An Interview With Sporting Director, Dieter Gass.

TL: How're you feeling at the moment? We've finished our debut year, we succeeded in gaining tenth place in the Championships...

DG: I'm very happy that we achieved all our set goals for the 2010 season, but that also makes me begin to look forward to 2011. Our challenge was to be best of the new teams, but after a while it gets a little boring, as at the end of the day we are at a level where we had to be best of the new teams, or else we'd be very disappointed! I'm looking forward to the challenge next year, and that is to move further up the grid.

TL: We've changed our name; yes you're Sporting Director and more involved in the technical side of things, but does that affect you?

DG: The name is important. When I was growing up and started following Formula One™ Lotus was important to me. The Lotus with the Renault engine was one of my first strong memories, and it was something that has been in the back of my mind. I think this gives you some extra motivation, running under the Team Lotus name.

TL: Looking ahead, we've got a few great improvements coming. Are you feeling happy and confident about them?

DG: Absolutely yes. We should make a big step forward in terms of reliability this year using the Red Bull gear box and hydraulics package since this was a major issue for us throughout the 2010 season. The performance however, must come from other areas. I don't think we can expect to make a major step forwards just because of our Red Bull / Renault package, we need to develop the car and put together a good and strong aero package on the car, which is also suited to the new regulations.

We need to understand the new tyres quickly and make the necessary adjustments and then we should be in the position where we have a better performance. So yes, definitely, very exciting times are ahead although being World Champions is perhaps still a little far away; this is something that will always be in the back of my mind as I feel this is the important thing for us to aim for.

TL: Regulations this year. Talk us through what you already know...

DG: The most important ones to note are that no team is allowed a double diffuser, and no team is allowed an F-Duct. There is no adjustable front wing and these are replaced by KERS which will be back again in the cars. An adjustable rear wing is allowed to enhance overtaking. They are significant changes and it should make for an interesting 2011 season.

TL: Realistically, where would you like to see us this year?

DG: Well, I can't say anything different from the official target, which is eighth place! I think to be in a position to fight with the established teams ahead of us would be a good achievement. Realistically, if we are in a position to regularly compete with them then we should we be happy, and then if we make some good calls we may have the opportunity to go for some bigger points.

TL: Talk me through what happens on the pit wall...

DG: There is a lot of preparation work before we come to the pit wall, which we present to Mike. Once he agrees, we have a detailed plan laid out. On the pit wall, there is a permanent discussion between Mike, Jody and myself if we think we see any situation coming up which we might have to react to. And it's probably fair to say, that if there's an imminent decision then we rely on Jody to make the call, as there are situations where we simply have no time discuss! For example if the safety car comes out and our car is at the beginning of the pit entry, Jody would make that call.

TL: Do you ever get nervous?

DG: Excited, yes. Not really nervous. If it gets to making a call, where it's not always that obvious, you do feel a little apprehensive.

For example, the much talked about Ferrari decision in Abu Dhabi. Everyone said it was the wrong thing to do; but I don't think there were many people who immediately said that the decision was wrong when the car was pulling into the pits; even if afterwards it seemed obvious.

TL: How do you relax?

DG: Away from the races I enjoy spending time with my family, and during the race weekends I like to go running. This is very relaxing for me, and it's like releasing my brain, if you like. You can focus and think about things without any external factors. Often I have good ideas when I go running, as I have the chance to really think in depth about things.

TL: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

DG: I think I'd have to come back to Fred Stalder, owner of the ROC (Racing Organisation Course). He said to me once, 'Dieter, a bad decision is better than no decision.' And it was a piece of advice that I always remembered as obviously there's a lot more around it than only the sentence he spoke. If you decide something, even if it's not the best decision in hindsight, then everyone goes in the same direction and you can get a result. But if you don't decide, then everyone goes their own way, in different directions, and the efficiency of work is greatly limited.

TL: If you could sum up the last year in one word, what would you say?

DG: Well, if I had to say only one word, I would say 'eventful'.