Sato’s Lotus hopes are dashed

The new Malaysian-backed Lotus team have dashed Takuma Sato's hopes of a Formula One comeback with them next year, the Japanese driver's management have confirmed.

"We know Taku has not got Lotus – we found out yesterday," his commercial manager Matthew Winter said. "He has now come off the list."

Lotus F1, run by AirAsia airline entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, are due to announce their driver line-up in Kuala Lumpur on Monday with Italian Jarno Trulli on pole position for one of the two race seats.

Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, replaced by world champion Jenson Button at McLaren, could be the other.