Our spies in the F1 Paddock in Korea report that the Lotus-Renault engine supply deal was signed on Saturday afternoon in Yeongam. The plan appears to be to hold the official announcement until the Brazilian Grand Prix in a fortnight when there are plans for Carlos Ghosn, the CEO and President of Renault and Nissan, to attend the event. The delay is believed to be because the agreement between Renault and Red Bull Racing, a foregone conclusion, yet to be officially inked. We believe that a deal has been agreed but the paperwork is still be done.
The completion of the Lotus-Renault deal is a major blow to the ambitions of Group Lotus, which has been trying to get in the way of the partnership, in order to weaken Lotus Racing’s claims to the Lotus brand in F1. The next step in the process is expected to be a decision from the High Court in London as to whether David Hunt has a legal right to the Team Lotus name and use of the logo in F1. After that decision is made the future of the two Lotuses will be hammered out in the political chambers of Kuala Lumpur where the backers of Proton and the supporters of Tony Fernandes will be told by the powers-that-be who is going to own whom.
The latest rumours in that part of the world are that the two groups have each offered to buy the other so as to unite the two companies that have existed in parallel, to a lesser or greater extent, since the early 1950s. The Malaysian government may want to get the two groups to work together in order to promote the idea of a united Malaysia, but there is a fair amount of bad blood at the moment because of some of the recent manoeuvres, and there is also the problem that Turkish-Swiss Dany Bahar, the chief executive of Group Lotus, will not easily fit into all-Malaysian operation.
Well done on the scoop Joe, the benefits of actually attending races.
I wonder what made Renault change their minds. One scenario I can think is they’re getting giant “Renault” stickers on the Lotus cars and that’ll be enough for their Malaysian marketing purposes. Hopefully Gascoyne can take the team into the mid-field as well!
Any idea where this leaves a potential Proton/Renault alliance? Are the big players starting to put their backing into Fernandes’ quarter now?
I’ve heard rumours that Proton were also looking at a Fiat strategic alliance which ties in very nicely with Bahar’s past.
Very intriguing backroom battle.
Joe, off topic, but are there any rumours doing the rounds about an f1 circuit being for sale while you are in korea? I’m trying to confirm something i’ve heard.
I have heard nothing. Ricard has been for sale for a while, I think.
I think, not as it matters, that Lotus Group will fail because it is trying to take on the big guns. This is always going to end in tears, Ferrari Lambo Porsche they are not. Proton are not VAG or Fiat, huge groups very good at what they do with massive rescources. All this about Renault and Fiat is just a sideshow, who would do business with a company when its future is unsure?
So, with a bit of luck, Fernandes will win in London and Malaysia wrestling Lotus from Proton or Proton from Proton. All the sensible people happy and Lotus Group can get back to doing what they do best, light nimble no frills sportscars with superb engineering.
Then Tony can do an engine/development deal with a major player and not be in competition with them.
But I suppose politics will bugger that up………………….
Proton have certainly been busy. They have been linked with Cosworth, Toyota and now Renault.
“and there is also the problem that Turkish-Swiss Dany Bahar, the chief executive of Group Lotus, will not easily fit into all-Malaysian operation.” –
Sure promoting Malaysian talent is fine, but at the expense of everyone else?
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Thanks Joe, and great news for Team Lotus. Looks like they could be mixing it up with the midfield team next year as long as they don’t become like Torro Rosso with their Ferrari engine
One should remember that this is Malaysia however. Political games are bread and butter in KL and may yield surprising results.
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i think that the Lotus Cars has got into bed with Toyota in a big way, so it seems odd that they would want to forge a link with a Renault powered team. I understand the heritage and “halo” from having a racing team, but that only works when the racers are winning. Back in the day, Orange took on Arrows to get a bit of the F1 glamour, because Voda had got Ferrari. Every other weekend, Voda was seen by millions of potential customers pounding Orange into the ground. When you back a loser it bites you big time.
Tony and the Air Asia version of Lotus Racing seem to be more credible racers, and I think Mike Gascoyne has shown he can deliver all that he is asked. If the speed of next years Renault powered “Air Asia” car has the same great aero as Force India have previously shown, then I would be a very happy man.
Back in 1990 I remember being disappointed when Derek Warwick and Martin Donnelly struggled to get the Lotus Lamborghini into the top 10 qualifiers. I would love to be that high up the grid again. If a Lotus gets into Q3 on a race weekend, the milky bars will be on me.
While I’m dreaming, maybe next years car will be black with gold writing. And Heikki could get a yellow helmet.
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