Lotus closing on four more sponsor deals

Lotus will not stop at CNN and Maxis in terms of signing agreements with third-party sponsors, boss Tony Fernandes said on Friday.

According to the Malaysian news agency Bernama, the millionaire would not reveal names but said his team is in talks with four local and international companies.

Fernandes said no fewer than four of the sponsors will join the livery of the green T127 during the 2010 season.

"It means more if it is Malaysian money," he told reporters at an event. "It was just six months when we built the team and we have now won the crowd."

Meanwhile, there was an amusing moment after the FIA press conference on Friday, when Fernandes emerged from the building with his driver Heikki Kovalainen.

They had failed to prepare for a downpour, and - due to Fernandes’ running of the AirAsia airline - did not want to huddle under an umbrella emblazoned with the words ’Fly Kingfisher’ wielded by Force India’s Vijay Mallya and Tonio Liuzzi.