Group Lotus have announced today the acquisition of a major stake in the Renault F1 team. So, in 2011, the Renault F1 team will be known as the Lotus Renault F1 GP team.

This is absolutely nothing to do with the Current Lotus F1 team run by the multi-millionaire Air Asia boss.  That’s the team which made it’s debut in the 2010 season…

There was a whole bunch of talk about how the ‘current’ Lotus team had in fact acquired the Lotus Grand Prix ‘name’ – I assume that’s all dead in the water now?

2011 Lotus Renault F1 Car

The Lotus Renault car will look like the old JPS Lotus from the ‘good old days’ so from that perspective this is really exciting – I love seeing those old branded cars out there.

Lotus today – in road cars, is owned by Proton, the Malaysian car company.  They see this as a way to bring F1 technology (KERS etc) into their cars – Great – but how confusing!

And also – Are Renault the CAR company at all related to PROTON?  If not, this would be like having the BMW Mercedes F1 team!

I’m confused!

Wow, this is confusing – I shall be following James Allen’s blog to keep in touch!

Below is the FULL statement from the team:

Group Lotus plc and Genii Capital are pleased to announce a partnership which will see the Renault F1 Team renamed as ‘Lotus Renault GP’ from the start of the 2011 racing season onwards. The association heralds the return of a highly successful Formula 1™ association between Lotus and Renault from the 1980s. Lotus’ racing pedigree and heritage coupled with Renault’s technology in Formula 1™ will set the united team on a path to future success.

Group Lotus plc will acquire a major equity stake in the team from Genii Capital. The transaction represents a partnership between Group Lotus and Genii Capital and signifies the beginning of a more comprehensive strategic alliance between the two organisations.

The partnership between Lotus and Genii brings the ability to quickly incorporate new technologies from F1™ cars into Lotus road cars including hybrid technology, Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS), aero advancements and lightweight materials. Genii, an investment holding company with a portfolio of automotive technologies, bring non-F1™ technologies such as lightweight braking systems, variable compression engine technology and on board software systems to the partnership.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said: “I can think of no better platform for automotive brand communications than motorsport and F1™. We’re well aware that there has been a lot of controversy around the usage of our brand in F1™ and I’m delighted to be able to formally clarify our position: We are Lotus, and we are back.”

Dato’ Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, Chairman of Proton, Lotus majority shareholder, said: “We know that Group Lotus has much to offer Formula 1™ and vice versa. After careful consideration, we believe this arrangement will be fruitful, both from a commercial and marketing point of view.”

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Proton advisor and former Prime Minister of Malaysia, said: “This is an exciting development which delivers strategic benefits to both Group Lotus and Proton. I fully support the partnership.”

Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault, commented: “This multi-partner alliance will bring a new dynamic to the team and enable it to compete with the sport’s best from next season.”

In addition to this, Genii is also offering Proton the ability to leverage on its existing business relationships in Russia and other parts of the world, as a means to expand Proton’s global reach. Through Genii, Proton can also potentially access advanced automotive technologies by virtue of Genii’s association with Mangrove, a venture capital group.

Gerard Lopez, founding partner of Genii Capital, said: “For Group Lotus, access to Formula 1™ opens up new marketing opportunities and a major platform for business exchanges and development. In this regard, Genii Capital possesses shareholdings in, and direct access to, cutting edge companies in the automotive industry. Our tie-up with Group Lotus and Proton, which will enable its future road car ranges to take advantage of significant new technologies, is a natural step.”

The last year and this have been brilliant, great racing, close championship – a real leap forward for the sport.

I’m unashamedly a fan of Mark Webber – it’s the Australian way.  Tonight’s German GP was always going to be a stretch for him, a poor first corner on his flying lap meant he could do no better than 4th on the Grid.

A reluctant embrace from Massa toward Alonso at race end

So, what of the race.  Well, it was destroyed by Ferrari.

The race started with Sebastian Vettel getting bogged down off the line (ie: not getting a great start).  He immediately turned right, pushed Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari toward the wall, and in his haste he let Felipe Massa run fast around the outside and take the lead – he led for some 60 odd laps.  Behind him was his team-mate Alonso.

Throughout, it was clear – Massa didn’t quite have as much pace as Alonso.  Did Alonso pass him, or even look to try? No.

Only once did he even look like it, when Massa had a bad run through backmarkers..

For the Race Engineer of Massa it was a gut-renching radio communication “Alonso is faster than you” – simple as that.  Everyone watching, Every commentator I heard – BBC, ONEHD, Five Live all said it was team orders.  If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a Duck.

Let’s take a look at the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations – A quick search for the word ‘Orders’ shows this:

39) THE RACE

39.1 Team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited.

There’s your duck people.

What Ferrari did is expressly forbidden by the FIA.

If they do NOT strip them of this race win, it is a slap in the face of the Fans.

Bring on the post race interviews.  Massa will be a Gentleman and say nothing.  Alonso must hold his head in shame.  He couldn’t do it.

Massa made the best start, he deserves the win.

Formula 1 is a shameful sport right now.  Ferrari is the reason.

Would I have preferred to see Massa and Alonso come to blows on the track?  Perhaps – A wheel to wheel race would be great – make them pass.  The evidence of this was Vettel’s stupid attempt to Pass Mark Webber earlier in the year – He was hot headed and cost himself anything.  That’s the risk you take if you don’t get track position.

I’m not happy.  Not Happy at all.