2 x Lotus in F1

This will get even more confusing if Team Lotus follow the usual trend of including the engine manufacturer in the team name, meaning we will have Lotus Renault GP, and Team Lotus Renault.

However, I feel this will all become less confusing as I can see Tony Fernandes loosing the legal fight to use Team Lotus meaning the current Lotus Racing, that wants to be rebranded Team Lotus, will actually use a different name.

And I thought that Proton had a stake in Tony Fernandes' team anyway?

So Proton fund Lotus Racing who want to run as Team Lotus as Proton, who own Group Lotus originally allowed them to use the Lotus name for promotion, but now Group Lotus have bought into Renault and named it Lotus Renault and Proton are in a legal battle to stop Lotus Racing using the Team Lotus name as they belive it is owned by Group Lotus, who they own, who now own Lotus Renault...

:S

But anyway, I can see Tony Fernandes loosing his battle, the Team Lotus name returing to Lotus Cars ownership, and in 2012 the Lotus Renault team will be rebranded Team Lotus, and finally Lotus will be properly back in F1, owned by Group Lotus, using the Team Lotus name.

Good job it wont confuse anyone!
 
The daft thing is that the name Lotus has been turned into an empty meaningless "Brand". Lotus is Colin Chapman, the two are inseparable.

Painting a car black and gold, calling it Lotus does not make it a Lotus.

When it comes to marketing, Bill Hicks had the right idea. Just search for "Bill Hicks" marketing in youtube. Can't link to it as it will almost certainly contain naughty words.
 
I agree Hodders. And the worst bit is that its all been caused by Proton, who own Lotus anyway!

At the begining of last year it was all fine. Everyone knew that Tony Fernandes' team wasnt really Lotus, but that Proton was allowing them to use the name as they were a major backer of them, and everyone just let it go an was happy to have the name and an iconic colour scheme back. The Chapman family even gave them their support.

And then Proton got peed off with Fernandes for whatever reason, and the resulting spat has done masses of damage to the brand. Its a shame.
 
Duke said:
Complete fail. Tony Fernandes and the team have just been taken for a ride.
Click to expand...

Apart from the fact the have an F1 team going, which does need some credit given they have only been operating a year or so... (though buying into Renault does seem a safer option for a fast car)

I just like the black and gold (and will miss the yellow and black this season as that looked good)
 
So, what do people recon the current Lotus Racing team will be called next year?

I think the company is called 1MalaysiaF1, but thats a crud name.

Air Asia F1? Team Air Asia? He has a GP2 team called Team Air Asia.

Then theres his World Series team which is currently called Junior Lotus Team which I assume will be rebranded?

Or does he just drop it all and call everything Fernandes Racing or something?
 
Skeeter said:
But anyway, I can see Tony Fernandes loosing his battle, the Team Lotus name returing to Lotus Cars ownership, and in 2012 the Lotus Renault team will be rebranded Team Lotus, and finally Lotus will be properly back in F1, owned by Group Lotus, using the Team Lotus name.

Good job it wont confuse anyone!
Click to expand...

Erm Team Lotus never belonged to Group Lotus/Lotus Cars. That is where the issue lies, Tony Fernandes acquired the rights to the Team Lotus name and now the guys at Group Lotus are having a massive paddy about it. This year 1MalaysiaF1 raced with the Lotus Racing name under license from Proton.
 
Pete19s said:
Erm Team Lotus never belonged to Group Lotus/Lotus Cars. That is where the issue lies, Tony Fernandes acquired the rights to the Team Lotus name and now the guys at Group Lotus are having a massive paddy about it. This year 1MalaysiaF1 raced with the Lotus Racing name under license from Proton.
Click to expand...

But Lotus Cars are closer to the original Team Lotus than Proton or Fernandes are. Lotus Cars and Team Lotus were both part of the Group Lotus family.

Also, the Team Lotus name has been in private hands for 16 years or whatever. It has never been an issue before. But now someone that Proton have fallen out with has bought it and suddenly its a big deal.

Its a fairly pathetic argument Proton have started, and Fernandes is being screwed over from it, but to keep it simple the best thing would be for only 1 Lotus team, and for it to be the one actually linked to other Lotus branded industries.
 
Skeeter said:
But Lotus Cars are closer to the original Team Lotus than Proton or Fernandes are. Lotus Cars and Team Lotus were both part of the Group Lotus family.
Click to expand...

That's the trap Proton appear to have fallen into when purchasing Group Lotus, it would appear they thought that Team Lotus were also included. However Team Lotus was separate from the Group Lotus umbrella and always has been. Group Lotus had there chance to acquire the Team Lotus name & rights from David Hunt but blew it.
 
Pete19s said:
That's the trap Proton appear to have fallen into when purchasing Group Lotus, it would appear they thought that Team Lotus were also included. However Team Lotus was separate from the Group Lotus umbrella and always has been. Group Lotus had there chance to acquire the Team Lotus name & rights from David Hunt but blew it.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say they blew it.. they just didnt bother. David Hunt had no plans to use it in a racing team, Lotus/Proton has no plans to go racing.

Things have changed recently and suddenly its all got very messy, and as usual when things get messy, they get childish.

Do the FIA or F1 have a say in this? If they feel the spat will damage the sport can they impose restrictions on what the teams can call themselves?
 
I supported Lotus last year because I live about a mile away from the Lotus factory in Norfolk. Now I have no idea which of these two teams are the REAL Lotus and I would prefer to support the team that works with the factory in Norfolk.

So, who do I support as I am confused.
 
Fernandes' Team Lotus (This years Lotus Racing) is based in Norfolk. Chassis will be called Lotus and engine will be Renault - so it will be Team Lotus fielding a Lotus-Renault.

Group Lotus are buying into the team based in Enstone (formerly Toleman, Benneton and Renault F1 Team) and renaming it Lotus Renault F1 team - but the chassis will still be a Renault, so they will be Lotus Renault F1 Team fielding a Renault-Renault (or just plain Renault).
 
Skeeter said:
Do the FIA or F1 have a say in this? If they feel the spat will damage the sport can they impose restrictions on what the teams can call themselves?
Click to expand...

They can.
HRT are called that due to the FIA not recognising Hispania as a real word. So they couldn't be called Hispania Racing Team.

Monkeymatt said:
I supported Lotus last year because I live about a mile away from the Lotus factory in Norfolk. Now I have no idea which of these two teams are the REAL Lotus and I would prefer to support the team that works with the factory in Norfolk.

So, who do I support as I am confused.
Click to expand...

Team Lotus/Lotus Racing/Tony Fernandes

These are the guys who raced last year and have now taken on the Team Lotus name.

Group Lotus have no F1 history other than being a sponsor on the Lotus 107C F1 car.
 
Skeeter said:
This will get even more confusing if Team Lotus follow the usual trend of including the engine manufacturer in the team name, meaning we will have Lotus Renault GP, and Team Lotus Renault.

However, I feel this will all become less confusing as I can see Tony Fernandes loosing the legal fight to use Team Lotus meaning the current Lotus Racing, that wants to be rebranded Team Lotus, will actually use a different name.

And I thought that Proton had a stake in Tony Fernandes' team anyway?

So Proton fund Lotus Racing who want to run as Team Lotus as Proton, who own Group Lotus originally allowed them to use the Lotus name for promotion, but now Group Lotus have bought into Renault and named it Lotus Renault and Proton are in a legal battle to stop Lotus Racing using the Team Lotus name as they belive it is owned by Group Lotus, who they own, who now own Lotus Renault...

:S

But anyway, I can see Tony Fernandes loosing his battle, the Team Lotus name returing to Lotus Cars ownership, and in 2012 the Lotus Renault team will be rebranded Team Lotus, and finally Lotus will be properly back in F1, owned by Group Lotus, using the Team Lotus name.

Good job it wont confuse anyone!
Click to expand...
What do you mean "returning to Lotus Cars ownership", Team Lotus and Lotus Cars have always been completely seperate, and if that was to change now it would be a total joke.

Edit: already been discussed, that's what I get for not reading the full thread.
 
Monkeymatt said:
I supported Lotus last year because I live about a mile away from the Lotus factory in Norfolk. Now I have no idea which of these two teams are the REAL Lotus and I would prefer to support the team that works with the factory in Norfolk.

So, who do I support as I am confused.
Click to expand...

Team Lotus, Tony Fernandes & co. Simples! Live close to Lotus cars or Team Lotus/Lotus Racing?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom