Team Lotus to Announce 2010 Drivers Lineup by Abu Dhabi

As confirmed in the FIA press release yesterday, Team Lotus F1 is actually a Malaysian team, as it will benefit from both financial backing from the Malaysian government and resources from the aforementioned country.

The company's actual name is 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd, but the “Lotus” designation was chosen because it has far more marketing importance in the sport of motor racing. The last time Lotus competed in Formula One was in 1992.

The British brand is currently owned by Malaysian car maker Proton, which explains how the Asian company has the commercial rights to use that name. Although being named Team Lotus F1 and setting its operational base in Norfolk (UK), the Malaysian outfit will use Cosworth V8s. In addition, the car design and testing operations will get under way at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur, as confirmed by the very Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.

“We are also now evaluating the qualifications and suitability of six short-listed drivers both local and international, and we hope to officially introduce you to our two drivers by October 31. Hopefully we can hear the Malaysian national anthem being played one day,” PM Najib told the media yesterday, after the FIA announcement.

Najib also insisted that the team's crew will consist of Malaysian people in majority, including pit men, mechanics and technicians. Nevertheless, they will all be co-ordinated by F1's technical guru Mike Gascoyne, previously employee of Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One teams.