Lotus Racing‘s chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne says he is perplexed by Group Lotus’ decision to fight the use of the brand in F1.
Links
Mike Gascoyne perplexed by Lotus naming rights row (BBC F1)
"Lotus Racing’s chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne says he cannot grasp why Group Lotus are fighting his team’s use of the brand in Formula One.
"He said: “We don’t understand why Group Lotus don’t want to support us. We think we brought the brand great value.
"’I think it’s a great shame for everyone in Norfolk because we’re a Norfolk-based team, we brought the Lotus name back to Formula One and did it proud,’ he said. ‘We don’t quite understand why we don’t have the support of Group Lotus in that.’"
Ricciardo unsure of 2011 plans (Autosport)
"Daniel Ricciardo says he currently has no idea what is in store for him in 2011 despite his impressive performance in this week’s Formula 1 rookie tests in Abu Dhabi."
Pastor Maldonado confirmed for 2011 (Adam Cooper via Twitter)
"I don’t know Spanish but I think Pastor Maldonado just tweeted that he’s expecting important news on the future next week…"
"Pastor joins Kubica as another Flavio reject to make it to F1! Do u think he will get a lot of support from other Latin countries?"
Monza concerns over Rome GP (ESPN F1)
"Organisers of the Italian Grand Prix have again expressed concerns plans to take Formula One to Rome will leave the historic Monza circuit without a race."
Comment of the day
The dispute between Lotus Racing and Group Lotus over the rights to use the Lotus name has stirred a lot of passion among fans.
Red Andy says:
Personally, I’m not fussed on what the team calls themselves. Fernandes’ outfit have the blessing of the Chapman family and the legal right to the Team Lotus name, at least, so to me they are perfectly entitled to call themselves that.
Protests that "they’re not the real Lotus" are missing the point – the current Renault team are not the same team as the "original" Renault of the 1980s, but nobody objects to their use of the name. When you think about it, the French manufacturer doesn’t have much to do with the team other than naming rights nowadays. Sound familiar?
I do find the whole mock-outrage about Lotus-Fernandes and Lotus-Proton quite amusing. To me it’s all a storm in a teacup. If a team has the naming rights to a certain title, they should use it. Nostalgia’s not what it used to be, after all.
Red Andy
From the forum
Keith asks: what were the best and worst moments of 2010?
Happy birthday!
Lots of F1 Fanatics are celebrating today – a big happy birthday to Rachel, Clare MSJ, Richard and Dane!
On this day in F1
On this day last year Jose Maria Lopez looked set to make the jump into Formula 1.
Despite not having raced single-seater cars since finishing tenth in the 2006 GP2 championship, Lopez had become a front runner for a drive at the new USF1 team, whose headquarters he visited this time last year. It wasn’t to be, as the team collapsed before the start of the season.
Chippie
22nd November 2010, 0:12
I would have thought that Group Lotus would have been delighted with Lotus in F1, they have been the best of the new teams, they race in the lotus colours and they look promising for next year thanks to Red Bull tech, good drivers and general progress. Surely they reap the benefits of the Lotus name in F1 more than anyone else? Gascoyne is spot on.
US_Peter
22nd November 2010, 1:48
Absolutely. My favorite part of that article is Gascoyne’s last quote:
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2010, 7:29
I loved that as well, actually I thought the same, when they announced it.
The first time they spoke of doing this was before Proton stopped wanting to have Fernandez and Gascoyne promoting the Lotus brand for them almost for free.
At that time, I thought it would make sense, as they could draw on Gascoynes’ teams experience.
But doing it stand alone as Lotus cars, without any experience in single seaters or racing except with track versions of road cars seems like quite a handfull. And to imagine they want to run F1 next to that and get 3-5 new sportscars / supercars onto the market in the next few years makes it sound like pure folly.
Feynman
22nd November 2010, 3:32
If I was Fernandes, I’d rename the team ‘Chapman’.
Keep the contact/blessing of the family, keep the Chapman hat on the pitwall in case of victory, key into the whole innovation/engineering/lightness mythology, and join other teams named after significant indivduals (McLarens, Ferraris, even Brabhams, maybe lgiht-up some nostalgia, goodwill in Ecclestone … not bad company).
I think that’s worth more than (expensively) squabbling over the fag-end remnants of the once-proud Lotus name.
Bahar looks a little too blow-dried business school to me. His ego-driven vision of the new Lotus is likely to end up in fiasco, debt, and the smoldering ruins of a company stripped out and shut down. He of course will move on to his next shiny opportunity.
The F1 team should take proactive steps to distance itself, and get out from under the inevitable train-wreck in the making.
‘Chapman’ keeps all the history, keeps an ethos for Gascoyne to pursue, doesn’t expend valuable political capital in Malaysia fighting Proton, and avoids any adverse publicity when Group Lotus goes to the wall when they figure out they can’t beat Ferrari/Porsche at selling fatter cars.
Hamish
22nd November 2010, 6:06
I don’t know where to begin with how pear shaped that would end up
Daffid
22nd November 2010, 9:49
If they don’t get to keep the Lotus name, Chapman has a ring to it certainly!
Chapmondo
22nd November 2010, 11:51
Haha. I’ll love that. My surname is Chapman!
Casanova
22nd November 2010, 16:38
If he does lose the right to use the Team Lotus name, then Chapman would be a perfect choice. Certainly better than 1Malaysia.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
23rd November 2010, 4:45
Dany Bahar will claim that Lotus owns and has always owned the rights to the name Chapman, and he’ll try and change the Renault F1 team’s name to Chapman…
BasCB
23rd November 2010, 18:21
Will Buxton “advises” the team know nas Lotus Racing to get themselves a great new sponsor (these companies were mentioned elsewhere in the discussion about the save lotus website), either Lotus Bakeries or Lotus sanitary products.
Then they would continue as Team Lotus and get a big Lotus on the car in gold on black (which would seem like a big middle finger to group Lotus).
http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/lotus-lotus-the-beatles-and-a-solution/
Fixy (@)
22nd November 2010, 16:22
That was my though too. But it looks like it isn’t shared by Proton.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
22nd November 2010, 0:44
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR, I was mad about Jose Maria Lopez making into F1, with barely any promosing result that explained it… He’s a looser in Argentina (he won a pair of champs tho, but he’s a crybaby…), and he’ll continue to be one!.
Maybe there are some argentineans here claiming otherwise, but, in all honesty, what had he done before getting his virtual ride in F1? Nothing… the last lap of the 2006 GP2 race at Hockenheim summed it all!.
I was going at all forums telling everyone it was stupid. Why not supporting Guerrieri who was still racing in Europe?
1 year later, and im totally right. Guerrieri just missed the F3.5 championship even while missing 4 rounds. And Lopez is doing rubbish in Argentina.
wasiF1
22nd November 2010, 0:58
Where will Pastor Maldonado join,Williams or Renault?
Daniel Ricciardo can look a space in some other team,like Lotus,Virgin & HRT so that he can gain some experience in F1 car which should help him in the future.
They are doing a pointless thinning,Mike Gascoyne should keep his concentration more on the car other then it’s name.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
22nd November 2010, 1:21
Maldonado won’t go to Renault. His name hasn’t been mentioned in conjunction with the team. Petrov, Hulkenberg and Heidfeld are the only ones that have been mentioned of late, and Heidfeld has said that ever since Vladimir Putin became a fan of Formula 1, Petrov’s seat at the team has been relatively safe.
Jeff
22nd November 2010, 14:24
You got it right on the last paragraph!!
Calum
22nd November 2010, 0:58
Still can’t understand why Group Lotus are fighting this case, as Gascoyne says, Lotus Racing are doing no shame to the brand, compared to what the Car maker has been guilty of in the past. The Car maker really needs to let it go and take advantage of the free advertising they are getting from Lotus Racing’s F1 involvement.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
22nd November 2010, 1:33
Because it’s about ego and jealousy. Dany Bahar has seen the success Fernandes has experienced. He’s seen that there’s still a place for Lotus in the modern era of Formula 1. He’s seen that the Lotus name still carries weight. And he’s infuriated that he is not the one who has brought about that success. Bahar doesn’t care for Formula 1, and he doesn’t care for Team Lotus. All he cares about is being the person responsible for Lotus’ success. He’s no doubt oblivious to the history of the brand – except as a marketing tool – and of the damage he is doing to it by trying to lay claim to it.
US_Peter
22nd November 2010, 1:55
I couldn’t agree more. It seems pretty cut and dry that this whole thing is driven by Danny Bahar’s ego. He was perfectly happy to license the name Lotus Racing to Fernandez a year ago, and as soon as he saw the outpouring of good will and support from F1 fans around the world that Fernandez earned, he wanted that for himself and all of a sudden decided that Fernandez’ team was stealing what he thinks is his. Anyone with half a brain would let Fernandez do his thing and continue to provide free advertising. Bahar appears to be a control freak.
PT
22nd November 2010, 16:40
I know there may be ego behind Bahar’s ambition, but I like someone who does so much to go racing to make whatever name he’s associated with famous in as many motorsport series as possible.
If the Lotus-Renault plan succeeds as well as the plan to enter IndyCar as a manufacturer in 2012, it will be the first time in many years that an entity has appeared in both the major single seater categories at the same time. Sports prototype plans are also in the pipeline.
I like that ambition, that desire to be actively involved in motorports at a time when manufacturers are trying to scale down participation. Think about it – there will Bahar’s Lotus in F1, GP2, IndyCar, Le Mans 24 Hours, World Series by Renault… When was the last time a menufacturer was involved in so many series at the same time? Isn’t that awesome? It’s like the old days when teams such as McLaren would compete in F1, Can-Am and Indy 500.
Let’s just hope Dany Bahar’s ambitious plans don’t end up falling flat on their faces. Realistically, I’m wondering where does this Lotus Group suddenly have the green to go racing at multiple levels? I know Malaysian money is there, but still there would be a limit to spending.
Don’t know whether all this is just talk, but if true I like a man with such an ambition – what you don’t find much in motorports these days.
Pionir
22nd November 2010, 16:49
Well said. I can’t see how any of this is helping Group Lotus. In fact I might not buy that Elise now the company making it is showing it’s a soulless corporate entity rather than a characterful family business….
d-d
22nd November 2010, 7:50
One must be aware the fact that Bahar came to Lotus Cars *after* Fernandes got his licence for Lotus Racing, so he couldn’t prevent it but only overturn it after one year which he did.
For me Fernandes is doing actual damage, he was opportunisitc to milk popularity of the brand in his F1 venture and couldn’t accept when his licence was discontinued. He obtained it from Lotus Cars, so he wasn’t anyhow “first” before them.
I think he’s doing right to protect his brand from abuse by third parties like Fernandes and Hunt while his plans about motorsport, including F1 are ambitious (perhaps too ambitious but that’s another story).
Anyway, next season there will be likely 3 F1 teams financed by malaysian money – Enstone team, Fernandes team and Mercedes sponsored by Petronas – shareholder of Proton. Pretty waste of malaysian taxpayers money, I would say.
Jarred Walmsley
22nd November 2010, 9:31
He obtained “Lotus Racing” from Lotus Group, no one denies that however the controversial point is Fernandez’ decision to change the name to “Team Lotus” which was a seperate entity to Lotus Group however Lotus Group have claimed they have control over the Team Lotus name when in fact they do not.
Pionir
22nd November 2010, 16:52
Bahar’s brand is Lotus Cars and Group Lotus but not Team Lotus.
Trying to exert control of Team Lotus is like trying to exert control of Lotus Bakeries (http://www.lotusbakeries.com/) or Lotus Kitchen Rolls (http://www.lotusprofessional.co.uk/Portal/generic.aspx?PAGE=HomeFlash&portalName=Lotus06) just because they have the word Lotus in the name
puppets
22nd November 2010, 1:01
I think it’s different with Renault, at least they actually have something to do with the carmaker (they own part of the team and make the engines.)
Mike
22nd November 2010, 1:11
Yeah, but on the other hand, Team Lotus has never been connected to Group Lotus, other than the name and a common founder.
Mike
22nd November 2010, 1:09
I don’t know the history with Tony Fernandes and the Proton group. But the Proton groups repeated attacks on David Hunt make me side completely with Fernandes.
sato113 (@sato113)
22nd November 2010, 2:02
Lopez would have been the definition of a ‘pay driver’.
Johnny86
22nd November 2010, 2:20
Couldnt comment at the forum so i am commenting here.
Acc. To me people are reading too much into mistakes. Acc. To me it doesnt matter how many mistakes you make if you are in a position to redeem it. For eg. Alonso made lots of mistakes but in the end he came 2nd with a car mostly 2nd and sometimes 3rd best. And then we have button who didnt commit much mistakes but more often found himself where other contenders would find themselves for commiting a mistake.
For me alonso is the best driver of the season because he had such a stellar 2nd half of the season under pressure that he redeemed himself .
2. Vettel :for winning. 3. Hamilton :he flopped under pressure as 07. Becoming a bit of a choker.
4. Webber.:same reason. Bad performance in pressure.
5. Kubica/rosberg:cant decide.
7. Koba
8. Rubens
9. Sutil
10. Alguersuari
And Keith, i think we should give more importance to the 2nd half season because of the extra pressure .the same reason why the contenders are be placed ahead.
Michael Griffin
22nd November 2010, 3:54
I find it funny that Group Lotus are accusing Lotus Racing of shaming the Lotus name, when Group Lotus are about to bring about six new models that will be more overpriced than just about every other car in existence…
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2010, 7:32
Overpriced and fat in the waist (Elise up 30% in weight), to ruin the great handling Lotus has always enjoyed, I fear for the car company ruining the brand.
GeeMac (@geemac)
22nd November 2010, 10:00
The new Elise is a far cry from the Lotus motto of “Simplify, and add lightness”. I wonder if Dany Bahar even knows about that motto.
All I can say is I will happly support Tony Fernandes’ team next season, regardless of what they are called. I don’t care if they are called Lotus Racing Renault, Team Lotus Renault, Air Asia Renault, or even Air Asia Boeing Airbus… PM got it right yesterday, they embody the Lotus spirit and they are a proper racing team with big ambition. And for that reason I support them.
Adrian
22nd November 2010, 12:06
If I was Tony Fernandes I would be offering to take Group Lotus off of Proton’s hands and take it back to what it does best.
That would stop Danny Bahar ruining the company and also solve the F1 naming rights row…
Skett (@skett)
25th November 2010, 18:39
That would be so awesome! Gascoyne would probably be helpful for that as well!
Antonio Butafucco
22nd November 2010, 6:01
In Venezuela, a motorsports commentator said Pastor Maldonado will drive a Willimas F1 in Caracas, Venezuela in early December.
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2010, 7:34
I suppose that would be a great way to announce their deal for 2011. Enjoy the ride in Venezuela!
Dane
22nd November 2010, 7:12
Happy Birthday to the 4 other people who share the day w/ me.
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2010, 7:13
To start off the day here, I wish all off you (Rachel, Clare MSJ, Richard and Dane) a great birthday today!
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2010, 7:38
Interesting interview with Ricciardo there. It does show what a mess the RB young driver scheme is.
Marko is not in a positon to give him any details on next season at this point!
And I find it shocking to again see confirmed, that STR is the worst place to be with their drivers being secure only for the first 1/2 year, what does that say about the management?
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
22nd November 2010, 9:25
ahh, its great to see a gun of a young driver without a seat in 2011..
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd November 2010, 8:03
This is interesting, seems Red McCombs wanted an american company in for the “stadium” in Austin (the grandstands etc.), article by Adam Cooper http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/11/22/stadium-experts-hks-join-us-gp-project/
Red Andy (@red-andy)
22nd November 2010, 11:51
I think that’s my third CotD. Cheers, Keith!
And happy birthday to the four celebrating today.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
22nd November 2010, 11:53
You’re welcome but Cari picked this one :-)
Red Andy (@red-andy)
22nd November 2010, 12:43
Cheers Cari!
That’ll teach me to skim-read.
Cari Jones (@cari-jones)
22nd November 2010, 19:04
Anytime :-)
And, yes, happy birthday to the four celebrating today.
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
23rd November 2010, 5:42
I did wonder why you had referred to yourself in the 3rd person
ninguen
22nd November 2010, 12:53
about Maldonado
# Esta semana prox sera muy importante y espero tenerles noticias del futuro hace cerca de 15 horas vía web
# que seguro ayudaran mucho al principio de la prox temporada 2011
This week it will be very important and i hope to have news for my future that will surely help in the beguinning of 2011 season.
So not saying he has a contract, but almost, you got it quite right
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
22nd November 2010, 13:22
Does strike me as a bit daft for Group Lotus to dispute the name with Team Lotus. Had they come out of nowhere without the wishes of the Chapman family then fair enough…but they seem to be a decent outfit with good promise.
Calum
22nd November 2010, 15:15
Anyone fancy a look at Seb Vettel’s new cap which Subtly suggests his new position as World Champion and #1:
http://www.grandprixlegends.com/Images/Products/XLarge_Images/RBR937_1.jpg
Hey
22nd November 2010, 18:42
I can’t see why FOM feel the need to make the European Grand Prix a sorry excuse for giving a permanent race to a second track in one country.
I was thinking that the solution to the potential Rome v Monza issue would be to make one the Italian Grand Prix and the other the European Grand Prix, (getting rid of the Valencia Grand Prix). The problem with that is that it keeps the European Grand Prix as a stagnant waste of an event, and that is a point that can’t be swayed depending on whether you like the track that it’s currently tied down to or not.
If the European Grand Prix lived up to it’s name we could revisit classic European tracks like Spa, Magny-cours, Donington and the Osterreichring without tying them down to the long-term contracts that we know they’re not going to get. And you could have your Grand Prix in Rome too. Yes, there might often be less than perfect facilities, but would that really effect the gate if it was a one-off race a track? Methinks the accountants would still turn a good profit at least (and that’s #1 priority of course).
Don Mateo
22nd November 2010, 20:56
This whole Lotus thing is getting ridiculous. I’ll admit that in the beginning I was sceptical about Lotus Racing, and I still think it’s a bit much to actually consider them a continuation of the previous Team Lotus. I also didn’t think it was right that they were using the name in F1 without any association with Lotus Cars, at least until I read the explanation of the Team Lotus/Group Lotus set up.
All that said, though, I think that Lotus Racing have earned the right to continue using the name in F1, and what Bahar and co are doing amounts to bully tactics.
For me the ideal solution would be that the factions stop fighting and Group Lotus gets behind Lotus Racing, but that looks unlikely to happen at the minute. If Fernades’s outfit ends up having to give up the name, though, it will be a great injustice.
MEmo
23rd November 2010, 18:47
Am I the only one to see how a slime Fernandes is? He knew the Team Lotus name was out of reach through the Lotus Group. So he negotiated with them the “Lotus” thing so he could called upon the legacy of the former team. Now that he has or wants the rights to the real Team Lotus, he just throws the Lotus Group cooperation to the garbage as a used toillet paper! I think he has been very clever and has done everything legally. But he has done it in a very foul and vile way. He is like saying “now you can go to hell: don´t need your Lotus Racing name, ´cuz now I have Team Lotus; don´t need your money, ´cuz I´ll get better sponsors with the Team Lotus name, so screw you!” Really, if I was the Lotus Group I´ll definitely fight that guy, too! I think they don´t have a chance to win, but their fight is totally understandable IMHO…