Team Lotus has confirmed that Steve Nielsen will be joining the team as Sporting Director from December 12. He will replace engineer Dieter Gass who is returning home to Germany.
Steve Nielsen is a highly respected F1 player, who worked his way up through the ranks in F1 working with Team Lotus in the 1980s, then Tyrrell, Benetton and Arrows. In 2000 he rejoined Benetton as Sporting Manager and has led the race team through to its current incarnation as Renault ever since.
“I first met Steve in Singapore 2010 and offered him a job then which he turned down, so I am delighted he has finally taken up the chance to join us,” said Tony Fernandes. “It is a good mark of our team that we can attract people of Steve’s calibre and I am thrilled that someone who is so well respected, and is coming from a team that is ahead of us in so many ways, shares our belief in our ability to grow and, in due course, challenge the midfield. I am also very pleased that we have been able to agree a new contract with Graham Watson [team manager] as he has been one of the core pillars of our team, and has had a direct influence on our growth, both on and off track. There are more announcements to come over the next few weeks which will all help us achieve our long-term goals, and today’s news about Steve and Graham is another step forward for the whole team.”
joeblogsf1 
What’s the diff between team manager and sporting manager?
RShack,
A team manager manages the team, while a sporting director/manager deals with bigger picture stuff, such as the FIA, other teams and can also be involved in race strategies etc. There is no accepted structure for names of jobs in F1 so they often overlap.
Any suggestion that this (and perhaps the other announcements to come) are part of the deal that allows Renault to become Lotus?
Jerry
No.
Is this Enstone Lotus now?
Cynic,
Nielsen left Lotus Renault GP to join Team Lotus, which will soon become Team Caterham at Leafield.
You’ve commented before that Renault has been leaking experienced people at quite a rate but such a symbolic move from a very senior member seems very problematic for Boullier et al.
joesaward,
> RShack,
>
> A team manager manages the team, while a sporting director/manager
> deals with bigger picture stuff, such as the FIA, other teams and can
> also be involved in race strategies etc. There is no accepted structure
> for names of jobs in F1 so they often overlap.
Thanks.
Is one typically subordinate to the other? Team manager the boss? Or separate lines to a shared boss?
So another big name leaving Renault F1, things don’t go very well there I suppose. Good catch by Fernandez.
Steve’s a sensible, feet-on-the-ground guy (an ex-policeman). He’ll be an asset for them.