Fernandes hints at Caterham exit

Just before closing down his high-profile Twitter account on Friday, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes hinted he is pulling out of F1.

The AirAsia chief has been conspicuously absent from the paddock in 2014, having warned that Caterham was being given one final season to shine.

Eight races in, the green-coloured team is still yet to score a single point after nearly four and a half years on the grid, and rumours of a sale to Arab investors are beginning to swirl.

The Times correspondent Kevin Eason on Friday said it is "an open secret in F1 that Fernandes wants out".

At the very same time, there is speculation team boss Cyril Abiteboul could soon return to Renault to lead the struggling French engine supplier’s restructuring.

And as Malaysian entrepreneur Fernandes shocked his followers by suddenly quitting Twitter on Friday, he hinted it wasn’t the only one of his projects on its last legs.

"F1 hasn’t worked, but love Caterham Cars", he tweeted before departing.