Tony Fernandes CBE

March 31, 2011 by Joe Saward

Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes was all dressed up today when he visited Buckingham Palace to formally accept his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to promote commercial and educational links between the UK and Malaysia.

“I am extremely humbled to have received this award today and I would like to thank Her Majesty The Queen for bestowing such an honour upon me,” Fernandes said. “More than a personal honour, it will serve as a catalyst to further enhance relations between the UK and Malaysia, particularly in the areas of business, culture and education. I receive this award today not on my behalf, but on behalf of all the incredible people I work with, wherever they may be around the world. It is their dedication, passion, enthusiasm and hard work that drives me on every single day and it is also my great honour to have the privilege of working with them.”

The award is the second major honour for Fernandes in Europe. Last year the French government appointed him an Officier of the Legion d’Honneur for his outstanding contributions to the aviation industry.

Posted in F1 Teams | 29 Comments

29 Responses

on March 31, 2011 at 17:41 Lynch

Maybe the Queen should provide a witness statement in the Notus court case to say Tony is a “Top Bloke” ???
on March 31, 2011 at 18:17 Peter

and well deserved too.
on March 31, 2011 at 19:13 Tony Fernandes CBE | From The Raft Restaurant

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on March 31, 2011 at 19:39 rpaco

Bloody good show, well deserved, well done Tony!
We just need him to sort out BA and the poison gas in the cockpits, the air crew strike and the fuel surcharges and then we’ll have a decent airline again.
on March 31, 2011 at 19:47 markdartj

Not sure how your legal system works over there, but I can’t help but feel that this will help with his standing in the court case. Do you think it is a result of some behind the scenes undercurrent of support for his cause? Maybe that’s just the cynic in me.
on March 31, 2011 at 20:30 Nick

I saw Tony at the airport in Melbourne in security. I wanted to go up and congratulate him on his efforts so far in F1 but I guess it’d seem a bit silly coming from me rather than the Queen

Whatever, he’s a legend and he deserves the positive attention he gets. Can’t say the same for Dany Bahar
on March 31, 2011 at 21:13 Grant

Congratulations Tony.

Lotus may be at the back but they bring integrity and professionalism to the sport.

Well done and good luck
on April 1, 2011 at 00:18 jim

Which Lotus???
- on April 2, 2011 at 11:56 joesaward
  
  jim
  
  There is only one Lotus in F1.
on April 1, 2011 at 02:10 Ryan

Mr Fernandes CBE is an outstanding businessman/entrepreneur and an honorable man.

I look forward to reading this blog in a few years time when Joe reports that Tony and the Tune Group own Group Lotus, after the Malaysian tax-payers stop handing over blank cheques to fund operations that don’t exactly keep new cars rolling out of showrooms.

Either that or in six months time when Mr Bahar et al are ignominiously removed from their posts.

Time will tell.
on April 1, 2011 at 04:46 Tony Fernandes CBE | spencerlert

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on April 1, 2011 at 05:36 Tony Fernandes CBE | Ferrariforsaleuk.com

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on April 1, 2011 at 06:06 Peter G

About time Ron Dennis was knighted for his services to Motorsport .
on April 1, 2011 at 07:34 Slowflow

Well done Tony.

I hope the Lotus v Lotus (Genii) will be sorted soon.

As an aside Joe, please tell me it’s not true that Flavio is to join Ferrari for next season?

Regards.
on April 1, 2011 at 08:11 the kitchen cynic

Any truth to the rumour that Danny Bahar has awarded himself the Commandant of the British Imperial Order?
on April 1, 2011 at 08:33 JamesF1

And how many awards has Dany Bahar got? None.
on April 1, 2011 at 11:46 john g

good stuff. wonder if we’ll see danny behar getting one…
on April 2, 2011 at 02:01 Tony Fernandes CBE | swiftseo.net.in

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on April 2, 2011 at 06:30 mark ryan

Dear all

What, none for Danny Bahar…… Life is sooooo unfair.
(note that the Elan has been dropped, a “supermini” added. When is the Prime Mover to be announced..???:-)

Well done to Tony.
Cheers
MarkR
on April 2, 2011 at 14:35 John (other John)

It’s kinda funny, for those about two people who’ve asked about recent court action, and the majority who’ve not cared, because the other lot are called Renault, and i no-one has mentioned their sponsor on air ..

That it is almost over before it’s got to the arguing stage.

I would say very personally, that is as far as it goes, there being no argument of substance.

You’d annoint a man who was simultaneously to be shown to be all that lesser creatures mendaciously accuse him?

I’m very pleased for TF, on his honor. He’s done a lot to deserve it. I’ll note my Uncle got the same having done a big piece of war effort and was grumpy he got nothing more prominent. Uncle should have chosen then a public life. But i’m not saying standards have dropped since then. Fernandes will carry it well.

The whole point of awards, is that they do exist as a burden. They must be borne out in continuing life. You must live to the standard, have shown that, and look like you’ll not slip from those ideals even if on a greasy pole, and indeed better yourself. No Royalist, personally, and i’ll drop any pretence of even tone if we have to acclaim Vivats again soon, it’s a true thing i admire greatly for those who attain by virtue of their own work, and not political recompense.

Let’s not sully this entry with contemporanous mention of would be self described “competitors” who aren’t on the same field.

Respect.

– j
on April 2, 2011 at 21:33 Tony Fernandes CBE -Michael Duane Bliss

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on April 3, 2011 at 07:19 markdartj

Yes Jim, please listen to Joe, he knows what he’s talking about. Calling Renault a “Lotus” is like calling McLaren a “Vodafone”, or Ferrari a “Phillip Morris cigarette”. There is only one Lotus in
F1.
on April 3, 2011 at 07:36 Tony Fernandes CBE | logantoniff

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on April 3, 2011 at 15:18 Elvis is King - Tony Fernandes CBE

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on April 4, 2011 at 09:11 Tony Fernandes CBE | Guydz Guides

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on April 4, 2011 at 09:53 JL#1

Nice going for someone with so many legal hurdles ahead…
on April 4, 2011 at 18:56 Tony Fernandes CBE « Kyle Thomas Busch

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on April 5, 2011 at 06:00 When The Wind Blows » Blog Archive » Tony Fernandes CBE

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on April 6, 2011 at 05:49 Tony Fernandes CBE | swifturtle.com

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