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Lotus will be looking to finish as high as possible in the constructors’ championship this season, as the price money will be a significant factor which will dictate the replacement of Kimi Raikkonen.
The team is currently place in fourth position behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes and is the only team which has no manufacturer or global mega company funding compared to the other top teams.
Lotus will remain in the same financial position if they finish in fourth but will get a huge boost if they manage to finish second instead. As a result the team will be free to choose the driver to replace Raikkonen solely on the basis of merit.
They have already interested in securing the services Nico Hulkenberg, who is termed as the best young talent in the grid at the moment. However, Hulkenberg lacks a proper sponsor which opens the door for Pastor Maldonado, who is backed by the oil money of PDVSA.
If the team manages to finish in second, they will be free to choose Hulkenberg for next season but they will be forced to settle for Maldonado and the money that comes with him if they fail to achieve the same.
