

Would have; could have's mean nothing in F1; it's the first car to cross the line... given the Renault engine and hydraulics from Red Bull; Lotus have been massively disappointing this season, HRT disappointed last GP but this weekend they have done well and made a massive jump in performance with a lesser budget and lesser drivers (IMO) than both Lotus and Virgin!

Because the Lotus potentially has the pace to challenge the Q2 stragglers right now. And they're not going to sit on their behinds all season and let HRT leapfrog them, they're a serious outfit with serious credentials, they're going to move on. Fast. Marussia on the other hand are precocious and lacking in resources. HRT could easily spring a trap on them

We don't know what the future holds; just look at Ferrari last year; by mid-season; Ferrari looked down and out but came back to almost win the drivers title. All it takes is a one big development leap and a bit of of luck and HRT could find themselves in the uncharted realms of Q2. I'm just disappointed that Lotus hasn't moved forward since last season and HRT seem to be getting it together!

[Hammer278]

Err...what are you talking about myownalias??

Lotus' performance in qualifying was great!! They're huge amounts faster than the other new comers and they are just a tiny bit away from Q2! Last year they were struggling to beat Virgin, and mostly equaling them. This year they're knocking on the doors of Q2 cars, I'd say that IS a step forward?

Virgin are going backwards, and HRT's aim now is to just qualify. I dont see how these two can trouble Lotus anytime soon...

[myownalias]

In my opinion; despite all the technology changes, Lotus have only maintained their advantage over the other newbies at this stage but they have not moved forward from the last few races of the 2010 season, Virgin are going backwards with their computer designed car and HRT seem to be going in the right direction and have a good engineering team. With the new Renault engine and Red Bull gearbox and hydraulics Lotus should have made a jump to be up there with Toro Rosso and Force India.

[What's Burning?]

In my opinion; despite all the technology changes, Lotus have only maintained their advantage over the other newbies at this stage but they have not moved forward from the last few races of the 2010 season, Virgin are going backwards with their computer designed car and HRT seem to be going in the right direction and have a good engineering team. With the new Renault engine and Red Bull gearbox and hydraulics Lotus should have made a jump to be up there with Toro Rosso and Force India.

I expected them to be fighting it out with the Force Indias, Williams' and Toro Rossos... and they're basically struggling to keep in touch with the back of STRs! I don't see the new the effect of the new components at all.

[Jensonb]

In my opinion; despite all the technology changes, Lotus have only maintained their advantage over the other newbies at this stage but they have not moved forward from the last few races of the 2010 season, Virgin are going backwards with their computer designed car and HRT seem to be going in the right direction and have a good engineering team. With the new Renault engine and Red Bull gearbox and hydraulics Lotus should have made a jump to be up there with Toro Rosso and Force India.

I expected them to be fighting it out with the Force Indias, Williams' and Toro Rossos... and they're basically struggling to keep in touch with the back of STRs! I don't see the new the effect of the new components at all.

Well there's the problem, your expectations were too high. They have clearly and demonstrably moved forward, just not as far as you, unaccountably, assumed they would.

[vlad]

Let's just hope that both HRT drivers can finnish races...

[CarBore]

Regardless of what you expected, Lotus are clearly the fastest of the new teams, the fact they are still slower than everyone else doesn't change the fact they are way ahead of Virgin and HRT

[vlad]

Lotus has a very good chance to catch up with the middle-field teams.

[acosmichippo]

Now that HRT is getting more track time and wind-tunnel time, I'm hopeful they pull in front of Virgin soon.

[CarBore]

I hope Virgin and HRT both pull forward rather than one ahead of the other