Model hints at 2010 colour scheme for 1Malaysia / Lotus F1 car
1Malaysia F1 car model
The FIA announced today that Lotus will get the final place on the 2010 F1 grid. The Malaysian government has backed the bid and the entry was made by a company called “1Malaysia F1 Team”.
1Malaysia is an initiative of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, intended to promote unity among Malaysians. This brightly-coloured car model was on display at an official announcement in Malaysia today.
The team principal will be Tony Fernandes, who is ranked the 15th-richest man in Malaysia and set up Air Asia, the airline which sponsors Williams.
A statement from the government said: ““The cars will be made in Malaysia, by Malaysians [...] The team will announce its two drivers by October 31, 2009. Currently six local and international drivers have been selected.”
Ex-Renault, Toyota and Force India man Mike Gascoyne will return to F1 as the team’s technical director.
Interestingly, FIA president candidate Jean Todt has links to Malaysia via his partner Michelle Yeoh and his role as an ambassador for Malaysian tourism (about which questions were raised earlier this year).
The model above may prove not to be indicative of what the team’s final 2010 livery will look like – but I think it would be great to see such a radical colour scheme on the F1 grid.
But with Force India, US F1 and now 1Malaysia, is F1 slowly turning into A1 Grand Prix?
Update: Alex Yoong yesterday referred to the car as ‘project raibow’ on Twitter. Is this paint scheme serious?
Read more: 2010 F1 drivers and teams
UnicornF1 said on 15th September 2009, 18:07
I hope Alex Yoong doesn’t return to F1 as one of the Lotus drivers…
Ned Flanders said on 15th September 2009, 21:46
The days of pay drivers seem to be over- now drivers seem more likely to be chosen on their nationality. Bernie Ecclestone wants Force India to take on Karun Chandok, USF1 will run at least one American driver (even though none of them seem to have the credentials right now). Perhaps the Malaysian tourist board will decide employing Alex Yoong for Lotus will draw in a few more tourists to the country…
his_majesty said on 15th September 2009, 18:08
?
mp4-19b said on 15th September 2009, 19:36
Are sidepods & stuff allowed next year?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th September 2009, 21:05
Not the winglets, no, this looks like a pre-09 model that someone’s painted.
Sush Meerkat said on 16th September 2009, 6:51
look like the renault R24 or R25.
Luigismen said on 17th September 2009, 18:24
it is a renault
TommyB said on 15th September 2009, 18:09
Well thats…. different
Random Chimp said on 15th September 2009, 18:46
One way of putting it.
LC Coelho said on 15th September 2009, 18:50
a very nice way of putting it, I had a diff word on my head….
Random Chimp said on 15th September 2009, 18:53
I had several.
Alianora La Canta said on 16th September 2009, 23:32
I had a stick of rock from the seaside that looked like that once…
sato113 said on 15th September 2009, 21:12
as long as red or white aren’t on it i’m happy. these colours are way to common. the old black/gold or the dark green/yellow schemes were the best.
Bartholomew said on 15th September 2009, 22:16
The dark metallic green with yellow would be great.
Rikadyn said on 15th September 2009, 22:24
or blue
Rikadyn said on 15th September 2009, 22:24
i meant as long as it isn’t dark blue or dark blue and white.
Ned Flanders said on 15th September 2009, 21:51
I’m a fan of colourful things, so I like it. But then again I like the Renault livery so perhaps I just have bad taste…
Regardless, I’d be very surprised if they actually kept this livery, I think it’s just a publicity stunt. If Petronas are involved, it’s far more likely to be turqouise, a bit like Sauber used to look.
kallan said on 15th September 2009, 23:59
Your not alone, I loved the 08 Renault color scheme the best, and Vettels Bahrain helmet
lewisisoverated said on 16th September 2009, 3:46
as ridiculous as that looks, im sure that was just for show.. i looked at it again and if you notice that is actually the colours of the malaysian flag! for anyone who doesnt know what that looks like, its has a blue rectangle with a yellow moon and sun in it. and the red and white stripes. well it looks just like the american flag except the 52 or whatever stars the septics have is replaced by the sun and moon. not too sure about the number of stripes. havent counted either.
Michel S. said on 16th September 2009, 4:08
Looks like ice-cream to me.
Steph90 said on 15th September 2009, 18:12
The back looks alright I think but I do not like the front. I like vivid and distinctive liveries but that is just odd…
KS LEE said on 15th September 2009, 18:15
haha.. Dun be like Spyker or MidlandF1 disappear from the grid less than 2 seasons..
TommyB said on 15th September 2009, 18:35
Yeah they will. So will Manor and Campos
Sebastian said on 15th September 2009, 18:15
I have a feeling this won’t end well.
Steph90 said on 15th September 2009, 18:16
Lol TommyB one way to describe it!
:PMaybe they kept running out of paint and just picked up the nearest can?
TommyB said on 15th September 2009, 18:23
Haha yeah. Looks a bit like a stick of rock you get from the sea-side or something.
dsd_ said on 15th September 2009, 18:18
Nice to see Mike Gascoyne will be back for next year…. Well the design and colours are erm.. different!
chaostheory said on 15th September 2009, 18:21
Now I wont say a bad thing about Renaults ING livery. I love it now as I know there may be worse paint jobs :O
TommyB said on 15th September 2009, 18:23
Yes. It’ll soon be half A1GP half Formula Cosworth.
Hopefully F1 will be sorted out with a new president
Steph90 said on 15th September 2009, 18:25
What if it’s Todt Tommy? Bernie wouldn’t even give Vatanen a pass to the Monza gp. Wish we could vote or get one of us or Keith for president
TommyB said on 15th September 2009, 18:36
Yeah that’d be a shame. Isn’t Todt going to run for president then when he gets it make Mosley in-charge again?
PJA said on 15th September 2009, 18:27
I would be very surprised if that livery made it onto the grid.
Bernification said on 15th September 2009, 18:28
Please god, no!
That’s horrid, really don’t like it one bit.
The cars will be made in Malaysia, by Malaysians [...]
If that’s the case, why not use a Malaysian name than possibly tarnish a great teams record.
Just my tuppence worth.
Bartholomew said on 15th September 2009, 22:21
Yes I agree. The majesty of the Lotus name should not be tarnished by tacky liveries. They will ruin the brand appeal and commercial value of the name if they do. But try explaining this to people in this Berniefied era – F1 does not seem to have too much awareness of history or classy looks these days (the exception being McLaren)
Bartholomew said on 15th September 2009, 22:22
Well, Mclaren and Williams also.
David A said on 15th September 2009, 23:06
Mclaren, Williams and Ferrari. Oddly enough they’re the only teams to have won more races than Lotus.
Michel S. said on 16th September 2009, 5:15
They can even paint it the national flag colors and it would not look so ugly. Gah. When I was last in KL, the ING Renault F1 advertisements were everywhere — you’d think they’d recoil from the horror, not get sunken deeper into the morass…
Ironically, the local Malaysian car makes (Proton and Perodua) tend to be, in my opinion, very elegantly designed, they just have a reputation — not wholly undeserved — for poor reliability and safety.
Leaf said on 15th September 2009, 18:30
Oh God……please….no.
If they show up with a color scheme like that it is probably an indication of the performance we can expect from the team…….like none.
mp4-19b said on 15th September 2009, 18:30
What’s with all the Pink on the front wing & nose? It will definitely not be received well in Canada & USA for obvious reasons ;) I dunno how Colin Chapman will be feeling at this moment. The first thing that comes to mind at a mention of a Lotus is “JPS Golden Black” . I would rather not see a lotus car. This is absolutely going to destroy the legacy of Lotus & Chapman.
Wasn’t Mike Gascoyne fired from Force India last year? I wonder how good will he be. Hasn’t been sucessful despite being the highest paid in 2003 with earnings crossing $8 million per year. Malaysian folks will go mad if this new “Lotus” doesn’t deliver. I just hope this misadventure doesn’t damage the reputation of the original Colin Chapman Lotus brand.
Tod Fod said on 15th September 2009, 19:41
That car is as ugly as it will be slow. That car is really a joke. FIA doesnt which direction to take f1 in.. but allowing a crappy teams and cars in f1 will only spoil the sport
Tod Fod said on 15th September 2009, 19:41
That car is as ugly as it will be slow. That car is really a joke. FIA doesnt know which direction to take f1 in.. but allowing a crappy teams and cars in f1 will only spoil the sport
matt said on 15th September 2009, 22:49
I hope they don’t do black and gold. It was a great livery, but it matched the sponsor, so dragging it out now seems wrong. I suppose if the sponsor black and gold it wouldn’t matter, but otherwise it seems like exploiting there history. I’d rather they just find a scheme to match a new sponsor or go back to green with yellow.