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
jayb said on 15th September 2009, 19:26
ACID FLASHBACK!!!!!!!
Mr. shirx vsdballsackpopadom said on 15th September 2009, 19:27
Looks crap.
Steph90 said on 15th September 2009, 19:31
Tommy that’s what many think and I doubt Max would back anyone unless he got something out of it.
Bernard I wouldn’t ban them but I tend do agree it’s better when teams stay awaye from country names, mainly as I have a vision of the USF1 car being the american flag with them blasting Bruce Springsteen’s born in the USA when they arrive next year
:PChazzers said on 15th September 2009, 19:40
You forgot to mention monster truck tires and a “support our troops” magnet on the rear wing.
Grace Lovvorn said on 15th September 2009, 20:50
Couldn’t agree more. All they need now is a Budweiser sponsorship, and they’d be all set!
UnicornF1 said on 15th September 2009, 19:33
it has a Benetton flavor :-P
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Thierry_Boutsen_1988_Canada_2.jpg
rampante said on 15th September 2009, 19:39
the 60′s have returned only this time the LSD has been taken by engineers. That hurts.Anyboby remember the Lola in 93′ I always thought that was the worst, I remember walking down the pit lane and seeing it for the 1st time boy was it ugly.
David said on 15th September 2009, 19:44
Incredible to say, I agree with Mp4-19.
Would that rainbow be a LOTUS???
sesku said on 15th September 2009, 19:48
it not the lotus f1 livery for next year…c’mon…don’t be such stupid….this is just an awful looking model made by 5 years old kid with a couple can of spray…the team will call lotus f1 team not 1malaysia f1 team…it just a company name..i bet one of the driver will be fairuz fauzy….but fairuz deserve much descent f1 car that this lotus f1 that sure will be one of the back marker next year….the should just buy bmw sauber!!!
gabal said on 15th September 2009, 20:23
And I thought that the front-side shot looks awfull – at least from that angle you can see that they TRIED (and failed miserably) to paint a national flag inspired livery.
I can see them either using British racing green or the yellow-white livery of A1 team
Pedro Andrade said on 15th September 2009, 20:42
This is FAIL on so many levels.
FAIL team.
FAIL livery.
FAIL Lotus name using.
FAIL Sauber getting a buyer only on the day this is announced.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 16th September 2009, 2:10
Sauber most likely had a buyer lined up well in advance, they just chose to annouce it the same day as Lotus was declared team thirteen to maximise their chances of there being a fourteenth team.
Oliver said on 15th September 2009, 20:43
It looks like an old Renault model.
Wen said on 15th September 2009, 20:45
As a malaysian, I’m embarrassed. way to stick it in peoples faces… woo…
cholle said on 15th September 2009, 20:54
So this is what Alex Yoong referred to as ‘Project Rainbow’…
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th September 2009, 21:02
Yeah someone just sent me that on Twitter. Very interesting, maybe this is more accurate than we thought!
Grace Lovvorn said on 15th September 2009, 20:54
YUCK! Who was the genius who painted this monstrosity? An group of preschoolers? And the name? C’mon, we have Force India, USF1, and NOW 1Malaysia? I thought nothing could get worse than USF1 with the naming, but maybe the Malaysians need to be a tad more creative. Also, it is a disappointment that this fugly car will have a Lotus badge on it. FAIL on so many levels.
Tiomkin said on 15th September 2009, 21:00
I must change my meds, but I like it. A color for every day of the week or minute of the day. It is trying to please everyone on the planet.
sato113 said on 15th September 2009, 21:10
yes keith, but not like this! looks like an ice cream.
Pedro Andrade said on 15th September 2009, 23:01
Like an ice cream? I wouldn’t eat an ice cream with that many colours!
sato113 said on 16th September 2009, 0:19
ever heard of neopolitan?
Tom L. said on 16th September 2009, 21:10
Hahaha, good call.
UnicornF1 said on 16th September 2009, 9:43
It doesn’t look like an ice cream.
It looks like a bad ice cream :-P
Stealthman said on 16th September 2009, 10:13
A melted one at that.