Three teams have reportedly blocked the request from Team Lotus and Renault to change their names for 2012, without a formal debate on the matter.
Team Lotus, which is hoping to become Caterham, and Renault, which is hoping to takeover the Team Lotus title following an agreement with the names owner, Tony Fernandes, both submitted an application to the FIA in September.
The request requires 18 ‘in-favour’ votes from the Formula 1 commission which is made up of 26 members which includes the teams, the FIA, FIA president Jean Todt, Bernie Ecclestone and representatives from the four engine suppliers, sponsors and track promoters.
The vote could have been done by fax, and had the required 18 members agreed, the change would have been approved. However, Ferrari, Sauber and HRT all blocked the change and have requested the matter be debated at the next commission meeting.
This is despite FOTA, which is made up of all the teams minus HRT, approving the request in late-September.
It’s thought the reason behind the requested debate, is to discuss the damage that could be done to the sports reputation if teams can change their name so easily and regularly – if this change is given the go-ahead, it would be Team Lotus third name in three seasons.
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