Apr.12 (GMM) The outcome of the Lotus court battle is expected to be known next week.

The trial to settle the Team Lotus versus Group Lotus F1 naming dispute began in London's High Court last month.

Writing in the German-language Speed Week, editor Mathias Brunner said the verdict is scheduled to be declared on April 20 -- next Wednesday.

The folly of the dispute was made clear in Malaysia last weekend, when Red Bull mistakenly referred to Nick Heidfeld's Lotus-sponsored Renault car as a "Lotus" in an official press release.

"I saw something black in my mirrors -- I knew it was a Lotus," Sebastian Vettel was quoted as saying.

Actually, the F1 fraternity refers only to Tony Fernandes' green T128 cars as 'Lotus', but Jenson Button seemed unsure as he turned to Renault driver Nick Heidfeld in the post-race press conference.

"What do we call you now?" he asked the German. "Lotus Renault GP," grinned Heidfeld.

Fernandes, however, said at Sepang that it is Team Lotus that deserves more respect.

"We are enormously proud of what we have achieved in just 18 months and we have done it through hard work and dedication, not by buying seemingly instant success through stickers on a car," he said.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version