Team Lotus has announced that American giant GE is the team’s latest sponsor. GE, a leading global technology and infrastructure company that operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people, joins the Malaysian owned team as a Premium Partner. GE branding will be seen on the team’s T128 F1 cars and entire race and factory structure from this July’s British GP.

“On behalf of the whole team I am very proud to welcome GE into the Team Lotus family. It is a resounding endorsement of the remarkable development of our team that we have unveiled a partnership of this significance with one of the world’s most eminent organisations,” gushed Team Lotus boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

“We are already exploring a number of initiatives that will bring the GE/Team Lotus relationship to life across the spectrum of GE’s interests, from future automotive electrification technologies, materials sciences, design processes and core engineering competencies to the showcasing of GE’s world class e-infrastructure capabilities throughout the global business and government communities in race and non-race markets alike,” he elaborated.

“We are excited to sponsor Team Lotus and continue our relationship with Tony Fernandes. We have worked with Tony for many years and know his commitment to the aviation business. The global appeal and popularity of Formula 1 provides a unique opportunity for GE and we look forward to great things from Tony again as we become part of his team,” said Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE.

Last month, AirAsia X signed a USD 600mil deal with GE Aviation that will see the latter supply engines for its three new Airbus A330-200s, with an option to outfit two more planes. The long-haul budget carrier also made a 20-year on-point solutions agreement with GE for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the CF6-80E1 engines.

I scratch your back, you scratch mine!

Formula 1 moves to Canada for its only North American race in the calendar, and yesterday’s qualifying session at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve saw reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel race to his sixth pole position in seven races this year. Hot on the heels of the Red Bull man was the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who will line up second and third on the grid.

The young German’s 1m13.014s lap was 0.185s faster than Alonso’s best effort and 0.203 faster than Massa’s. This is the best Saturday for the Scuderia so far this season, and their legions of fans will be hoping that it translates to good results later in the race.

Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber is fourth, and Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside Mercedes GP Petronas’ Nico Rosberg on the third row in fifth and sixth respectively. McLaren’s other English champion, Jenson Button, is seventh. The rest of the top ten spots will be filled by Michael Schumacher (8th), Nick Heidfeld (9th) and Vitaly Petrov (10th). Lotus Renault GP would be happy to see two black/gold cars in Q3.

Further down the grid, Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari is the midfielder to join the usual six cars to fall out in Q1. Team Lotus’ Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen should now be able to drive to their usual 19th and 20th spots on the grid blindfolded, as they’ve made it their own. Behind them are the HRTs and Virgins. The latter’s Jerome d’Ambrosio qualified almost half a second off the 107% time, so his race is in the stewards’ hands.

Click here to see the full timing sheet. For those staying up late to watch the race, we wish you good recovery and a decently productive Monday!

It has been one week since FIA announced the reinstatement of the Bahrain GP, which will take the October 30 slot of the Indian GP, pushing the inaugural race to be the 2011 season finale. But instead of welcoming cheers, the World Motor Sport Council decision attracted plenty of flak from the paddock, human rights groups and commentators alike. You can read their views here and here.

As criticism grew by the day, including an unwilling FOTA and a doubtful Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA has been left with little option but to backtrack and apologise. No such move, yet, but FIA president Jean Todt has asked Bernie to resubmit a calendar, which would likely revert India to October 30, ending the season in Brazil on November 27. The Bahrain GP organiser meanwhile, has all but given up hope.

“Whilst Bahrain would have been delighted to see the grand prix progress on October 30th in-line with the World Motor Sport Council’s decision, it has been made clear that this fixture cannot progress and we fully respect that decision,” Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani said in a statement.

“Bahrain has always sought to play a positive role in the continued development of Formula 1, from pioneering F1 racing in the Middle East, to helping other countries in facilitating their own races in new territories, as well as providing our own unique experience and universal welcome to grand prix supporters.

“Bahrain has absolutely no desire to see a race which would further extend the calendar season [and] detract from the enjoyment of F1 for either drivers, teams or supporters. We want our role in Formula 1 to continue to be as positive and constructive as it has always been, therefore, in the best interest of the sport, we will not pursue the rescheduling of a race this season,” he added.

Yesterday, we posted about the dissatisfaction some had with the FIA’s decision to reinstate the Bahrain GP, moving the inaugural Indian GP to be the season finale in the process. The likes of Red Bull’s Mark Webber and ex-FIA boss Max Mosley warned against F1 playing a part in Bahrain’s social unrest, which has claimed injuries and lives.

Now, the teams have collectively voiced their concern via the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) umbrella body. FOTA has written to the sport’s guardians and stated that its members do not want to race in Bahrain on October 30, Autosport reported. FOTA did not release a public statement, but the report says that a letter has been delivered to the FIA, Formula One Management and the Bahrain GP organisers.

After discussing the issue over the past 36 hours, it is understood that FOTA’s stand is as per above, and that it wants the Indian GP be changed back to its original October 30 date. However, FOTA has apparently not ruled out a return of the Bahrain GP at some point. It is believed that they prefer this to happen in 2012, not this season.

Even Bernie Ecclestone is not 100% for the FIA decision. “The way things are at the moment, we have no idea what is going to happen. Better that we move Bahrain to the end of the season and, if things are safe and well, then that is fine, we can go. If they are not, then we don’t go and there are no problems,” the F1 supremo was quoted as saying.

Nick Heidfeld was signed by Lotus Renault GP as an experienced stand in to main driver Robert Kubica, who was seriously injured in a rally accident before the season started. He’s supposed to lead the line, but the past few races have been disappointing for Quick Nick, who is now getting a hurry up from his boss.

The German started the season outside of the points, but bounced back strongly in Sepang with a podium finish. However, the following four races saw him pick up less points than the 15 he got in Malaysia. He has also struggled to match the pace of teammate Vitaly Petrov in qualifying, damaging his chances of better results on Sunday. His head-to-head qualifying score against Petrov is 1-5.

When asked by Autosport what Heidfeld needed to do, team boss Eric Boullier said: “I don’t know. I need to sit down with him and understand his concerns and to have a fair understanding of the situation. It needs to be from practice one to be at least on Vitaly’s pace and it looks like there is always a delay, and qualifying if you are not ready car wise, balance wise and confidence wise then you cannot deliver on one single lap.”

On Heidfeld’s season so far, he said: “Let’s say good, but not good enough. Sunday is okay. Sunday’s pace is good, it is very good, but obviously the higher we qualify on the grid, the better the chance we have to score more points.”

Looks like Quick Nick will have to live up to his nickname quickly, especially on Saturdays. The next race is the Canadian GP from 10-12 June in Montreal.

One of the big moments in yesterday’s Monaco GP was when the leading trio of Vettel, Alonso and Button caught up with a group of cars fighting among themselves on lap 68. They were Maldonado, Sutil, Hamilton, Petrov and Alguersuari. They all came together at the Swimming Pool, where Sutil and Hamilton damaged their cars while Petrov and Alguersuari crashed out. The leaders scrambled past the melee.

While Toro Rosso’s young Spaniard walked away immediately unhurt, Vitaly Petrov was clearly hurt in his Lotus Renault R31. The safety car was out, and the ambulance too, which drove the Russian to Princess Grace hospital. While Vitaly complained about his left ankle to the medical crew, no fracture had been diagnosed at the circuit and further checks in the hospital revealed no swelling or broken bones.

When asked, the LRGP driver said: “I’m fine, thank you. It’s been a big crash but I’m ok. First of all, I would like to thank all my fans for all their well wishes, the medical teams at the circuit, the hospital for their efficient and friendly assistance, and the team for their concern.

“After the impact, I could not feel my legs very well. I thought it was best for the medical team to assist with removing me from the car as it was difficult for me to move and my legs were trapped in the cockpit. I did not lose consciousness but I was in quite a lot of pain when I was inside the car,” he explained.

Good to hear that he’s fine. The crashes over the weekend is a testament to the safety of today’s F1 cars.

Wasn’t yesterday’s race the most eventful Monaco GP we’ve seen in recent times? Lewis Hamilton contributed generously to the cause and was punished by the stewards for his efforts. The McLaren man was given a drive-through penalty for causing an avoidable incident with Felipe Massa while the pair fought for 10th place. He later collided with Williams’ Pastor Maldonado, denying the rookie his first points of the season.

The very angry man blasted the stewards when the TV cameras ambushed him after the race. “Out of six races, I’ve been to the stewards five times. It’s a joke. It’s an absolute frickin’ joke,” he told the BBC. When asked why he thought stewards had been paying attention to his driving this year, he joked: “Maybe it’s because I’m black. That’s what Ali G says. I don’t know.”

“I was quite a lot quicker than Massa. I went up the inside, and the guy turned so early and just turned into me. So I tried to go over the kerb to avoid him and we were stuck together. And of course I get the penalty, which is usual. He held me up in qualifying and I got the penalty. He turned into me, and I got the penalty,” Lewis added. Can you feel the anger?

There’s more. Here’s his piece of mind about the Maldonado incident: “I went up the inside of Maldonado and you can see on the screen that he turned in a good car length too early to stop me overtaking him and he crashed into me. It’s just ridiculous. These drivers are absolutely frickin’ ridiculous. Just stupid,” Lewis blasted.

“People want to see my racing, want to see overtaking and [then] you get done for trying to overtake. You get done trying to put on a show. You get done trying to make a move. Fair play, if I really feel that I’ve gone too late and hit someone, I’ll put my hand up and realise [that] I really have caused an incident and I’ve been the stupid one, but it is not the case [today],” he ended.

This has to be THE outburst of the season so far. Can you feel the anger?