The Lotus Racing team has signed a partnership deal with leading news network CNN, it was announced on Tuesday.
The team, which is bringing the Lotus name back to Formula 1 for the first time since 1993, said CNN’s logos will on the T127 cars during the 2010 season.
“We are very proud to welcome CNN into the Lotus Racing family,” said team principal Tony Fernandes.
“It is a sign of the positive impact we have already made in the global business market that such a prestigious brand, familiar to millions around the world as the definitive source of news and current affairs, has made the decision to partner with us.
“The whole team and I are looking forward to working with CNN in the months and years to come on some very exciting campaigns.”
The deal will be managed by CNN’s commercial ‘Partner Solutions Group’, led by Rani Raad, senior vice president CNN International Advertising Sales.
Bernie Ecclestone reckons Campos Meta and USF1 could miss the opening three races of this year’s Championship, only joining the F1 grid in time for the Chinese GP.
Campos and USF1 are two of the four newcomers to Formula One this season but unlike the other two, their preparations have not been making headlines. Rather, they have been making headlines in terms of financial woes.
The F1 supremo told the Express newspaper: “I think we won’t see Campos and I don’t think we will see the Americans.”
And should either team miss the opening stint of the Championship, Ecclestone revealed they won’t face a financial penalty as his terms allow all teams to miss up to three races.
Ecclestone also took the time to once again give his support to Stefan GP. Although the team does not have a place on the 2010 they are preparing in the hope that one of the newcomers will pull out before the season starts.
“They have got the money from the Serbian government, I’ve spoken to the prime minister,” he said.
Jacques Villeneuve remains optimistic that he can secure a place on the 2010 starting grid. Despite being 38 Jacques still believes he has a lot to offer a team. The former World Champion has been linked to a number of teams but is still yet to be confirmed for a spot.
“I continue to work hard to explain to teams why it is a good idea to put me in their car and, frankly, I feel that the message is getting better and better,” the Canadian explained to ruefrontenac.
“I am convinced that many teams are disillusioned over the choices they made,” he added, apparently in reference to the increase in ‘pay drivers’.
Indeed, Villeneuve has now been linked to a position with Renault following reports that the money Russian driver Vitaly Petrov reportedly promised Renault when he joined the team may fail to materialise.
However, even if Petorv does lose his seat as a result the former BAR driver is only one of many that will be in contention for the drive.
Richard Branson has always wanted to be heavily involved in Formula 1, but previously the right opening never seemed to present itself. This year Branson has his very own Formula 1 team, Virgin Racing.
Powered by Cosworth, former Toyota F1 driver Timo Glock will team up with rookie Lucas di Grassi, who finished behind Glock in the 2007 GP2 Series.
The striking car – in red and black with a tribal-style tattoo design – is heading to Silverstone for its first shakedown before joining the next group test at Jerez.
Here are the latest pictures of the Ferrari Forumla One car for 2010 (F10). There’s a few differences between the F60 of last year and this: the best visual comparison is the picture below of the two side by side thanks to the guys at Ferrari Chat. The reason you do not see the rear diffuser in any of the shots is because photogs were denied access; keeping Ferrari secrets at home.
The Red Bull marketing team has to be the best in the business. Here is the latest marketing campaign for Red Bull Racing. Who needs highly-groomed world-class race tracks when a frozen lake and some rocks will do. We like this idea. F1 needs an ice-racing series, we’ll chip in the tire studs.
McLaren have announced that they will stream the launch of their 2010 challenger online.
McLaren will launch their new car, the MP4-25, at main sponsor’s Vodafone’s UK headquarters in Newbury on Friday 29 January.
However, fans will be able to follow all the action live, including the on-stage interviews with new driver Jenson Button an his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, by checking out the internet.
The team will stream the unveiling of the new car on their official website, kicking off at 11h00 local time.
The new Silver Arrows Formula One works team Mercedes Grand Prix Petronas was presented at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Nico Rosberg and seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher along with team management Ross Brawn, Nick Fry and Norbert Haug were introduced to guests with a presentation and press conference.
Schumacher and Rosberg unveiled the new Silver Arrows livery for the 2010 season on last year’s car.
Formula One debutants USF1 and Campos are asking for five million dollars in sponsorship money to secure a race seat, according to Dutch driver Robert Doornbos.
The former Red Bull and Minardi driver currently lines up in the Indy Car series, but has revealed he was recently in discussions to rejoin F1, but could not produce the money necessary to do so.
“There are a number of possibilities we looked at,” Doornbos told NUsport.
“There were conversations with USF1 and Campos Meta were also interested, but they asked for five million dollars in sponsorship money.
“If I had that already I would rather be at the front in Indy Car then at the back in Formula One,” he added.
USF1 are yet to announce either of their drivers, while Campos have only confirmed that Bruno Senna will fill one of their seats.
Here he is, complete with menacing red helmet. Word has it these videos are from October, before he signed with Mercedes. It’s great to see the greatest F1 driver ever back on track preparing to wipe the floor with the young guns.
