Team Lotus has completed a u-turn by confirming it will now stick with its green and yellow colours for 2011, rather than reverting to the iconic black and gold livery.
After RenaultF1 majority shareholder Gerard Lopez revealed this week that Group Lotus will be the title sponsor and a major shareholder in the rebranded Lotus Renault GP Team in 2011, there were fears that four cars could run with the same black and gold colours next year.
But Team Lotus chief Tony Fernandes has put paid to these concerns by insisting it would be "ridiculous" for his squad to use the same paint scheme as the Lotus Renault outfit.
Speaking exclusively to AUTOSPORT, Fernandes said: "I have no problem that there will be two Lotuses on the grid. But I do think it would be ludicrous if we are both black and gold, and I can inform you that we will be changing our plans for the colour scheme.
"We declared that we were going to run in black and gold, and I'm not going to be childish to say we were first with our plans, so we will do it whatever. They have painted their car black and gold, they have made their intentions clear on that front, so be it.
"But every cloud has a silver lining, and I received some messages from people suggesting that by being black and gold we would be promoting a cigarette company. I wasn't actually aware that JPS [John Player Special] was still being sold in the United Kingdom and various parts of the Commonwealth. So did I need that controversy? No.
"And after yesterday's announcement by the FIA about the new engine plans for 2013, which means F1 is going green - so what better colour to be than green? So, we have been testing our fans' reactions and many have come back to us to say we should stay green and yellow. So, I am 99 per cent sure that we will be green and yellow."
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