Team Lotus to Rebrand as Caterham After Lotus Name Dispute Ends
A settlement between Team Lotus and Group Lotus ends the F1 naming row, with Team Lotus becoming Caterham F1 and Renault adopting the Lotus chassis name for 2012.
Team Lotus will change its name to Caterham F1 Team for the 2012 Formula One season, following a settlement with Group Lotus that ends a protracted legal and commercial dispute over the use of the Lotus name in the sport. The agreement, approved by the Formula One Commission in November 2011, also allows Renault’s F1 team, sponsored by Group Lotus, to rebrand its cars as Lotus, unifying the Lotus name under the road car manufacturer’s control.
How the Lotus name row unfolded
The dispute began in 2009 when Tony Fernandes entered Formula One with a team called Lotus Racing, using the name under licence from Group Lotus. The relationship soured, with Group Lotus withdrawing the licence and instead sponsoring the Renault F1 team for 2011. Fernandes responded by acquiring the rights to the historic Team Lotus name and continued to race under that banner, while Group Lotus promoted its brand through Renault. Both parties claimed the right to use the Lotus name in F1, resulting in a high-profile legal battle.
A High Court ruling in May 2011 allowed Fernandes’s team to continue using Team Lotus, while Group Lotus retained rights to the Lotus marque on road cars and in F1 if it fielded its own team. By then, Fernandes had already acquired Caterham Cars, setting up an alternative identity. The eventual settlement saw both sides agree to rebrand: Team Lotus would become Caterham, and the Renault team would use the Lotus name for its chassis and, potentially, its team title.
What the name changes mean for F1 teams and fans
For the 2012 season, fans will see only one Lotus-branded team on the grid, the former Renault operation, now officially using the Lotus name. The Caterham F1 Team, led by Fernandes, will continue with its green and yellow livery but without the Lotus badge. The Virgin team will also rebrand its chassis as Marussia, reflecting its Russian backer.
The confidential settlement terms include a working relationship between Group Lotus and Fernandes’s operation for future automotive projects, but the F1 teams are now clearly differentiated. Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar and Team Lotus CEO Riad Asmat both expressed relief at the clarity, with Asmat emphasising Caterham’s independence and ambition to build its own legacy in the sport.
Sponsorship and future prospects
The end of the naming dispute opens new commercial opportunities. Genii Capital, the owner of the rebranded Lotus F1 Team (formerly Renault), remains open to new title sponsorships following the termination of its agreement with Group Lotus in 2012. Despite the end of formal ties with the road car manufacturer, Genii intends to keep the Lotus name in F1, citing its value and heritage. New deals with Unilever and Microsoft were signed, improving the team’s financial position and offering further sponsorship potential.
- Team Lotus becomes Caterham F1 Team from 2012.
- Renault F1 cars to be branded as Lotus.
- Virgin Racing rebrands chassis as Marussia.
- Genii Capital seeks new title sponsor for Lotus F1 Team.
The resolution of the Lotus name row brings an end to more than a year of confusion for fans and sponsors. With the 2012 season, Formula One will have a single, clearly branded Lotus team and a new identity for Caterham, both aiming to define their own futures on and off the track.
