Richards in the running for Honda

[Derek Smith]

There was an article in Mail on Suday - I didn't see it - where Richards throws his hat into the ring for the ex-Honda team. Says he has interested parties in the middle east. There's a fair bit about it on the pitpass website.

[revrange]

No would seem some Mexican billionaire flew in to visit them last week. Anyone else know of this?

[haggy]

So would the team still be under the honda name?

[phumy]

revrange said:

No would seem some Mexican billionaire flew in to visit them last week. Anyone else know of this?

Mr Slim??

[skinny]

don't think it would be called honda anymore.

[motormania]

In a way I do hope that Richards can pull together a weathly investment team behind him. He's got plenty of contacts in the middle east, some already partly own Prodrive anyway.

I think there is unfinished business with Richards, so here's hoping it comes together for the sake of everyone at the Honda team based in the UK.

I think Richards comes across as a nice guy and would be welcomed I think in the pitlane by everyone.

[stephen300o]

Come on Dave, you know you want to.

[stew-S160]

i think prodrive/DR is really the only true option to run the Honda F1 team. so this news doesn't really surprise me at all.

[flemke]

skinny said:

don't think it would be called honda anymore.

Perhaps "Hondo"?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045883/

[MrKipling43]

Or Hondallah?

Sorry.

[DSM2]

Talk that Mexican telecoms billionaire, Carlos Slim, has come to a deal. Was certainly on site last weekend.

Any confirmation?

[Nick M]

DSM2 said:

Talk that Mexican telecoms billionaire, Carlos Slim, has come to a deal. Was certainly on site last weekend.

Any confirmation?

Cue the headline if that doesn't come to fruition - "Two chances, and Slim's just left town...."

[rubystone]

I am sure I saw DR down at Homebase this morning buying some metallic blue paint - seemed to want it in some quantities too....I guess he thinks the colour can help him win many victories if he buys the Honda team

[Hut49]

What are the chances of a "ProDrive' or other-named team based on Team Honda being on the grid at the start of the season? Did Honda have a car ready to race under the new F1 regs? Has Button actually tested for any other team or is he waiting it out?

[Allyc85]

Honda were one of the first teams to concentrate on their 2009 car. Everything is ready to go, the team just needs money.

[RedYellowGreen]

My boss has a mate who does some work for the Honda team and for DR himself and he seemed pretty confident that the DR/middle east deal will be the succesfull one. Makes sense really I think.

[thunderbelmont]

I too hope DR get's it and makes it into what it should have been with dynamic on the ground management from people who know what they're doing, and how to do it, without the requirement to pass everything through three committees in Japan.

[rubystone]

I think he's pretty much there - as long as he gets the commitment for investment for a sensible period of time, but if his backer is who I hear he is, that person has a good track record of long term investment if he gets success/is interested in his team. One issue might be the backer's possible requirement to have a Middle East driver in one of the cars though....

[Hut49]

rubystone said:

One issue might be the backer's possible requirement to have a Middle East driver in one of the cars though....

Give Button a dark visor and tell him not to take his helmet off. No one will know that he's not from the middle east - worked for the Stig

[Savanna]

Derek Smith said:

There was an article in Mail on Suday - I didn't see it - where Richards throws his hat into the ring for the ex-Honda team. Says he has interested parties in the middle east. There's a fair bit about it on the pitpass website.

I honestly think - although I may be wrong, that the Richards and his Mid-East partners have enough on thier plate with Aston Martin, I'd be surprised if this were the case, although I guess you can never rule anybody out period.