Name changes for Renault, Virgin and Lotus approved at Formula 1 Commission Meeting – Formula 1 news
Formula 1 Commission held a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to decide on some key issues that have been of concern to the Formula 1 teams of late. Amongst these issues, one of the major concerns raised was by the Renault, Virgin and Lotus teams that had asked
for a name change. After much delay, the three teams have finally been given an approval by the Commission, reports reveal.
The decision by the Formula 1 Commission has not been made public yet as approval from FIA president Jean Todt who is a member of the F1 Commission is still pending.
Lotus Renault GP had requested for a change in its team brand logo to Lotus which has been agreed upon, giving the team exclusive rights to use the Lotus brand name, sources suggest.
There has been a long debate over the use of Lotus logo in Formula 1 and following the commission’s final decision, the confusion has ended.
Earlier during the season, the two teams Lotus and Lotus Renault GP had entered into a stormy clash. The Lotus Group was not allowing team Lotus to use its name however, the matter was taken to the court and the decision was eventually given in favour of
team Lotus giving them rights to use the name.
Having two teams, Lotus and Lotus Renault GP teams in Formula 1 using the same logo Lotus however created a lot of confusion.
Team Lotus will now be called Caterham, confirmed Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes.
For the Virgin Racing Team, the situation, on the contrary was very simple as the team just had to change its name to Marussia. The team has been given a go-ahead and hence 2012 will see VRT as Marussia, recent reports reveal.
Other issues were also scheduled to be discussed at the meeting. However, no reports have been received so far related to their fate.
Although the decision regarding the name change situation has been taken, there is one final formality that the teams still need to go through. It is at the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council meeting that the matter will become official.
The teams have decided to hold back any views on this matter and making public until the WMSC Meeting takes place on December 7, 2011.
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