Caterham in green and yellow with Kovalainen and Trulli in 2012
Tony Fernandes, the director of Team Lotus - future Caterham F1, stated that the 2012 cars would retain their green and yellow livery. He also emphasized that Kovalainen and Trulli were both under contract for the 2012 season.
Even if Team Lotus will change its name next year to become Caterham F1, it will retain the Lotus colors, green and yellow, as explained by Tony Fernandes in Brazil.
Next year, we will still be in green and yellow, we will be called Caterham F1 Team, with the same people, explained the director of the Malaysian team.
The main topic of discussion around the Caterham team is its driver duo for 2012. Tony Fernandes emphasized that Jarno Trulli has a contract for the next season, even though the Italian driver’s seat is rumored to be possibly replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.
«For the moment we have a contract and he (Trulli) will drive, » stated Tony Fernandes.
But a contract in Formula 1 no longer really guarantees a secured spot, and the prospect of a Red Bull driver arriving could allow the team to reduce the cost of its partnership with the world champion team, a partnership that involves the gearbox as well as the KERS for 2012.
Tony Fernandes also stated that he would do everything he can to keep Heikki Kovalainen in 2012 and beyond, even if several teams are interested in the Finnish driver. These statements confirm that the Finnish driver is the most valuable in the team and if a driver had to give up their spot in 2012, it would likely be Trulli.
«I would keep him no matter what. I think we should take our hat off to Heikki, and I think Heikki would say the same. He is happy here, he’s driving better than he’s ever done…, » Fernandes told Autosport.
The boss of the British manufacturer Caterham also specified that even if part of the team might move from the Hingham factory, the latter would still be part of the team.
There are discussions for part of the team to move, but Hingham will remain. The plan might be to have the Formula 1 team and the car manufacturer together, somewhere, concluded Fernandes.
