Lotus 25: The Legendary Race Car That Changed Formula 1 Forever

Now more or less a run-of-the-mill, Chinese-owned manufacturer focusing on production EVs, Lotus was once one of the most revered names in both the automotive industry and the world of motorsport.

Its story began in 1952 when the young Colin Chapman and a small group of like-minded partners founded Lotus Engineering Ltd. Determined to revolutionize the automotive industry, Chapman and his crew began developing lightweight, street-legal race cars (often sold as kits) that were praised for their excellent handling and competitive pricing.

But Chapman also wanted to make a name for himself in motorsport, so in 1954, he created Team Lotus. Only four years later, Lotus made its Formula 1 debut, and by the end of the 1970s, it became the most successful team in the competition, racking up seven Constructor's titles (as opposed to Ferrari's six).

That impressive trophy haul started sixty years ago with the Lotus 25, a revolutionary race car that deserves to be remembered.

A risky idea

During its first five seasons in Formula 1, Lotus finished second in the overall Constructor's standings three times. The team had established itself as a serious contender, but Chapman realized something special was needed to clinch the title.

Therefore, for the 1962 season, he decided to replace the conventional space frame design of the previous cars with a completely revolutionary chassis that he had previously sketched on a napkin while dining out with close friend and fellow engineering wizard Frank Costin.

The idea was to use boxed sections of L72 aluminum alloy and join them into a one-piece structure. Theoretically, this would make the chassis exponentially lighter and more rigid than a traditional space frame.

While it sounded great in theory, such a revolutionary chassis was never built before, so Chapman and his team had no idea if it would actually work. They figured that spending money and time developing a new car around this novel idea could endanger their 1962 campaign. Still, they decided to build the new car anyway but also developed the space-frame Lotust 24 as a backup.

The birth of "The Bathtub"

Now recognized as Formula 1's first monocoque, the novel aluminum chassis of the Lotus 25 turned out to be three times stiffer and about 50% lighter than the standard steel frame of the 24. Moreover, it was low-slung and narrow, thanks to its boxed side sections that incorporated rubber fuel tanks.

The innovative design meant that the driver looked like lying down rather than sitting in the car, which later earned it the nickname "Bathtub."

Thanks to the significant increase in rigidity, Chapman was able to devise a far more supple suspension system that made the 25 faster and more agile through tight corners.

Powered by the same Mk II Coventry Climax FWMV 1.5-liter V8 used in the Lotus 24, the new car proved much faster during initial tests, so the team entered The Bathtub in the 1962 F1 championship.

Close, but no cigar

The Lotus 25 debuted at the Dutch Grand Prix held at Zandvoort on May 20, 1962. It was driven by the legendary Jim Clark, whereas the other factory driver, Trevor Taylor, got behind the wheel of a space-frame chassis Lotus 24.

Though Clark recorded the third fastest time in qualifying, several mechanical issues forced him to finish 9th, a whopping ten laps behind the winning BRM of Graham Hill. Curiously, his teammate's 24 proved more reliable and finished the race second.

The Lotus 25 started to show its potential in the following races, with Clark winning his first race in the new car at Spa, in Belgium. Two more Grand Prix victories followed, but recurring issues prevented Lotus from winning any trophies that year, with both the team and Clark finishing second in the overall Drivers' and Constructors' standings.

A triumphant second season

For the 1963 campaign, engineers addressed the nagging issues that plagued the 25 during the previous season. Furthermore, Team Lotus would benefit from two 25s for the full length of the season, while a third chassis was eventually delivered to Jack Brabham's team.

Though the season started with a disappointing 8th place for Clark at Monaco, the legendary driver and his revolutionary 25 won seven out of the remaining nine races. Even more impressive, Clark still finished on the podium (second and third place) in the two races he failed to win.

Lotus finished the season eighteen points ahead of BRM, clinching its first Constructors' Championship. At the same time, Jim Clark lifted the Drivers' trophy after racking up nearly twice as many points as 1962 champion Graham Hill.

A long-lasting legacy

The Lotus 25 was campaigned in several races during the 1964 and 1965 seasons, but simultaneously, the team ran an improved works car - the 33.

The 1964 season saw Lotus and Jim Clark conceding both trophies to Ferrari and their leading driver, John Surtees. However, the aging 25 and the newer 33, which shared the same monocoque chassis design, earned Lotus and Jim Clark their second titles in 1965.

Today, the Lotus 25 is rarely mentioned when enthusiasts talk about legendary Formula 1 cars. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most revolutionary machines in competition history.

Though the base materials have changed and the overall design was improved, the monocoque chassis of modern race cars and road-legal hypercars still employ the same basic principles pioneered by Chapman in the 25.

Six decades after it helped Lotus win its first Formula 1 title, the 25 remains a pioneering car that revolutionized motorsport and the high-performance sports car (aka supercar and hypercar) industry. So, as Lotus has disappeared from motorsport and it's struggling to find its identity among EV manufacturers, let's ensure this engineering masterpiece will never be forgotten.

If you want to learn more about the legendary Lotus 25, we recommend watching the excellent documentary below, posted on YouTube by TheRacingJungleIII.