Official: Lotus returns to Formula 1

The Lotus team is the 13th team registered for the 2010 championship. This was announced by the FIA. Colin Chapman’s legendary team reappears in Formula 1. It will be part of the new teams along with Campos, USGPE (USF1), and Manor to complete the starting grids.

The withdrawal of BMW had forced the FIA to launch a new selection process, from which Lotus emerged as the winner, despite the applications from Epsilon and especially Sauber, which is trying to save the team supported by BMW. However, the FIA has provisionally registered the German team, which would confirm that the buyout of BMW is close.

« BMW Sauber has also submitted its application. But with the announcement of BMW’s withdrawal, there remains uncertainty regarding the future owner of the team, » explains the FIA in a press release. « Nevertheless, the FIA considers that the submitted application is of very high quality and that the team would be competitive. Therefore, it has awarded the 14th place to BMW Sauber, meaning any vacant spot on the 2010 starting grid will be allocated to them. »

The Lotus team, in its 2010 version, was able to return to the starting grids thanks to a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs. The team will therefore now sport Malaysia’s colors. Its technical director will be none other than Mike Gascoyne, who has been in the Formula 1 industry for 20 years and has notably worked for Renault. The team will be powered by Cosworth, the new official engine supplier of the FIA.