[Team] Honda's selling ... but who's buying? [HUGE MERGE]

[john ruston]

Its a business.The last people to be told would be the people in the Motor Sport Division so they would be unaware of what was happening.Presumably they will be paid off under the terms of their contracts.These people will be much better off than most who lose their jobs in the next eighteen months

[Marbot]

It will be particularly hard to find a buyer if,as suggested,Honda are not even going to produce engines any more.

P.S. Webber to Renault.

[strider]

Originally Posted by Down F0rce

This decision will have come from the Honda motor company, not the F1 team.

Correct, so we have to wait until Japan awakes.

Nonetheless, according to reliable sources on arguably less reliable websites, it is purely a question of when not if the decision is announced.

[EdLeake]

Ok I've just been informed staff have been handed their 90 day notice today, inside source, looks like the real deal.

[bradrive]

Originally Posted by perfectly_frank

Can anyone suggest a short list of other potential buyers of Honda's F1 programme ?

I dunno;

Prodrive or Campos, maybe?

Campos? Joking? Do you know the budget to run a even lesser F1 team?

[ensign14]

Management buy-out?

Ten-tenths buy-out?

[wapomumalo]

Originally Posted by Marbot

It will be particularly hard to find a buyer if,as suggested,Honda are not even going to produce engines any more.

P.S. Webber to Renault.

Who´s gonna get Honda engines if FIF1 with a customer Ferrari engine makes them look like an amateur entry???


I see Honda´s F1 project as extremely bad managed one, Nick Fry should have been fired long time ago...in companion of Button.

A well proven non-profitable/non-competitive F1 entry...Honda Took over BAR to through the last stone that finally sunk the Boat.

If Prodrive, Peugeot, or whoever buys this team manages to create some competitive team like Toro Rosso (1/3rd of Honda´s Budget at least), then it will be good for the sport.

[EdLeake]

The Honda engine is reliable and was often in the top 3-5 at speed traps, sometimes the top speed achiever.

Unfortunately everything around it let it down!

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by EdLeake

The Honda engine is reliable and was often in the top 3-5 at speed traps, sometimes the top speed achiever.

Unfortunately everything around it let it down!

Unfortunately Honda are ceasing production of their engine as well.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by bradrive

Campos? Joking? Do you know the budget to run a even lesser F1 team?

Huge, I know. I don't know, however, how rich Agag is. I'd assume you'd know, and apparently not rich/foolish enough!

[touringlegend]

So this is why Nick Fry cancelled the lunch yesterday.

Surprised about this - yes - shocked - no. With the global climate the way it is, many car plants going on extended shut downs you surely have to cut the unecessary expense first from your budgets.

As for the fact that Honda have been building up into a nice team in the past year, that doesn't matter, in motorsport the carpet can most certainly be pulled out from under you.

[Stefvh]

Originally Posted by EdLeake

The Honda engine is reliable and was often in the top 3-5 at speed traps, sometimes the top speed achiever.

Not in '08

[Clive Brown]

Does any real racer actually care ? As far as I'm concerned , F1 , and the entire paraphenalia of the white trash of the international jet set that go with it , could all go to Hell in a handcart tomorrow . Proper racing will still carry on .

[manbearpig]

so if there aren't gonna be anyone to buy the team does that mean, we are supposed to see 4 Ferrari cars in 2009?

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

Does any real racer actually care ? As far as I'm concerned , F1 , and the entire paraphenalia of the white trash of the international jet set that go with it , could all go to Hell in a handcart tomorrow . Proper racing will still carry on .

Yes. Perhaps F1 will die, and we'll get proper motor racing instead.

[naughtymutt]

Rubens to DeFerran motorsport, perhaps?

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by manbearpig

so if there aren't gonna be anyone to buy the team does that mean, we are supposed to see 4 Ferrari cars in 2009?

IF the contracts stipulate that there HAS to be 20 cars, there'll be 20 cars - sort of like when Champ Car was struggling for cars during its dying years.

[davyboy]

Its on autosport.com now

[perfectly_frank]

Originally Posted by bradrive

Campos? Joking? Do you know the budget to run a even lesser F1 team?

Sorry to appear glib, bradrive.

IIRC Campos was fishing for money to get into F1 with his own team. This was some time ago. I'm not sure how realistic it was then or is now.

[Bononi]

Truth is... this a very bad time to compete in F1.

[Bononi]

Let's rephrase that famous and old quote :

F1 sells, but who's buying ??

[BMW Süchtige]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Its on autosport.com now

On the pulse as usual...

[SALEEN S7R]

Indeed Bononi, a very bad time, particularly for new teams entering the category. At the moment it would need a manufacturer, either that or a very large independent team such as Prodrive or Oreca, and even then I doubt they would have the necessary budget and resources. Teams like A.R.T, Carlin and Arden, whilst big fish in GP2 and other single seater categories really dont have anything like the sort of budget required for a F1 programme, not without a major backer.

[mjstallard]

And the F1 implosion rolls on. 18 car grid next year it is then - I bet Abu Dhabi will feel they're getting their $150 million worth.

I wonder who will be next to kick the bucket. Williams by the end of, ooh, 2010 maybe?

[the sniper]

I guess the power of dreams wasn't enough, and so the first domino falls...

I am sure someone will buy, but it will definitely be a customer car team.

My early prediction, Brabham will be back with Bernie at the helm running customer BMW's.