Updated: 24/09/2012 16:33 | By pa.press.net

Fernandes planning for the future

Tony Fernandes could be preparing to move aside as Caterham chief

Caterham owner Tony Fernandes has dropped a broad hint he could soon relinquish his role as team principal.

The Leafield-based team have announced Cyril Abiteboul as the team's chief executive officer from January 2013. Currently deputy managing director of Renault Sport F1, Abiteboul will divide his duties between both organisations up until then.

Abiteboul will report to Fernandes and Caterham Group CEO Riad Asmat, but AirAsia and QPR owner Fernandes is finding his time stretched and feels his position as team principal may have to go. Fernandes said: "I am not as involved, so the team needs leadership, and Cyril is someone I've courted for a while."

He added: "We've finally persuaded him - with Renault's blessing - to come over to Caterham. It provides us with stability for the F1 team going forward."

Asked whether Abiteboul will become team principal, Fernandes said: "Not at the moment, no. I will still remain in that job for a while. Eventually, maybe."