"Team Enstone" is the colloquial name for a British Formula One team which has competed under various different identities and been owned by various companies during its history; its name comes from the village of Enstone in Oxfordshire, where it has been based since late-1991, having previously operated out of Witney. The team's factory is called the Whiteways Technical Centre, and is one of several Formula One team bases located in relatively close proximity to the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. As of the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, forty-five drivers have competed for the five different constructors in the lineage in 762 Grands Prix, winning fifty of them. The outfit has been noted for its frequent changes of identity. The organisation won the Formula One World Constructors' Championship as Benetton Formula in 1995 and as Renault F1 Team in 2005 and 2006. Although the organisation has changed names several times, it has legally remained the same company since the 1980s.
Team Enstone factory in 2015
Lotus F1 Team was a British Formula One racing team. The team competed under the Lotus name from 2012 until 2015, following the renaming of the former Renault team based at Enstone in Oxfordshire. The Lotus F1 Team was majority owned by Genii Capital. Lotus F1 was named after its branding partner Group Lotus. The team achieved a race victory and fourth position in the Formula One Constructors' World Championship in their first season under the Lotus title. Lotus F1 achieved 2 race victories in their time on the grid, both courtesy of Kimi Räikkönen. The team was sold back to Renault on 18 December 2015. The Lotus F1 Team name was officially dropped on 3 February 2016, as Renault announced that the team would compete as Renault Sport Formula One Team.
Romain Grosjean in FP1 of the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix race weekend; he would later claim his second podium.
Kimi Räikkönen driving the Lotus E21 during pre-season testing at Catalonia.
Kimi Räikkönen racing during the 2013 Italian Grand Prix.
The Lotus E22 was notable for its radical "twin tusk" nose concept.