Lotus has confirmed that they are confident they have identified their second driver for next season.

The team have lost Frenchman Romain Grosjean to new outfit Haas F1 for 2016, meaning Pastor Maldonado will have a new team-mate next year.

Jolyon Palmer and Esteban Ocon have been linked with the drive, but deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi refused to hint who the new man will be.

He said: “We won't be disclosing it before we announce it, but certainly we have been speaking to drivers and we have a pretty good idea who we will have in the car," he said.

"The remorseless passing of time means that you always get closer to something in the future, so yes, we are closer to making an announcement.

"I would say something will come sooner rather than later."

Lotus is expected to be bought by Renault ahead of the new season, in a move which would end their financial turmoil.


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