Lotus to test 2015 Mercedes engine at Jerez

Lotus has hit back at reports it will not benefit from the 2015 specification of Mercedes’ turbo V6 engine starting from the Jerez test this weekend.

Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner had claimed that only the works team and Williams would have the latest Mercedes at their disposal, with customers Lotus and Force India to make do with the title-winning 2014 unit.

"Contrary to what you may read," Lotus hit back on Twitter, "we are using the latest Mercedes engine in the E23, not something from the archives".

Gruner also apologised for the mistake.

"I tweeted yesterday about Lotus and Force India (testing) with 2014 spec Merc engine. Not true," he admitted. "Lotus will get the 2015 parts.

"Sorry," the German correspondent added.

It seems the same may also be true for Force India, as the team’s technical boss Andrew Green exclaimed that Mercedes’ 2015 specification is "more powerful than last year’s".

"I expect great things from this engine," he is quoted by Italy’s Tuttosport, "but I hope at the same time that it will be further improved mid-season."

Lotus, too, is excited about the 2015 season with Mercedes, having struggled throughout last year with Renault power.

"We don’t know how Honda or Ferrari will go," said team CEO Matthew Carter, "but I think that in this first part of the season we will have an advantage."