Dato Tony and Mr Azran Standing Proud Infront 9M-AFW Airbus A320 with Williams F1 car

It all started when team Force India driver, Giancarlo Fisichella had won 2nd place in Belgian. After the race, I read about Dato Tony Fernandes's suggestion to have Malaysia's very own Formula 1 team. During that time I knew that Dato Tony will do his best in bringing up his dream of having a Malaysian Formula 1 team. From the inspiration from forming the world best low cost airline, Air Asia to top 5 star hotel with low price, Tune Hotels I believe this individual is thinking out of the box. Who may had think to do the same concept as been produced in this current world now?

Tune Hotels Branch in Penang,Malaysia

Following in involvement of Formula 1 by team 1Malaysia, the FIA has awarded the 13th entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. It will be a great start to the new Lotus team. Following the current updates, the FIA also received an impressive application from the BMW Sauber team in which also has a Malaysia Brand like Petronas as the premium sponsor. As such, it has awarded BMW Sauber the '14th place' in the championship meaning that it will be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises on the 2010 grid. By this we can we various Malaysia brands are in the Formula 1 such as Petronas, Air Asia, Proton and more.

Air Asia Crew With Nakajima,Dato Tony and Nico Rosberg

In addition, the FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams. The FIA will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010. Detailed below is information about the new team that has been confirmed to compete in the championship from next year, joining fellow newcomers Manor Grand Prix, Team US and Campos Meta. Company Name: 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd Team Name: Lotus F1 Team Country: Malaysia Team Principal: Dato Tony Fernandes

A partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs such as Air Asia and also Naza, 1Malaysia F1 Team returns the Lotus name as a constructor to Formula One for the first time since 1994. Currently, the team will initially be based at the RTN facility in Norfolk, UK, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. A 50,000 square foot fully equipped facility, RTN was built by Toyota for its initial Formula One programme and then used by Bentley for its successful Le Mans programme. The team’s future design, R&D, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

So its been confirmed that the team Principal will be Dato Tony Fernandes which is also the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, owner of the Air Asia airline. The team’s Technical Director Mike Gascoyne has over 20 years of experience in Formula One having previously performed the same role for the Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One teams.

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the team has agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth and a wide variety of technical partnerships including Xtrac and FondTech. The team is understood to already have a shortlist of six drivers, including both Malaysian and international names, and an announcement confirming their line-up is expected in late October. We surely believe experience is the main key to have to have good driver's coach by having Hall Of Fame drivers such as David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen and many more.

According to Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who made the announcement at the Ministry of Finance on 15th September , said the team would be based at the Sepang International Circuit, making it the first to be located outside Europe. “This is where the cars will be designed, manufactured and tested. It will be ‘Made-in-Malaysia, by Malaysians’ and of course, the pit-stops will be run by Malay-sians,” he said.

He also said that, “This is a meaningful development and I hope that it will further raise our country’s profile on the world stage.”The team will have a Malaysian technical and pit crew, totalling some 200 people, to be managed by former Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne.

I believe this would really create for fans among Malaysian in Malaysia and also around the globe. I also would like to urge everyone to be proud of ourselves as we have our very own Formula 1 team...