Lotus will not run with passive DRS at the Belgian Grand Prix confirms Nick Chester

Lotus will not run their passive DRS device during qualifying or the race at Spa-Francorchamps, Technical Director Nick Chester confirmed on Friday.

The Enstone team's financial situation is well documented and thus they have to strike a fine line between developing their current car and also working on their 2014 challenger. Lotus started to design next year's car in 2012 and that is something Chester thinks will allow them to continue to challenge this season. "We started the design very early - we have been designing the 2014 car for over 18 months," Chester confirmed. "So that has given us a good head start and that in a way has meant we can develop the 2013 car longer into this season because we are in such a good shape with next year's car. "It is going to be a very interesting year in 2014 - it is the biggest rule change I have seen since I have been in the sport. Trying to optimise the car around a very different powerplant and different cooling is quite a big challenge."