Yesterday, you read here that Group Lotus (the Proton subsidiary) could be making an entry into Formula 1 via a collaboration with the Renault F1 Team. The paddock talks about Lotus coming in as a sponsor first, before deepening their involvement in the Enstone based team, and that there will be a Lotus-Renault on the grid next year. Here’s Renault boss Carlos Ghosn’s take on the rumour.
While not confirming outright, Ghosn hinted at the possibilities. “Name changes are everywhere. The key is to preserve the Renault name. Apart from Renault F1, yes, there may be other associated names. We are not in F1 to have a particular team but to promote the name and the technology of Renault,” he told Auto Hebdo.
“We don’t want to give the impression that we are an exclusive team. We are now developing our technology with multiple teams. What I can tell you is that, increasingly, we will be technology suppliers to many teams that are involved in Formula 1,” Ghosn added.
On Lotus’ part, this move (if the rumours are true) is entirely consistent with the Dany Bahar led new management’s plans. Everyone at the Paris Motor Show and Lotus’ gala dinner where they unveiled the fantastic five could see that they are finally starting to “take ownership” of the brand’s rich racing history. Clive Chapman gave his endorsement, Sir Stirling Moss was called in to lend weight, “7 time Constructors’ Champion” was drummed into our heads – they are dead serious in re-entering the game.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express hope and skepticism about Proton's involvement in F1 through Lotus-Renault, with some praising the potential sponsorship investment and others criticizing the financial sustainability and management issues. There is interest in the drivers like Raikkonen and Kubica, and debates about the use of the Lotus name and team heritage. Overall, sentiments range from optimistic anticipation to concern over costs and strategic alliances, highlighting the significance of the F1 venture for Malaysian and international fans.