Formula One 2011

Lineker · November 30, 2010

Red Bull Racing (Renault)

#1 - Sebastian Vettel

#2 - Mark Webber

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (Mercedes)

#3 - Lewis Hamilton

#4 - Jenson Button

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro (Ferrari)

#5 - Fernando Alonso

#6 - Felipe Massa

Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team (Mercedes)

#7 - Michael Schumacher

#8 - Nico Rosberg

Lotus Renault GP (Renault)

#9 - Robert Kubica Nick Heidfeld (Rounds 1-11) / Bruno Senna (Rounds 12-)

#10 - Vitaly Petrov

AT&T Williams (Cosworth)

#11 - Rubens Barrichello

#12 - Pastor Maldonado

Force India F1 Team (Mercedes)

#14 - Adrian Sutil

#15 - Paul di Resta

Sauber F1 Team (Ferrari)

#16 - Kamui Kobayashi

#17 - Sergio Pérez (Rounds 1-6, 8-) / Pedro de la Rosa (Round 7)

Scuderia Toro Rosso (Ferrari)

#18 - Sébastien Buemi

#19 - Jaime Alguersuari

Team Lotus (Renault)

#20 - Jarno Trulli (Rounds 1-9, 11-) / Karun Chandhok (Round 10)

#21 - Heikki Kovalainen

Hispania Racing F1 Team (HRT) (Cosworth)

#22 - Narain Karthikeyan (Rounds 1-8) / Daniel Ricciardo (Rounds 9-)

#23 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Rounds 1-16, 18-) / Narain Karthikeyan (Round 17)

Marussia Virgin Racing (Cosworth)

#24 - Timo Glock

#25 - Jérôme d'Ambrosio

Rule Changes from 2010

2011 will see the return of the 107% rule in qualifying. Under this arrangement, any driver who fails to set a time within 107% of the fastest lap in Q1 will not be permitted to take part in the race; for instance, if the fastest lap is 1 minute 40 seconds, a driver must set a time faster than 1 minute 47 seconds in order to make it to the grid.
The FIA increased the maximum allowable penalty which racing stewards can issue to teams from $100,000 to $250,000, after the 2010 German Grand Prix where Ferrari were fined one hundred thousand dollars for the use of team orders. Following the final race of the 2010 season, FIA President Jean Todt revealed his stance on the use of team orders, promising regulation of the practice rather than allowing them outright. Todt disclosed that while team orders would not be banned, any team using coded instructions would be prosecuted as such messages would be used to deceive spectators and would require teams and drivers to lie to stewards in order to substantiate the claims made in the message.
Sole tyre supplier Bridgestone announced that it would not renew its contract with Formula One at the end of the 2010 season. After several months of deliberation, Pirelli was chosen as the tyre supplier for 2011 at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva, in June 2010. The twelve teams moved to establish a close alliance with Pirelli to prevent any individual team gaining an unfair advantage, through the sharing of all tyre information. The Pirelli logo on each tyre will be colour-coded to identify each compound and tread pattern being used. Cars will have a mandatory weight distribution, reported to be a ratio of 46:54, to provide Pirelli with a technical specification, and preventing teams making changes to the internal configuration of their cars should they prove not to suit the cars. During the first test session of the season in Valencia, several drivers reported that they experienced much greater wear when using the Pirelli tyres, with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton suggesting that more than one tyre stop would be necessary in the races. At the final test in Barcelona, it was revealed that drivers would need to make three pit stops at most races.
Teams will continue tyre development throughout the season, with the FIA approving additional sets of tyres to be used for development during Friday practice sessions. This will include the development of an experimental "fifth compound" known as the "extra hard" tyre to be used at certain circuits such as Istanbul where the demands on tyres are considerably greater than at other circuits.
Several technical rule changes have been introduced for 2011, including the following:
The maximum height of the diffuser will be cut from 175 millimetres (6.9 in) to 125 millimetres (4.9 in) and the double diffuser designs, introduced in the 2009 season, will be excluded, in order to reduce aerodynamic downforce and turbulent air. Also banned are double exhaust-blown diffusers, which use exhaust gases re-routed over the diffuser to increase downforce, although single blown diffusers are still allowed.
Also banned are the "F-duct" systems, developed by McLaren and copied by other teams, as the system relying on drivers blocking a gap in the cockpit was judged unsafe.
An adjustable rear wing system was confirmed as an addition to the 2011 rules, designed to aid overtaking as a substitute for the F-duct system, known as the Drag Reduction System (DRS). In a similar system to the KERS regulator used in 2009, the adjustable rear wing would only be available under certain conditions; namely, drivers will only be able to use it when they are within one second of the car in front, but it would not be usable within the first two laps of a race except in the case of an early safety car. Furthermore, the drivers will only be able to use the adjustable wing on a designated area of the circuit, to be decided by race director Charlie Whiting. The system is expected to offer drivers an additional 15 km/h (9.3 mph) when passing, and will deactivate when the driver first touches the brakes after using the rear wing. Use of the system is prohibited in wet conditions. In order to illustrate the effects of the device, all circuits will have special track markings in a designated area of the circuit, the only place where the DRS can be used. Lapped drivers will be permitted to use the Drag Reduction System to un-lap themselves.
The number of wheel tethers – the load-bearing cables connecting the wheel hubs to the bodywork – will be doubled for 2011, in response to an increasing number of accidents where wheels have been torn free of their mountings, including the death of Henry Surtees in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch in 2009.
Several smaller aerodynamic devices introduced for 2010 have also been banned, including aerodynamic wheel spokes, flexible front splitters designed to lower front ride height, and modifications to the monocoque that create a V-shaped channel running the length of the car's nose. The maximum aspect ratio of the "bladed" rollbar structure – pioneered by Mercedes to decrease the obstruction of air to the rear wing – has also been reduced. The 2011 Lotus T128 and Force India VJM04 cars were both launched with a similar device, based on the same principle as the Mercedes device, but the Lotus and Force India variants are legal under the rules because the blade structure is thicker than the one developed by Mercedes.
KERS units will be optional for all teams, after not being utilised in 2010 following a team agreement banning the devices. Although a proposal by Flybrid to provide mandatory units to the entire grid was not approved, to encourage all teams to run the system the minimum weight of the car will increase from 620 kilograms (1,367 lb) to 640 kilograms (1,411 lb), compensating for the extra weight required.
Gearboxes must now last for five races instead of four. Drivers will have one additional gearbox that may be changed without penalty for the purposes of completing an event.
The FIA has tightened its driving standards, moving to prevent overly-aggressive driving and driving beyond the boundaries of the circuit to gain an advantage by implementing stricter penalties for drivers observed to be doing so.
A curfew has been implemented, barring team personnel from accessing the circuit between the hours of midnight and six o'clock in the morning following concerns over mechanics spending all night performing repairs in the pit garage and the following day in the busy pit lane. In the event that this rule is broken, both cars for the offending team must start the race from pit lane. Teams have been given four "jokers" to use throughout the season, occasions when they are entitled to remain in pit lane overnight.

Other Changes
- The FIA has suggested that any driver who is caught committing road offences – such as Lewis Hamilton's "hooning" incident in Melbourne – could be punished with a loss of their Super Licence, thereby preventing them from racing.
- Team members deemed to be in key roles – i.e. team principal, sporting director, race engineers, team manager and technical director – will have to undergo accreditation for a "competitors' staff licence" in order to maintain their positions within their teams. This is seen as a reaction to the actions of disgraced former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore at the controversial 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and applies to all key staff in all FIA-sanctioned World Championships, including the World Rally Championship, World Touring Car Championship and GT1 World Championship in addition to Formula One.
- FOM has announced that all races will be broadcast in native high definition format from 2011, having previously experimented with it at the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Several broadcasters have confirmed plans to broadcast races in the new format.

Edited October 22, 2011 by Lineker

DJ Ice · November 30, 2010

Cannot wait! Loved last season. I thought it started in April, so seeing it started in March was a nice surprise

METALMAN · December 1, 2010

So is India the only change to the calendar from last year?

And what does homologation mean? :shifty:

Lineker · December 1, 2010

So is India the only change to the calendar from last year?

And what does homologation mean?

ho·mol·o·gate
/həˈmɒləˌgeɪt, hoʊ-/ [huh-mol-uh-geyt, hoh-]
–verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing.
1.
to approve; confirm or ratify.
2.
to register (a specific make of automobile in general production) so as to make it eligible for international racing competition.

Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo (ὁμολογέω) for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority.

Basically, it means it needs a seal of approval from the relevant people. India needs it as obviously it's a brand new circuit, whereas as China is just a case of rehomologation being needed.

On another track note, Bahrain will revert to its original configuration after experimenting with the six-kilometre "endurance" layout in 2010, which organisers claim was originally done to celebrate Formula One's diamond jubilee, though the layout was received negatively - rightly so, the race was a procession.

Lineker · December 1, 2010

Williams has confirmed that GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado will be its second driver in 2011, taking the seat occupied by Nico Hulkenberg this season.

Maldonado had been extensively linked with Williams in recent months, and tested for the team during the recent rookie sessions in Abu Dhabi, where he also spent two days with Hispania. He is believed to bring significant levels of personal sponsorship to the team.

"I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers," Maldonado said. "It is a great way to end what has already been an amazing year for me.

"I tested with the team in Abu Dhabi, but can't wait to start working with everyone properly to be in the best possible shape going into next year. I will be doing my best over the winter to prepare myself, and I know the team will be working hard to ensure a successful season.

"2011 will be the first time in nearly 30 years that a Venezuelan has driven a Formula 1 car so I will be looking to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today."

The 25-year-old took the GP2 title with seven victories this year, but team boss Frank Williams said he had been watching Maldonado's progress since his maiden GP2 win in Monaco with the Trident team in 2007, when he had just moved across from the World Series by Renault.

"Pastor first caught my eye in 2007 when he drove a masterful race at Monaco," Williams said. "Since then, he has regularly reminded us of his unquestionable talent with some skilful wins, particularly during this year's GP2 championship, taking an unsurpassed record of six successive victories.

"Of course, we already know Pastor from the time he spent with the team at the Abu Dhabi test, but we are very much looking forward to developing his talent over
the winter and a fruitful season with him next year."

Williams has already announced that Rubens Barrichello will be retained as its other race driver next season, with Finn Valtteri Bottas remaining in the test and reserve role.

METALMAN · December 1, 2010

Will Pastor Maldonado be available for these races? Surely he will have to give Mass on Sundays?

DJ Ice · December 3, 2010

Hope Hulkenburg stays in F1. I thought he was quite good towards the end of the season. Especially in Brazil. I mean if he was in a faster car, a top 3 was definitely in sight

Katsuya · December 8, 2010

So, Renault sold their remaining stake in the F1 team and therefore they're now going to be racing as Lotus Renault. And they're going to be racing in gold and black too. So...yeah, two Lotus teams apparently racing in identical colours.

ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster · December 8, 2010

Will Pastor Maldonado be available for these races? Surely he will have to give Mass on Sundays?

Well I thought it was quite funny.

Anyway the "European" season is a helluva lot shorter these days in the F1 calendar!

Lineker · December 8, 2010

What a confusing mess. Same name, livery, engines.... >_<. Bloody Proton.

Team Lotus chiefs Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne have responded defiantly to the announcement of Group Lotus's entry into Formula 1 with Renault.

The two organisations are currently battling over the use of the Lotus brand in F1, with Group Lotus and its owner Proton insisting it has sole rights over the name, while Fernandes' squad is adamant that the car company and F1 team were separate in the original Lotus days so its purchase of Team Lotus rights from David Hunt is valid.

In messages on their Twitter pages this morning, both Fernandes and Gascoyne signalled that news that Group Lotus had become a partner of Renault and Genii Capital would not deter them from fighting to use Team Lotus next year.

"Thanks for all the messages of support from our fans," Gascoyne wrote.

"Rest assured, we are Team Lotus and we are here to stay and we at Team Lotus are in F1 to design, build and race F1 cars from our home in Norfolk, and in the future to win as a Team, bring it on."

Fernandes said he was also still extremely positive about his team's prospects in the row - and noted that Group Lotus and Renault were using black and gold colours, the livery his squad had recently announced it would switch to in 2011.

"[Group Lotus CEO] Dany Bahar has done us a favour," Fernandes wrote. "Never felt better about our future and Team Lotus. Looks like they're trying to hijack our black and gold idea."

Gascoyne also took a light-hearted dig at Group Lotus and owner Proton when congratulating Fernandes on being named Businessman of the Year for 2010 by Forbes Asia.

"Congratulations to Tony Fernandes, Forbes Asia businessman of the year. Bet the guys from Proton have never won that!!!" Gascoyne tweeted.

EDIT: Team Lotus have now decided to stick with green-and-gold, after the over-whelming feedback to them was that they would prefer it over black-and-gold. I agree.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Lineker

Lineker · December 10, 2010

The ban on team orders in Formula 1 will be dropped from next season, the FIA announced following its World Motor Sport Council meeting on Friday.

A number of changes were confirmed in the sporting regulations from 2011, and the governing body said the "article forbidding team orders (39.1) is deleted."

The FIA said, however, that there would still be a rule to allow it to punish teams if it considers they had brought the sport into disrepute with their actions.

"Teams will be reminded that any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions," it said.

A team orders row erupted following this year's German Grand Prix, where the Ferrari team asked Felipe Massa to give way to Fernando Alonso to win the race.

Ferrari was fined $100,000 for its actions, although no further punishment was imposed, with the FIA vowing to clarify team orders rules.

The FIA also said on Friday that all team radio communications will be made available to broadcasters from the 2012 season.

Formula 1 has agreed to a radical shake-up of rules over the next two years - with major car changes approved for next year and all new engine regulations given the green light for 2013.

Following a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on Friday, the governing body confirmed that it would ratify amendments proposed to it by the F1 Commission, following discussion among teams.

The idea of a moveable rear wing for 2011, which will help overtaking, was approved - meaning that teams must now focus on getting the concept to work correctly prior to the start of the season.

The FIA has also tightened up the bodywork regulations in a bid to prevent a repeat of the controversy caused this summer by allegations that Red Bull Racing and Ferrari were illegally flexing their front wings.

The plan is for the rules relating to the 'reference plane' to become stricter, as well as there being better bodywork deflection tests at the front of this area of the car.

Longer term, the FIA has agreed that the current 2.4-litre V8 engines will be replaced with a new formula from 2013.

The new power units will be four cylinder 1.6-litre direct-injection engines. Although there will be a 12,000rpm limit and it is hoped fuel consumption will be cut by around 35%, the use of energy recovery systems should keep power at its current level.

For 2013, drivers will also be limited to just five engines per season - but that limit will be reduced to four for the following year.

As well as the car and engine changes, the FIA also confirmed revisions to driving and driver conduct, a limit on the width of the fast lane in the pits, plus the ability for the Race Director to shut the pit lane during a race for safety reasons. Drivers will also be instructed on circumstances when they can overtake the safety car.

Gearboxes will now have to be used for five consecutive races rather than four, while the intermediate tyre will be allowed back in F1 for 2011.

The FIA is expected to confirm the specific regulation changes over the next few days.

Katsuya · December 11, 2010

TBF, I think the Renault won't look too different than this year if they just flip the colours, so it's more predominantly black than yellow-y gold. Glad Lotus are sticking with the green and gold though.

maninblack · December 13, 2010

I think it's good that they're doing away with the ban on team orders. I wouldn't be surprised to see them revisit this a few years later when some team inevitably abuses this.

Lineker · December 13, 2010

Well we'll see. I wonder if Eddie Jordan will shut up about it all now!

Attention HRT!

Formula 1 will impose a curfew on team personnel next season in a bid to try and cut down on the working hours expected of staff.

Following concerns expressed by the new outfits in particular at the start of 2010, when they worked around the clock at the first few races of the campaign, the FIA has agreed on a working limit from the beginning of next year.

In its published 2011 F1 sporting regulations that appeared on Monday following last week's ratification by the World Motor Sport Council, the FIA announced the details of the curfew.

The curfew will be from midnight to 6am when practice starts at 10am and from 1am to 7am if practice starts at 11am.

"No team personnel who are associated in any way with the operation of the cars are permitted within the confines of the circuit during two six hour periods which commence ten hours before the scheduled start times of P1 and P3," stated the regulations.

"However, each team will be permitted four individual exceptions to the above during a Championship season."

The FIA has also announced that for next year only teams will be allowed a penalty-free gearbox change - with units now due to last for five events.

Article 28.6 f) stages: "For 2011 only, except during the last Event of the Championship season, each driver will be permitted to use a replacement gearbox without incurring a penalty the first time this becomes necessary during the season. Under such circumstances the replacement gearbox will only be required to complete the remainder of the Event in question."

The FIA also confirmed the tyre regulations for 2011 following the return of Pirelli to Formula 1 as the official tyre supplier.

For next season, each driver will have a nominated three sets of dry weather tyres for use in P1 and P2, with one set returned after each session. A further eight sets are then available for the rest of the weekend, with one set handed back before qualifying.

The FIA also confirmed how penalties will be handed out if drivers do not use both tyres of dry weather tyres during races.

"If the race is suspended and cannot be re-started, thirty seconds will be added to the elapsed time of any driver who was unable to use both specifications of dry-weather tyre during the race," stated the regulations. "However, any driver who completes the race without using both specifications of dry-weather tyre will be excluded from the race results."

As well as confirming the details of well-known technical changes, including moveable rear wings plus the banning of driver-activated F-ducts and double diffusers, the FIA confirmed the 107% per cent rule which will see cars not quick enough in Q1 excluded from starting the races.

The FIA is to clamp down on driving standards for the 2011 season, in a move aimed at seeing cleaner driving on track.

Following its World Motor Sport Council meeting last week, the governing body published the full sporting and technical regulations for next year.

In them, the FIA has made several tweaks aimed at cleaner racing in Formula 1 - which will include being stricter in dealing with aggressive defensive driving and those drivers who regularly run off the track to find an advantage.

"Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted," the new rules state.

The regulations also said that drivers benefiting from leaving the track could face penalties.

"Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not

"A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.

"Should a car leave the track for any reason the driver may rejoin. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage."

The ruling body has also tightened rules for backmarkers, in the hope that they influence races as little as possible.

"As soon as a car is caught by another car which is about to lap it during the race the driver must allow the faster driver past at the first available opportunity," the new rules read.

"If the driver who has been caught does not allow the faster driver past, waved blue flags will be shown to indicate that he must allow the following driver to overtake. Any driver who is deemed to be ignoring the waved blue flags will be reported to the stewards of the meeting."

The FIA also made it clear it will not allow overtaking in the pitlane next year.

"Any car(s) driven to the end of the pitlane prior to the start or re-start of a practice session, or any car(s) required to stop at the pit exit during a safety car period, must form up in a line in the fast lane and leave in the order they got there unless another car is unduly delayed."

Lineker · December 21, 2010

Jerome D'Ambrosio has secured the second race seat at Virgin Racing for 2011, the team announced on Tuesday.

The Belgian conducted third-driver duties for the team in Friday practice sessions towards the end of last season and had been one of the favourites to race alongside Timo Glock next year.

And after weeks of negotiations, as the team weighed up other options including retaining Lucas di Grassi or signing Giedo van der Garde, Virgin has finally decided to commit to D'Ambrosio.

Speaking about the deal, which now gives him plenty of time to get ready ahead of the first running of Virgin's 2011 car, D'Ambrosio said: "I'm thrilled to have achieved my goal of a Formula 1 race seat with Marussia Virgin Racing.

"When I came to the team in September this year it was everything I could hope for. I had a tough test to complete because there was a lot of competition for this seat, but at the same time I got on well with the team and felt that I had found my home.

"I feel very comfortable with them - they are extremely professional and ambitious people and it is exciting to think that I can be a part of shaping the team's future."

Virgin team principal John Booth said that the team's decision on signing D'Ambrosio was made very easy after it saw how good he was in the Friday sessions he did with the outfit.

"Jerome had been on our radar for quite some time as a driver we should seriously consider for a 2011 race seat. We had followed his progress in GP2 closely and it was clear he was 'one to watch', but when we put him in the car for the four race weekends and the Abu Dhabi test he surpassed even our own expectations.

"He slotted into the team perfectly and everyone took a shine to him, including our partners and the media. Apart from his obvious skill at the wheel of a Formula 1 car, he is an immensely personable young guy who is a pleasure to have around.

"He has secured this seat absolutely on merit and I think coupled with Timo we have the perfect blend of youth, experience, speed and potential and we can't wait to see what they can achieve together next season.

"Timo has done an excellent job for us in our debut season, in often challenging circumstances. There is no doubt that he has helped us to establish a strong foundation from which to develop the team and the package. We look forward to being in a much stronger position to deliver the car he deserves in 2011.

"Finally, I must thank Lucas di Grassi for the important role that he also played in establishing the team. He contributed a great deal to our development and we wish him every success in his future career, which we have no doubt will be an exciting one."

D'Ambrosio is part of the Gravity Sport Management programme that is headed by Renault F1 chairman Gerard Lopez and its team principal Eric Boullier.

Katsuya · December 22, 2010

I'm glad. D'Ambrosio looked like a good shout given his performances in practice towards the end of last season and Di Grassi was pretty piss poor, really. While Glock was able to give Jarno and Heikki a run for their money, Di Grassi was the one being hounded by Chandhok/Senna/Klien. In good news also:

Vitaly Petrov will remain as team-mate to Robert Kubica for F1 2011, after Lotus Renault GP - formerly the Renault F1 team – confirmed today that it has inked a new deal with the Russian.

Petrov, who made his debut at the pinnacle of the sport this season - the first Russian to ever race in F1, has been given a two-year contract, something which should help boost his confidence going into the new year.

The 26-year-old had a mixed time in 2010, with a number of incidents over the course of the year meaning he managed just 27 points compared to the 136 scored by team-mate Robert Kubica. However, despite that and some speculation he might be not be retained at various points throughout the year, he did enough to keep his drive.

“I am very happy to continue with the team and proud to be representing Lotus Renault GP for the 2011 and 2012 seasons,” Petrov said. “I learned a lot about the sport, the circuits and the car this year. That will help me improve even more in the future.

“I am very excited about working with this great team once more, and I'm confident that I will deliver. In many ways, 2010 was about learning. 2011 will be about performing. Today, I feel I am ready to rise to this challenge.”

Lotus Renault GP team principal, Eric Boullier is confident Petrov can step it up a level in 2011: “We are very pleased to confirm that Vitaly will be staying with us for 2011 and 2012, in order that both he and the team can build on a promising 2010 campaign,” he continued.

“The entire team has been working flat out over the past months to improve our competitiveness, and a stable driver line-up is essential to achieving our targets. Robert Kubica provides a remarkable benchmark for both speed and consistency, and we are certain that Vitaly will move closer to this level of performance next year.”

Lotus Renault GP chairman, Gérard Lopez meanwhile echoed those sentiments, although he also revealed that the deal makes commercial sense too.

“We're delighted to have Vitaly on board for another two years,” Lopez added. “Last season, he showed on several occasions that he clearly has the potential to deliver. It was just a matter of putting everything together during the same weekend, race after race, and this will be his target for 2011.

“Also, thanks to Vitaly and the team, Russia is opening up to F1. Over the past few months, we've established close links with this country and with some of its strongest companies. We're looking forward to building on this special relationship and turning it into a very successful adventure over the next two seasons,” he summed-up.

Yay Vitaly . Glad they gave him another season, since he did show some real genuine talent at times and I think a year in F1 will have screwed his head on a bit tighter and get rid of the accidents. It does, however, mean that it's all to play for at Force India, since it's essentially a three way contest now between Liuzzi, Hulkenburg and Di Resta. As much as I'd like to see Di Resta in a car, I'm hoping they give it to the Hulk.

Lineker · December 22, 2010

Good for Petrov. Now he knows all of the tracks (India aside obviously), he needs to consolidate and remove silly errors. He's a good driver and should Kubica eventually move on he could make a good #1.

Lineker · December 23, 2010

The Chapman family has now officially come out in favour of Group Lotus in the ongoing battle over the use of the famous name.

They have also made it clear that they did not want to see the Team Lotus name back in F1.

When Lotus Racing was announced the family was totally behind the project, but things changed when the war over the name stepped up a gear in the autumn, and it became apparent that Group Lotus was planning a deal with Renault.

It was soon suggested that the family had withdrawn its support of Tony Fernandes, but Colin Chapman’s son Clive declined to comment when asked by this blog some months ago.

He did however mention that Group Lotus’s ambitious plans included a museum, or ‘heritage centre’ at Hethel, which would become a home for the fabulous Classic Team Lotus collection which he curates.

A statement by Clive issued on behalf of the family reads as follows:

“The Chapman Family is impressed by the exciting developments underway at Group Lotus, and it is very grateful to Proton for the significant investment that is being made, to secure a strong future for the excellent workforce at the Hethel factory.

“In 2010 the Chapman Family and Classic Team Lotus have been pleased to support Group Lotus in many ways. In consultation with Proton, this included supporting the use of the Lotus name in Formula One, which was licensed by Group Lotus.

“The Chapman Family was impressed by the achievements of Lotus Racing as a new team, and appreciated its respect for Team Lotus history. However, then its license to use the Lotus name was terminated and things changed.

“During 2010, the Chapman Family, as and when appropriate, made it clear to those involved that it would prefer that the Team Lotus name should not be used in Formula One. Indeed, assurances to this effect were received.

“The Team Lotus identity represents the motor racing legacy of Colin Chapman, and this was preserved by the Chapman Family and invested within Classic Team Lotus. The association by Group Lotus with Team Lotus history is much appreciated and entirely appropriate, especially as it is in keeping with how things were in Colin Chapman’s time.

“The Chapman Family is looking forward to continuing to give its support to Group Lotus, which is the ongoing Lotus entity created by Colin and Hazel Chapman. After all, the Lotus marque is the responsibility of Group Lotus, and Hethel is the home of Lotus.”

adamcooperf1.com

Quite the u-turn there!

Formula One 2011

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