Friday 27th February 2009

Honda F1 ‘saved from the scrapheap’

Management buy-out looks likely to go ahead

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The Honda F1 management buy-out is going ahead with funding from Honda in Japan, F1 ‘supremo’ Bernie Ecclestone and an undisclosed commercial sponsor, the Times Online has revealed

The newspaper’s journalists claim to have exclusive inside information confirming the buy-out deal has reached the stage where contracts have been signed. That means Jenson Button will definitely be on the starting grid at Melbourne behind the wheel of a car powered by Mercedes engines under a supply deal brokered with McLaren.

The second driver has not been confirmed, although Rubens Barrichello is still in the frame alongside F1 newcomer Bruno Senna – nephew of the late, great Ayrton.

Although the team sponsor is not known either, TheTimes says its sources can rule out speculation that it will be the Virgin Group.

While Honda has apparently agreed to partially funding the team through the 2008 season, it is not yet clear what the new outfit will be called. The team’s first outing will apparently be a ‘shakedown’ test at Silverstone next Thursday, followed by an appearance at a full F1 test session in Barcelona on March 9^th.

With no sponsor confirmed it seems likely that the car will appear without stickers or a paint job, although things happen fast in F1 so a last-minute sponsor announcement can’t be ruled out.

The buyout led by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry was apparently signed off by Honda’s board in Tokyo last Monday.

[PhantomPH]

"While Honda has apparently agreed to partially funding the team through the 2008 season"

Should that not be 2009 season? Or is it funding it as a result of the 2008 season?

[jgt1972]

Sounds like a right dogs breakfast to me!

[rickyhad]

While Honda has apparently agreed to partially funding the team through the 2008 season

Hmmm i think you mean 2009

Good news though.

Doh!! too slow

Edited by rickyhad on Friday 27th February 12:07

[sleep envy]

With no sponsor confirmed it seems likely that the car will appear without stickers or a paint job, although things happen fast in F1 so a last-minute sponsor announcement can’t be ruled out.



arf!!

sounds like the deal is still in the balance to me but it's positive news all the same

[Trikster]

Great news - glad to see Jenson on the grid...

Wondering if that USF1 outfit might be interested in this 2010 onwards.. seems a 'cheap' way into the sport... although maybe they want a 'true' US team...

[jimmy306]

Great news! really looking forward to the start of the season, cant wait to see how the rules changes affect the sport. Hopefully we will have more then 2 teams battling at the front!!

James

[RB Will]

so its got a merc engine and is funded by honda. What is the team going to be called?

[vxr8mate]

This has to be very good news for F1. To lose a team to the world credit crunch would have been bad enough but to also lose the talents of Button, Brawn, Fry and the rest of the team would have been unforgivable. With so much changing in 2009 F1 teams have the chance to close the gap and the Honda team seem to have made a massive effort for this season, so I for one am glad they will have their chance.

[wab172uk]

RB Will said:

so its got a merc engine and is funded by honda. What is the team going to be called?

McHonda

[JonRB]

wab172uk said:

McHonda

Well there's an ideal sponsorship opportunity for a golden-arched restaurant chain.

[guydw]

Eh ? I don't get that at all....

Honda are partly funding ? The car will have a Mercedes engine ?

Can anyone please explain ?

[lightweight]

No one understands F1 finance(bernie likes it that way) but presumably under the terms of there entry its cheeper for honda to fund an MBO than pay FOCA or whatever they are called now the penalty for pulling out.
Remember they have always said they wanted to sell the team presumably the obligations will pass to the new owner.

Edited by lightweight on Friday 27th February 13:19

[sprinter885]

wab172uk said:

RB Will said:

so its got a merc engine and is funded by honda. What is the team going to be called?

McHonda

or Merda ??

[Alfanatic]

Bernie's involved.... any slim chance they will be Brabhams?

[ndj]

sprinter885 said:

wab172uk said:

RB Will said:

so its got a merc engine and is funded by honda. What is the team going to be called?

McHonda

or Merda ??

Which sounds like the French word for sh$t! Hope it's not an omen

[LCR270]

Trikster said:

Great news - glad to see Jenson on the grid...

Wondering if that USF1 outfit might be interested in this 2010 onwards.. seems a 'cheap' way into the sport... although maybe they want a 'true' US team...

YES with USA drivers as well, so if they did then Button would need another team to sign him up - almost unlikely given the new breed of youngsters entering the sport at this level now

[patmahe]

I'd imagine with everything coming together so late in the day that 2009 will be a 'write off' season for the team and essentially a big test session while the 2010 car is developed. But glad to see the team survive.

[gifdy]

Funded by Bernie !? Conflict of interest surely (OK so he doesn't officially set rules but he sure does have the influence ).

All sounds a bit desperate but I suppose they're struggling to keep F1 a credible proposition in the current climate.

[andybg40]

guydw said:

Eh ? I don't get that at all....

Honda are partly funding ? The car will have a Mercedes engine ?

Can anyone please explain ?

Honda are going to relinquish the revenue earned through TV coverage last year to the new team owners. Plus, a couple of sponsors are staying on board too i think, so that money will be transferred too.

[bk racing wheels]

they need to go green to get back in the f1 it was in the news




f1 green i wolud not even think of going to a race :@

f1 sholud be gas glusserles