Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes has accepted aviation rival Sir Richard Branson’s challenge that the loser of the F1 stakes race between Lotus F1 Racing and Virgin Racing to dress up as an airline stewardess on the winner’s airline.
AirAsia’s Fernandes, who once worked for Branson’s music business, now is Lotus F1 team principal, AirAsia's founder and group executive officer, said last week that his Lotus F1 team had to beat Branson’s Virgin Racing next season.
"Number one we have to be ahead of Branson, otherwise I will retire and kill myself," Fernandes said.
Branson suggested a less painful alternative.
"Having come from a music background, I suppose we might be able to choose the music for the funeral," joked the Briton. "But I like Tony a lot so I hope he doesn’t have to kill himself.
"At the same obviously we would like to beat him. Maybe we can think of another challenge. He has an airline, we have an airline and if we beat him he can come and work on our airline as a Virgin stewardess.
"We will make sure that the stewardess outfit is perfect. I suspect that he might ask us to reciprocate," added Branson.
Fernandes accepted Branson's challenge in response. and say if Branson lose the challenge, he would like to assign Branson to duty on board a flight operated by AirAsia X.
"Our guests will be de lighted to be served by a Knight of the Realm. But knowing Richard, the real challenge will be to prevent him from asking our guests 'coffee, tea or me?'"
"We'd like to keep him with us for a longer flight rather than the short-haul flights operated by AirAsia. We'll be applying soon to the Department of Civil Aviation to gain clearance for him," Fernandes said.
2010 F1 season is going to be one of the most interesting race in the world, a trio of aviation entrepreneurs' challenge in F1 make it a little bit sexier. No more two-horse race, and I am looking forward to the underdogs who have some pretty good qualities to do well in the race.
