F1 2011 season news / pre-season updates

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MrLOL said:
looks like Tony and 1malaysia have lost this then :(
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It'll be a real shame if they have lost, don't think I can support Proton's Lotus no matter how much I want to see the Lotus name get back up to the top.

Though until the entry list changes, Tony Fernandes' team is running as Team Lotus so I guess there is still a small amount of hope.
 
Two near-identically named teams, in two near-identical colour schemes.

Nope, can't see how this will be an issue whatsoever.

My brain is going to fry next season.
 
Weebull said:
Two near-identically named teams, in two near-identical colour schemes.
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Won't that be similar to the RBR and Torro Rosso cars? In 2010, there were more obvious differences, but in 2009, I found it difficult to tell them (RBR and TR) apart.
 
Weebull said:
Two near-identically named teams, in two near-identical colour schemes.

Nope, can't see how this will be an issue whatsoever.

My brain is going to fry next season.
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One more reason to get rid of Legard then? :D Then again if they keep him maybe he will actually explode at the opening race? I don't see an issue with having two teams with Lotus in the name next season. No different to McLaren Mercedes, Force India Mercedes & Mercedes etc. I do take issue with the way Group Lotus/Proton are handling things and even Dany Bahr seems to have fallen into the Team Lotus = Lotus Cars trap that Proton failed to understand.
 
Pete19s said:
I don't see an issue with having two teams with Lotus in the name next season.
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You don't have an issue with how Lotus Racing have become Team Lotus, signed a deal for Renault engines, and announced a black and gold livery, thus becoming Team Lotus Renault, whilst Renault have been bought out by Lotus, and announced a black and gold livery, to become Lotus Renault F1?

I'd say that's slightly different problem than simply having an engine supplier that also has a works team, wouldn't you?

sunama said:
Won't that be similar to the RBR and Torro Rosso cars? In 2010, there were more obvious differences, but in 2009, I found it difficult to tell them (RBR and TR) apart.
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Aye, I said that to my workmate. Just rename the crappier one "El Lotus Reñault" and have it be the feeder team. :p
 
Fernandes has my support as the only Team Lotus. Dany Bahar looks and sounds like he's driving Proton and Group Lotus into the ground.

I've heard some distressing things from people who currently and formerly worked for Lotus... Including that out of the new cars, only 1 is being developed at this time and it will in all probability, be made overseas and not at Hethel. Mike Kimberly *the former boss of Lotus* isn't allowed to talk about his time at Lotus, he's been threatened with lawsuits and employess aren't allowed to talk to him. This is the guy, who along with Colin Chapman set up Lotus Engineering.... and he's not allowed to talk about it.

Team Lotus was set up independently of Lotus Cars in order to provide financial seperation in case of problems - as seen in 1994 - team went pop, cars and engineering didn't.

Sadly, for the last year or so, Lotus Cars have been passing themselves off as the people who got 13 world championships and had drives like Clark, Senna, Moss, Fittipaldi, Whinger - but they're not. Strangely, this has been since the time that Bahar got the job.

Oh, and it's just Proton giving money to Renault as sponsors. Ok, Team Lotus started the sponsorship thing, but as a way of getting money, rather than handing it out to other companies...

So we have one team called Team Lotus - Renault and the other is Renault, but with Lotus as the title sponsor... Just like how Mclaren is McLaren - Mercedes not Vodaphone - McLaren

Has anyone's brain melted yet?

Also - as all the money for the Group Lotus expansion and investment is coming from bank loans secured by the Malaysian Government - when it all goes **** up... the Malaysian taxpayer will be the ones who will have to bail them out... Nice.
 
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Weebull said:
You don't have an issue with how Lotus Racing have become Team Lotus, signed a deal for Renault engines, and announced a black and gold livery, thus becoming Team Lotus Renault, whilst Renault have been bought out by Lotus, and announced a black and gold livery, to become Lotus Renault F1?

I'd say that's slightly different problem than simply having an engine supplier that also has a works team, wouldn't you?
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Its an incredibly bizzare situation, personally I don't see an issue with them both having Lotus in the name. I would hazard a guess but most casual observers would not know any different as to having 3 teams with Mercedes in the name or 2 with Lotus or 3 with Ferrari and the story behind whats going on. Those with abit more knowledge like most people on here know more about what is going on and that Group Lotus are trying to pull a fast one.
 
Weebull said:
You don't have an issue with how Lotus Racing have become Team Lotus, signed a deal for Renault engines, and announced a black and gold livery, thus becoming Team Lotus Renault, whilst Renault have been bought out by Lotus, and announced a black and gold livery, to become Lotus Renault F1?
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The way I understand it:

1) 2010's Lotus Racing, i.e. 1Malaysia F1 Team, have sorted out a licensing deal with the owners of the Team Lotus name to run their cars and team as Team Lotus, with Renault engines. This is possible because Group Lotus, owned by Proton, doesn't actually own the rights to the Team Lotus name AFAIK.
2) The owners of Renault F1, Genii Capital, and Group Lotus plc have gotten together to race as Lotus Renault GP.

Personally, I hope Fernandes et al get to run their cars as Team Lotus to stick it to Renault and Genii.
 
Seeing as how the Lada sponsorship deal appears to be over, does that mean Vitaly Petrov won't be there next year either? Alonso must be hoping so....;)
 
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