Virgin Racing has confirmed that Alex Tai is no longer the team principal and that he will be replaced as chief executive by Graeme Lowden, with John Booth taking on the official role of team principal.
“John’s impressive racing pedigree and reputation is beyond question in the critical role of Team Principal,” said chairman Etienne de Villiers. “Graeme has a proven track record with Manor Grand Prix and is a formidable operator with an excellent reputation in the sport. Their combined experience and expertise make them the ideal candidates to lead the Virgin Racing team as we head into an exciting first season.”
The team says that the change was coming but this is not very credible as Alex Tai clearly did not know judging by what he was telling people about the future. However, it is no surprise that the team would wish to portray the change as nothing spectacular. Now is not the obvious moment to be changing management and so if it was planned it is odd. If it was not planned, it is a sign that all is perhaps not as good as it could be.
joeblogsf1 
Maybe it was one of those things that everyone except Alex could see that it would soon be time for him to make way? Sounds like an awkward situation whether my hypothesis turns out to be true or not.
For me, this validates my choice of Lotus as the best new team entering the 2010 season.
they need to get their website changed then Joe!
http://www.virginracing.com/team/
Joe, great blog, the first thing I turn to. Just FYI it’s Graeme Lowdon, not Lowden, I’ve known him 15 years.
Is this the “Manorisation” of Virgin racing?
Does this mean that Manor are behind schedule or is the lack of main sponsors the reason for the change?
On the face of it, you must be justified in the conclusion you draw. Things can’t have been going well.
The accession of the four new teams must be one of the most ridiculous events in the history of F1. None of them has any evidence that they will be able to run a competitive or even non-embarrassing car, but we already knew that. At least we had a right to expect that their management and financial backing had been carefully assessed and found to be stable and fit for the task. That doesn’t appear to have happened either.
What engine do you propose to use?
Cosworth
Thank you, that is all the questions