(2) No, Air Asia cannot afford to buy an F1 team. If they want to do it with their own money, then go ahead and let's see how this can/will impact their bottom line. But if they are going to ask for government backing, then it's bollocks and pointless. Remember the Team Minardi-Alex Yoong-Magnum-Ministry of Sports debacle? It was needlessly embarrassing. In any case, asking for government support is effectively asking for free money for Air Asia's global branding exercise.

(3) And before anyone suggests this, No, I don't think Proton should get involved either. Proton should focus on manufacturing cars with decent quality and make them cheap enough for people to buy. But I digress,

(4) Just because BMW has apparently pulled out of F1, it does not automatically mean "PETRONAS might need a new team to sponsor." They could well walk out at the end of the current season. If their focus in on branding, maybe sponsoring any team will do the trick. But they will probably be looking at a car manufacturer (e.g. Mercedes, Renault, Toyota et al.) if they are going to remain in F1 at all. This is because involvement in F1 is not not necessarily (and certainly not exclusively) about branding per se or even about cars and motor racing. In the final analysis, PETRONAS as a business will be looking at things like lubricant development and sales.

(5) When it comes to branding etc., F1 is pretty much recession-proof. So no, it is not going to be cheaper this time.

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Just some useless trivia. David Hunt is the brother of 1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt…

Apprently he has already put in their application to FIA. He is also lobbying for Proton and Petronas but Petronas isn't too keen in sponsoring any motorsports in the future after the end of this year's F1 season.

Talks of a Malaysian backed F1project said to be driven by Tony Fernandes is certainly circulating in the market. The deficit that will be left by BMW in Sauber is just huge and significantly more than the yearly spend from Petronas. Can the Malaysian economy even afford this?

It was reported that Tony was also the one behind Litespeed lobbying in Malaysia recently for support in F1 to race under 'Team Lotus', claiming they held the rights to the name. What they forgot to mention was that the rights to use 'Team Lotus' in F1, was and is still owned by a gentleman named David Hunt who has nothing to do with Litespeed and co. Even Proton cannot race in F1 under 'Team Lotus'. The Lotus car company THEMSELVES cannot race in F1 under 'Team Lotus'. Litespeed inaccurately publicized that they acquired the rights to race 'Team Lotus' in F1 next year and were in KL asking for funds. Doesn't sound too honest.

When Tony fernandes left a good career in the music business to start an airline, everyone called him a nutcase like how some are calling him when hearing this big push into F1. He also knows Air Asia alone is not enough for this project and he'll need govt support and other funding.

Tony is a phenomenal entrepreneur but perhaps he needs to spend more time in F1 (several years in the paddock) to learn the sport like what other wealthy businessmen turned F1 team owners did. Would have avoided the 'Team Lotus' cock up.

Richard Branson was honest to admit that he didn't know enough about F1. All great entreprenuers, Branson included, don't get too deep into ventures that they don't know enough about. Yes he did sponsor Brawn, but he was very careful to arrive at the decision and he did not commit deeper into it buy wanting to own the team etc

I am all for such a thing provided there is inflow of motoracing knowledge and technology into the country from the endeavour, with the creation of a real motorsport industry, unlike what happened the past 12 years with billions spent under Petronas.

August 21, 2009 @ 7:46 am

Rubbish! it’s just a rumour or khabar angin. They even hold their purchase of new Airbus last week. Do you think they ever gonna buy F1 team? No, I don’t think so. Moreover it’s a public listed company.

——

What rubbish?

It’s a wise decision what?

Buying Airbus = asset.

the bad site of buying assets / properties now… it’s to decrease value.

in this case, might be no demand too.

who now if the price of plane materials gonna gone cheaper next year?

Therefore. This is only the best time to invest for branding!.

It’s might be also far cheaper this time.

I think… Air asia will sponsoring brawn. Virgin removed.

Since Richard Branson of Virgin Air also had 20% stakes in Air Asia X.

Brawn will color white + red . Nice what?

Let alone Petronas with Sauber + using BMW engine.

That’s better than Petronas Sauber with ferrari old engine in back years.

Anyway.. anything can happen in F1.

just like “Oh!.. my neck injury is back” .. Hahahahaha

———-

not they holding the purchase but they just postpone the airplane delivery while waiting for the LCCT to complete…

but frankly speaking, this company now is in big debt totalling about few hundreds million which they borrow to buy airplane…

August 21, 2009 @ 7:46 am

Rubbish! it’s just a rumour or khabar angin. They even hold their purchase of new Airbus last week. Do you think they ever gonna buy F1 team? No, I don’t think so. Moreover it’s a public listed company.

——

What rubbish?

It's a wise decision what?

Buying Airbus = asset.

the bad site of buying assets / properties now… it's to decrease value.

in this case, might be no demand too.

who now if the price of plane materials gonna gone cheaper next year?

Therefore. This is only the best time to invest for branding!.

It's might be also far cheaper this time.

I think… Air asia will sponsoring brawn. Virgin removed.

Since Richard Branson of Virgin Air also had 20% stakes in Air Asia X.

Brawn will color white + red . Nice what?

Let alone Petronas with Sauber + using BMW engine.

That's better than Petronas Sauber with ferrari old engine in back years.

Anyway.. anything can happen in F1.

just like "Oh!.. my neck injury is back" .. Hahahahaha

—-

With Minardi? again will accident with the tembok? haha.. Malaysia only drive 110km/h mah… thats why lor….