[Robin_NL]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9934.html



Lotus 49

Lotus 79

Lotus 99T

[E90SLAM]

Nice!!!

But I can tell what the car will look like....just pick any 2009 F1 cars and paint watever Lotus's main sponsor color....

man...F1 is getting more and more like spec. car...everything is limited and constraint....

[taliesen]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

Nice!!!

But I can tell what the car will look like....just pick any 2009 F1 cars and paint watever Lotus's main sponsor color....

man...F1 is getting more and more like spec. car...everything is limited and constraint....

A given formula is meant to make the cars similar and to keep things on a more even playing field - this has pretty much been true of F1 since 80s. And looking at the pics on the attached links, there really are obvious differences between this year's cars. That being said, I'd expect the newcomers' cars to look like either the RB5 or the Brawn BGP01, as they are the most successful this year.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/1...ms-and-toyota/

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/2...mparisons-bmw/

http://www.pitlanefanatic.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=611

[blue2fire]

"The cars will be made in Malaysia, by Malaysians," the Malaysian government said.

No interest whatsoever. They are just using the name.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by taliesen

A given formula is meant to make the cars similar and to keep things on a more even playing field - this has pretty much been true of F1 since 80s. And looking at the pics on the attached links, there really are obvious differences between this year's cars. That being said, I'd expect the newcomers' cars to look like either the RB5 or the Brawn BGP01, as they are the most successful this year.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/1...ms-and-toyota/

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/2...mparisons-bmw/

http://www.pitlanefanatic.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=611

I just wish there's more technical freedom like the turbo ages...well...then the well funded teams will be well ahead of other smaller teams....I guess FIA is just trying to test the balance of technical development and also provide a fair playfield for all teams...

The only difference (or the teams can exploit are the two ends of the front wing, the "shape" of the nose cone, mirror location, shape of sidepod without attachments, floor plate, and the horizontal plates of the rear wings, and diffusor)....actually that's quite a lot....but all the teams are getting to look more similar compare to 2007-2008 when there's more technical freedom of add-on wings and so.....

[E90SLAM]

Another booming airline entrepreneur enters F1...
After Kingfisher, now Air Asia....which also sponsors ManUtd Football Club....
(btw...isn't Air Asia is the current sponsor for AT&T Williams???)

[MuchMoore]

Originally Posted by blue2fire

No interest whatsoever. They are just using the name.

+1

It's a shame that Lotus allowed them to do this. Why couldn't they have taken the Chevy name or something?

[taliesen]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

all the teams are getting to look more similar compare to 2007-2008 when there's more technical freedom of add-on wings and so.....

This is true - but if you think about, there is really only 1 ultimate shape for a race car on a given track from an aerodynamic perspective for each type of suspension set up. And inherently, one type of suspension geometry should be better than the others for each track. So in the end, there is really only one perfect form per track - as everyone develops, they should all get closer to that perfect form. That will never happen because racing is all about compromise, and catering to your drivers - but it does mean similarities.

To stay on topic - I totally agree this team should NOT be called Lotus - there will be absolutely none of Colin Chapman's legacy or the original company's heritage involved. I know Classic Team Lotus was threatening legal action over the use of the name when it was first proposed a couple/few months ago - anybody know where that ended up?

[david @ eas]

Oh wow, this should make F1 a bit more interesting

[ianbiz]

Originally Posted by MuchMoore

+1

It's a shame that Lotus allowed them to do this. Why couldn't they have taken the Chevy name or something?

Agreed. But I'm guessing Lotus could be getting a nice paycheck for the name use along with the advertising.

[1BMW4fun]

Wow this would be a long time since we have a national sponsored car.