Team Lotus considers whether to keep the green livery in 2011

Team Lotus appears set to abandon its plans for a black and gold livery in 2011, following the announcement of a partnership between Group Lotus and Renault.

Weeks ago, while the controversy over the Lotus name was heating up, that is, at the moment in which the rumor began to circulate that Group Lotus could enter F1 following an alternative route, Tony Fernandes' team announced that it would abandon the green and yellow livery it sported In 2010.
The distinctive green and yellow have been used by the Lotus Group in other categories this year, including IndyCar, so Team Lotus had decided to choose a different color for 2011. “I know that the return of the legendary black and gold to the track will be welcomed with unanimous enthusiasm as it evokes fantastic memories for fans all over the world,” said CEO Riad Asmat.
The black and gold color became famous in the 80s, when the car was sponsored by John Player Special and driven by the genius Ayrton Senna.
But when Group Lotus, in its new guise as "Lotus Renault GP", revealed its plans on Wednesday, the Enstone team, which released photos of a repainted R30, was quick to comment that its cars will also be black and gold Next year.
As soon as they heard the news, fans of Fernandes' Team Lotus asked the Malaysian manufacturer to simply continue with green and yellow.
Mike Gascoyne's secretary promptly launched a poll, revealing that 77 percent are in favor of maintaining the current color, while only 15 percent ask for the next car to be black.
“There doesn't seem to be much doubt,” commented the designer.
Fernandes still accused the CEO of Lotus Group, Dany Bahar, of having stolen the color chosen by Team Lotus, but the owner of the Renault team Gerard Lopez replied in an interview with the Telegraph that the opposite is true: "We have always had that idea in mind, and the press made it public."
“They (team Lotus) announced just three days later that they had chosen black and gold. But, in the end, I don't think there will be any problem in recognizing the cars on the track,” added Lopez.
Bahar said he doesn't believe the 4 Lotus will be black in 2011, but also explained that if that happened he wouldn't mind "as it would increase the visibility" of the brand.
“For me, four is better than two. I have nothing against it,” she told BBC Radio Norfolk.
He then said that Proton, the Malaysian manufacturer that owns Group Lotus, would take legal action.
Bahar explained that Group Lotus decided to enter F1 with an existing team, rather than linking up with a rookie team like Fernandes', because the first option is "definitely" more convenient. “We believe there is the potential to get back to where they were when they won the World Cup,” he said.

Filippo Ronchetti