Signing the 1987 World Champion Nelson Piquet gave Lotus the honour of carrying Numbers 1 and 2 on the new Type 100T.
A lack of pre-season development meant Lotus were playing catch up to the dominant McLaren-Hondas and pre-season favourites Ferrari.
The season started well in Rio with 3rd place for Piquet on his Lotus debut and 6th for Nakajima.
The next round in Monaco was a disaster. Nakajima failed to qualify and Piquet retired after an early collision broke his front wing supports.
Canada though was more optimistic with 4th for Piquet and 11th for Nakajima, though Detroit read like Monaco with DNQ for Nakajima and RET for Piquet.
The wet British Grand Prix gave Piquet his second consecutive 5th place and Nakajima another finish with 10th, as did the German Grand Prix with 9th, though Piquet retired.
The next finish for a Team Lotus car came in the Spanish Grand Prix with 8th for Piquet.
The final round of the season in Australia saw what had proved to be Team Lotus' last podium finish with Piquet in 3rd place.
Most of the team was disappointed with 1988 as it had held much optimism with Honda engines and the reigning World Champion.
Piquet was 6th in the Drivers Championship, with Nakajima equal 16th. Meanwhile, Team Lotus had slipped to equal 4th in the Constructors Championship.
Nakajima was retained, as were Honda engines.
The second round of the championship was the San Marino Grand Prix. Piquet scored another 3rd place, but it was clear that the Lotus-Hondas were no match for the McLaren-Hondas.
Nakajima also finished in 8th place.
Nakajima started the Mexican Grand Prix, but neither he nor Piquet made the finish.
The French Grand Prix saw 5th place fall Piquet's way for another 2 points and 7th for Nakajima.
Round 10 in Hungary saw Nakajima lead home Piquet with a Team Lotus 7-8, though things improved in the Belgian Grand Prix with a close 4th place for Piquet (though only after the two Benettons were disqualified).
Nakajima followed this up with 7th at Suzuka in Japan.
