Lotus F1 thinks most teams will keep stepped nose in 2013 season

Lotus F1 car E21 for 2013 F1 season

Lotus' technical boss thinks many teams will continue to use 'step' noses in 2013.

The first 2013 car to be unveiled on Monday, Enstone based Lotus' E21 still features the indecorous 'step' synonymous with last year's grid, despite the FIA now allowing teams to please the fans by installing a so-called 'modesty' laminate.

It is believed that Williams and Ferrari will indeed race cars with smooth noses in 2013.

But Lotus' James Allison thinks the majority of the field will continue to feature questionable aesthetics.

"I would not be surprised if the majority of the grid chose not to make use of it (the modesty panel)," said the technical director.

"The panel will add a few grams of weight and so is only likely to run on the car if a team can find a performance benefit for doing so," added Allison.

The new Lotus E21, revealed during the Lotus E21 Youtube launch on Monday evening, does however feature the Twitter hashtag #imsexyandiknowit on its livery.

Allison admitted the car is a combination of redesigned parts and evolution.

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will race, while the new GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi has signed up as 'third driver'.

Italian Valsecchi, 26, said: "I hope this is the beginning of a career in F1."

Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio, however, retains his role as 'reserve driver', while Frenchman Nicolas Prost - the son of the famous four-time world champion Alain - "will perform development driver duties", Lotus announced.

See the latest pictures about the launched Lotus E21

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