Genii Capital and Group Lotus plc today announced the creation of Lotus Renault GP, the successor to the Renault F1 Team that will contest the 2011 Formula One™ World Championship. This exciting announcement is made in the context of a strategic alliance between the two companies that will provide Group Lotus with significant technological and commercial opportunities for its range of road cars.
Which is why I can see them running out of money pretty quickly. Proton simply can't afford this chest puffing. I wonder what Fernandes will do with two teams?WilliamsF1 wrote:May not be so much of a problem. Lotus are the title sponsors, like marlboro they will rarely get mentioned
I don't think the title should be changed - the McLaren isn't called Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, or the Mercedes GP Petronas or Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. My understanding is that Lotus isn't part of the name, it's a sponsor, but I might be wrong?ESPImperium wrote:But that Renault is a R30 and not R31. And no the R31, Mod, can you change the title of the thread to the Lotus Renault R31 now.
segedunum wrote:Which is why I can see them running out of money pretty quickly. Proton simply can't afford this chest puffing. I wonder what Fernandes will do with two teams?WilliamsF1 wrote:May not be so much of a problem. Lotus are the title sponsors, like marlboro they will rarely get mentioned
The name is Renault, isn't it ?21.3 The name or the emblem of the make of the car must appear on the front of the nose of the car
Makes perfect sense to me. I wont demonize them; it's the best way forward from a road relevance perspective. Malaysia F1 would take a longer time to achieve these goals, and require a bigger investment.A lot of people want to know why didn’t you didn’t just sponsor Lotus Racing (now Team Lotus)? They also have links to Malaysia through Tony Fernandes, they already have a Lotus entry, and appear to have the legal rights to the Team Lotus name.
DB: "Well, first of all let me say that when we set up our business plans for the next five years F1 was always part of it. I strongly believe that if you can show customers that your technology derives from motor racing in general, and F1 in particular, it gives you additional credibility. On the subject of which team to go with, I think it was always clear from the beginning - and clear to me through my involvement in F1 [at Ferrari and Red Bull]. We know what budgets are needed to build a team up from scratch. We know what the timescales are to get to an acceptable level. And we simply do not have those resources, neither financial nor from a personnel point of view, to build up a big team and wait for that success. It’s very simple. So I think teaming up with an existing [established] team makes much more success for us. Not only a short-term success but a sustainable success for the future."
What about the contentious subject of the black and gold livery? Who is copying who? Tony Fernandes tweeted on Wednesday that you were copying their idea.
GL: "It’s interesting because ever since we began discussions we had the idea to run in black and gold and then it kind of leaked through the press and the paddock – and then three days later they [Team Lotus] were announcing they were doing black and gold. At the end of the day, as Dany says, it’s not our problem what colour or what name teams choose. I don’t think there will be any confusion as to which cars will be which in terms of position on the track."
Take that Team Lotus!!! 
ringo wrote:Makes perfect sense to me. I wont demonize them; it's the best way forward from a road relevance perspective. Malaysia F1 would take a longer time to achieve these goals, and require a bigger investment.A lot of people want to know why didn’t you didn’t just sponsor Lotus Racing (now Team Lotus)? They also have links to Malaysia through Tony Fernandes, they already have a Lotus entry, and appear to have the legal rights to the Team Lotus name.
DB: "Well, first of all let me say that when we set up our business plans for the next five years F1 was always part of it. I strongly believe that if you can show customers that your technology derives from motor racing in general, and F1 in particular, it gives you additional credibility. On the subject of which team to go with, I think it was always clear from the beginning - and clear to me through my involvement in F1 [at Ferrari and Red Bull]. We know what budgets are needed to build a team up from scratch. We know what the timescales are to get to an acceptable level. And we simply do not have those resources, neither financial nor from a personnel point of view, to build up a big team and wait for that success. It’s very simple. So I think teaming up with an existing [established] team makes much more success for us. Not only a short-term success but a sustainable success for the future."
I feel sorry for Fernandes, and i think things can only get worse, becuase it was mostly the lotus name that gained popularity for the Fernandes team. Well if anything Tony can stick to the green and yellow and try to make a name for themselves.
I can't be so bad having similar teams in F1. Torro Rosso and redbull are the perfect example.
What about the contentious subject of the black and gold livery? Who is copying who? Tony Fernandes tweeted on Wednesday that you were copying their idea.
GL: "It’s interesting because ever since we began discussions we had the idea to run in black and gold and then it kind of leaked through the press and the paddock – and then three days later they [Team Lotus] were announcing they were doing black and gold. At the end of the day, as Dany says, it’s not our problem what colour or what name teams choose. I don’t think there will be any confusion as to which cars will be which in terms of position on the track."
He did drive for Renault last year. A tedious link has been established!!Intego wrote:BTW 2: Why is ScandAlonso not involved in Lotusgate?
