1990 was intended to be a renaissance year for Team Lotus, but they slid further into recession.

The Frank Dernie designed Type 102 was fitted with the Lamborghini V12 engine, but just wasn't competitive enough.

Both Warwick and Donnelly qualified for the first race of the season at Phoenix, though Donnelly didn't make the start and Warwick retired.
The first finish of the season for Team Lotus came in the San Marino Grand Prix, Round 3 of the Championship with Warwick 7th and Donnelly 8th.
Warwick went one better two races later with 6th in the Canadian Grand Prix.
Both Lotuses finished in Mexico with Donnelly 8th and Warwick 10th, followed by 11th and 12th (Warwick/Donnelly) in France.

The British Grand Prix saw a double retirement, though 8th place fell Warwick's way in the German Grand Prix.
Team Lotus' best finish of the season came at the Hungarian Grand Prix with Warwick 5th and Donnelly 7th.
Another 11th and 12th followed this at Spa.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza saw Derek Warwick involved in a monumental accident at the final corner on the first lap.
His 102 hit the barriers and speared off into the middle of the circuit. The race was stopped and Warwick took the restart in the spare car, though retired.

Worse was to befall Martin Donnelly in Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
A massive accident at the fastest part of the circuit saw the Lotus disintegrate to leave Donnelly lying in the middle of the circuit, still strapped to his seat.
His injuries weren't serious, but his Grand Prix career was over.

The following Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka saw Johnny Herbert make his Team Lotus debut.
The 1990 test driver tried his best but retired, as did Derek Warwick who was in the top 6 before he made his exit.
Both Lotuses retired in the final race in Australia.

Team Lotus ended 1990 in 8th place in the Constructors Championship with a lowly 3 points.
Warwick was placed 14th in the Drivers Championship (equal with 1989 Team Lotus driver Satoru Nakajima, now with Tyrrell).

Camel announced its withdrawing of sponsorship for Lotus, which forced the team to the brink of extinction.

Peter Collins and Peter Wright stepped in to make sure that there was a Team Lotus on the grid in 1991, though now as one of the lesser teams.

It was all change on the driver front with the 1990 British Formula 3 Champion Mika Hakkinen signed alongside Julian Bailey who drove for Tyrrell in 1988.
Judd returned as engine supplier, giving Lotus their ED V8 units.

Due to funds being tight, a completely new car couldn�t be designed, so the Type 102 was revised to B specification by Frank Coppuck.
The cars were now painted White with Dark Green flashes.

The first round of the season in Phoenix, Arizona saw Hakkinen qualify 13th for his first Grand Prix, though he retired on the 60th lap.
Julian Bailey meanwhile failed to make the cut due to car problems.

Round 2 in Brazil again saw Bailey fail to qualify, but Hakkinen made 22nd on the grid, driving to a strong 9th in the race.
The San Marino Grand Prix saw Team Lotus� 1991 highpoint.
Both cars qualified, 25th and 26th (Hakkinen 3rd in wet free practice!). They had a superb race to give Hakkinen 5th, Bailey 6th and Team Lotus 3 points.

Monaco saw Bailey fail to qualify for the third time in 4 rounds. Hakkinen made the race but retired.

The following Canadian Grand Prix saw a new driver in Lotus No. 12 as Julian Bailey had run out of money.
He was replaced by Johnny Herbert, who failed to qualify due to car problems.
The race result was the same as Monaco with Hakkinen qualifying 24th but retiring.
The Mexican Grand Prix gave Herbert his first 1991 start.
Both Lotuses finished with Hakkinen 9th and Herbert 10th.

The French Grand Prix saw Hakkinen fail to qualify for the first time in 1991, though Herbert made 20th on the grid, no doubt motivated by his recent win in the Le Mans 24hrs.
He finished a good 10th place.

Both Lotuses made the British Grand Prix, finishing 12 (Hakkinen) and 14th (Herbert), though Johnny ran as high as 9th at one point.
Herbert had Formula 3000 commitments during the German Grand Prix, so his place was taken by Michael Bartels. He failed to qualify, though Hakkinen made the race and retired after 19 laps.
Only Hakkinen qualified for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Starting 26th and finishing 14th.

Johnny Herbert returned to Team Lotus for the Belgian Grand Prix and qualified 21st, with Hakkinen 24th. The Finn retired but Johnny has an inspired race to end up 7th (full distance).

Bartels returned at Monza but again failed to get into the race.
Hakkinen did and finished 14th.

Herbert was back for the Portuguese Grand Prix but retired after 2 laps, while Hakkinen braved having to hold his head up with his hand on high G-Force corners to finish 14th.
Michael Bartels made his fourth unsuccessful attempt to qualify in Spain. Hakkinen qualified but was punted out of 10th place by Michele Alboreto.

Herbert returned at Suzuka for the rest of the season.
Both Lotuses retired in the Japanese Grand Prix, but survived the 14 lap deluge that was the Australian Grand Prix to finish 11th (Herbert) and 14th (Hakkinen).

The end of the season saw Team Lotus in equal 9th position in the Constructors Championship with the 3 points won in San Marino. This was the same score as in 1990 but on a greatly reduced budget.
Hakkinen was equal 15th in the Drivers Championship with Bailey equal 18th.

Herbert and Hakkinen stayed on for 1992.
Team Lotus were now fighting back with new sponsorship deals, courtesy of Hitachi and Shionogi, as well as a much more competitive engine in the form of the Ford Cosworth HB V8.
The 102 was further modified to D specification, though a new car was on its way.
The cars were also painted a new colour scheme.
Green with Yellow stripes reminiscent of the 1960�s livery.

The first race of the 1992 season was the South African Grand Prix at the recently refurbished Kyalami circuit.
Herbert had a solid race which brought Team Lotus their first point since San Marino 1991 with 6th place. Hakkinen also finished, in 9th place.

The second round of the season was the Mexican Grand Prix. Both Lotuses were in the Top 12 on the run down to the first corner, but Herbert spun and was narrowly avoided by Andrea De Cesaris in the Tyrrell.
Johnny recovered to finish 7th, just behind Hakkinen in a great 6th place.

Round 3 in Brazil saw no points for Team Lotus, but Herbert drove superbly from last on the grid to 6th place before being the innocent victim in a collision between the two Ligiers of Comas and Boutsen.
Hakkinen came home 10th.

The very wet Spanish Grand Prix was the last race to feature a Lotus 102, and its farewell resulted in a double retirement.
Hakkinen tried to qualify the 102D for the San Marino Grand Prix but failed.