Branson to honour “air steward” bet with Lotus
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
According to Tony Fernandes, Richard Branson has agreed to honour his pre-season bet over which of their teams would finish highest in the world championship.
The pair had agreed to serve as an steward on their rival’s airline if they finished behind them in this year’s world championship.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix confirmed Lotus in tenth place in the constructors’ championship with Virgin 12th behind HRT. Fernandes presented Branson with an AirAsia uniform and pinned an AirAsia stewardess’ badge on him.
Fernandes said:
There has been a fantastic spirit of competition between us and Virgin Racing all season and one of the first people to come and congratulate us on the pit wall was Richard.
We have had this great bet running all season and now it’s time for Richard to start preparing himself for some hard work and the likely pain of a pair of high heels!
We agreed last night that we will run an online charity auction for the seats on our Kuala Lumpur / London route to raise money for a charity of Richard’s choice and give fans of both teams the chance to be on the flight.
The date of the flight will be announced very soon and the aim is to raise as much money as we can for a good cause so the discomfort Richard will go through is worth as much as it possibly can be!
Tony Fernandes
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Richard Branson, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Mike Gascoyne, Tony Fernandes, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Lotus, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Lotus, Abu Dhabi, 2010
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- Lotus, Abu Dhabi, 2010
2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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- Steven’s view of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Drivers’ and teams’ end-of-season photographs
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- Hamilton: McLaren learned a lot in 2010
- Button vows to address qualifying weakness
- Vettel ends season on a high to snatch title
- Ferrari hit back at criticism of race strategy
- McLaren rediscover their form at final race
- New engines help Renault to best result of 2010
Dan Newton said on 15th November 2010, 10:45
No photos please. I need to sleep at night!….
Ben N said on 15th November 2010, 10:45
Excellent!
Glad there is still room for lightheartedness in the now PR orbited world of F1!
Glad Sir Richard is keeping to his word! Hope to see pictures of this!
verstappen said on 15th November 2010, 11:30
…but isn’t this just PR? Lighthearted PR, that is, but PR nonetheless!
At which Branson is a master! Even when he’s lossing bigtime he knows how to get attention, this bet always would turn out well for him
verstappen said on 15th November 2010, 11:31
lossing = losing of course
Ben N said on 15th November 2010, 11:50
Verstappen! I suppose you are right, but it’s nice to see! Branson is a very clever man!
Rob said on 15th November 2010, 16:05
Considering the hash certain other teams have made of their PR this season, maybe Richard and Tony should be offering themselves as consultants!
BasCB said on 15th November 2010, 11:55
So what, it was a fun idea for a bet and both are now reaping the reward of knowing how to do PR.
Great to see them celebrating, watch that Bernie and Luca, these teams are providing something extra to the grid.
I bet Branson will be curious about sharing the ladies room with those girls.
Ned Flanders said on 15th November 2010, 12:18
Exactly right. Kind of funny all the same
Tango said on 15th November 2010, 11:01
Can’t wait to see that
zecks said on 15th November 2010, 13:17
yeah and the introduction of 70 year old hostess’s will only improve the awful service on air asia flights
McLarenFanJamm said on 15th November 2010, 11:22
someone pass me a sick bag…
wasiF1 (@wasif1) said on 15th November 2010, 12:17
Good to hear that they will raise some money for charity.
ukk said on 15th November 2010, 12:33
These folks, Tony Fernandes and Sir Richard Branson, are showing the way of how to compete – there has to be a winner, but there’s also place for some fun, keeping to one’s word and a good cause atthe end.
Wish more teams really took it like that and drop the sterile, cut-throat approach! Just imagine what a show would F1 be if this happens.
Monad said on 16th November 2010, 9:08
That easy to say when you ain’t fighting for a top position. Will they be enjoying themselves as much if they where losing the championship instead of tenth place?
When the game gets serious it forces to get serious too.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 15th November 2010, 13:01
Why do they have Fauzy’s name on the pit board? He didn’t actually do anything.
TomD11 (@tomd11) said on 15th November 2010, 15:31
LOL, that was the first thought that popped into my head too.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 15th November 2010, 13:20
Glad it’s going through! Should be quite humourous.
Fixy (@fixy) said on 15th November 2010, 13:41
Wow, Trulli’s arm is really long! :D
Tiomkin said on 15th November 2010, 13:42
I only wish I had the cash to be on that flight. Good for Sir Rich to honour the bet.
Calum said on 15th November 2010, 15:00
Does anyone know why Lotus Racing has a circle with a question mark in it on the nosecone and on the side pod mounted mirror aero splitters instead of the car number that they had a few races ago?
Kbdavies said on 15th November 2010, 16:25
Is it now time to declare Wirth’s all CFD approach a total faliure? The deafening silence now is in marked contrast to all the hot air blown in the begining.
Chippie said on 15th November 2010, 16:38
It’s not about winning, it’s not about taking part, the only thing that matters is how much fun you have along the way!
Robert said on 15th November 2010, 23:36
Aw Rich.. Can’t you do that one where you get dragged down the side of a building again? :)