There simply is no polite way of saying it. Precisely a year ago "Team Enstone" - as the squad that mutated through various identities since starting life as Toleman became known - was in a total mess.

Having been dubbed "Lotus", the operation was on its knees, with bankruptcy said to be a single court case away, and subsequent Companies House filings showing the team to have lost £60m in 2015.

For months rumours flowed back and forth that Renault was keen to re-acquire the team that delivered the 2005/6 world championships via Fernando Alonso - who followed in tyre tracks left by Michael Schumacher's 1994/5 titles when it was known as Benetton - but only if a hard bargain could be struck with Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of F1's commercial rights holder Formula One Management.