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F1: Team Lotus To Stick With Green In 2011, Ferrari Welcomes Move To Scrap Team Orders Ban

Team Lotus has decided to ditch its plans for a black and gold livery in 2011.

On Thursday, after Group Lotus announced it is entering F1 with Renault and revealed John Player Special-inspired colours for 2011, fans of the separate Tony Fernandes-h


Team Lotus has decided to ditch its plans for a black and gold livery in 2011.

On Thursday, after Group Lotus announced it is entering F1 with Renault and revealed John Player Special-inspired colours for 2011, fans of the separate Tony Fernandes-headed team urged the Malaysian outfit to stay with its current green and yellow livery next year.

"Having four black cars looking the same I think is silly and one has to relent," Fernandes told Reuters news agency.

"We're not childish and emotional and saying 'Oh no, we've got to be black and gold'. We're pragmatic," he added, revealing there had been some "negativity" about the earlier plans for a livery inspired by a cigarette brand.

As for the Lotus name, however, Fernandes vowed to push ahead, meaning the dispute is likely to now be settled in the London High Court sometime next year.

"Having two Lotus brands on the grid I think is no issue," he said.

Meanwhile, a date has been set for Sir Richard Branson's day as a skirt-wearing AirAsia stewardess, after losing a bet with Fernandes this year.

"It's confirmed February 21, 2011," Fernandes wrote on Twitter, revealing the flight will travel from London to Kuala Lumpur.

(GMM)

Ferrari Welcomes Move To Scrap Team Orders Ban

Stefano Domenicali has welcomed the FIA's abolition of the rule prohibiting team orders.

The governing body, now headed by president Jean Todt, revisited the controversial rule after Ferrari's place-swapping during this year's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

The Maranello based team never admitted to ordering Felipe Massa to move aside for Fernando Alonso, but at the same time has always maintained that F1 is a team sport in which team strategies are commonplace.

"Finally, we have said goodbye to this pointless hypocrisy," said team boss Domenicali after Friday's announcement that article 39.1 has been "deleted" for 2011.

"For us, Formula One is a team sport and we have always maintained that viewpoint and it should be treated as such," he said at the Bologna Motor Show.

(GMM)

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