Lotus Cars to Buy Into F1 Team in the Future

Lotus Cars is likely to become more involved in the Lotus F1 Team in the future, as confirmed by the team's boss Tony Fernandes during the Motor Sport Business Forum in Monaco. The British sports car maker is currently allowing its name to be used by the team in the 2010 Formula One Championship, via a license handed by Malaysian owners Proton.

The team's actual name is 1Malaysia F1, but the prospect of seeing a former F1 player return to the series (yes, we're talking about Lotus) led to Proton allowing the Malaysian team to compete in the Great Circle as Team Lotus. However, the company didn't commit to any financial engagements with the team.

Fernandes told the Formula One official site that, while Lotus isn't strongly bound to the team at the moment, they will consider increasing their level of commitment within 1Malaysia's F1 organization in future years.

“Over time that relationship will grow. Lotus will probably buy into the team at some stage. More and more technology from our side will flow into Lotus cars and we will promote the Lotus brand. I see it in time being no different from how Ferrari works,” said Fernandes, while also insisting that the new team will not claim any heritage from the former Lotus outfit (who won 7 constructors' and 6 drivers' world championships until its final race in 1994).

“I don't think we can claim any of the heritage, but we are very clear about making sure we don't destroy any of the prestige. It's phenomenal history, a phenomenal brand. We can't claim it, but we will work with it, we'll celebrate it and we'll honor it,” added the Malaysian boss.