Comments on 'More on the Honda Saga' on F1 Insight

Comment by Speeder_76

15/02/2009 23:20:10

It's ironic to see them doing exactly the same thing as Super Aguri did em '08. And they "kill" them! I don't know what kind of move is this one: a desperate form of guarantee 20 cars in Melbourne, on a "management buyout" with some sort of support from Brazil/Honda/Ecclestone, with german engines. For me it's obviously a sort of "buying time". And after Bahrein, what will happen? Any sort of miracle? You know, at this time, I do believe more on the USF1 Team than on this, but...

Comment by Pink Peril

15/02/2009 23:34:07

Ah, I did see the irony Clive, and allowed myself a moment of schadenfreude at Nick Fry's expense. But that passed and I do hope the team-formerly-known-as-Honda do make it to the grid in Melbourne. I am looking forward to seeing what Bruno Senna can do in F1. On an unrelated note, I got a call from the Aus GP corporation last week telling me that due to poor ticket sales, they are no longer building the stand I had purchased tickets for. Doesn't bode well, does it?

Comment by Clive

15/02/2009 23:58:21

I do hope that the Honda team somehow manage to survive into the future - it's just that things don't look too hopeful at the moment. Speeder is right about it looking like "buying time" while a more permanent solution is found. USF1? I am glad it has turned out to be more than a rumour but am not getting my hopes up too far - there are so many pitfalls for the would-be F1 team these days.

Comment by Peter Boyle

16/02/2009 08:09:45

Unrelated... but did you spot the Adrian Newey threat to leave F1 for more interesting work because the new design rules are too constraining and spec formula like. It's on autosport. Sad and quite understandable.

Comment by Clive

16/02/2009 11:29:42

Yes, I saw the item, Peter, and agree that things are bad when the star designers start muttering about leaving the sport. Hopefully, Max will go and we'll have a more imaginative FIA President soon.

Comment by Nick Goodspeed

16/02/2009 14:10:56

Unless the Team Once Known as Honda has designed the whole car around a Mercedes engine, how could it possibly be competitive? In this age, where cars are referred to as packages, it seems overly optimistic to think engines are that interchangeable.

Comment by Steven Roy

16/02/2009 14:12:48

Adrian Newey has frequently said he was going to quit F1 over the last ten years. Towards the end of his first contract with McLaren he was going to design an Americas Cup yacht instead. Then he was going to leave F1 but Bobby Rahal convinced him signing for Jaguar would be a big challenge only for Ron Dennis at the last minute to sign a big new contract for McLaren. He clearly has his feet well under the table and his new car is getting a lot of praise and given a year to develop his design for the new regs we can reasonably expect next year's car to be a step forward. What better time to get the wanderlust and then to be persuaded to stay in return for a few more million dollars?

Comment by Filipe

16/02/2009 17:07:26

I don't know who might be those brazilian sponsors that would help kept the team around. Bruno Senna was complaining that Toro Rosso was asking for too much money just the other day. His two main sponsors are Santander (which obviously already sponsor a team) and Embratel which ironically is owned by Carlos Slim.

Comment by Clive

16/02/2009 17:47:51

Nick: I couldn't agree more but sometimes forlorn hopes pay off... ;)

Comment by Clive

16/02/2009 17:52:05

Steven: I had not thought of the Newey statement as an attempt to increase his salary in the future; it's certainly possible, I agree. To me it seemed more of an early warning to the powers-that-be that they were going too far with the restriction of the rules - sort of "ease up or I'm outa here, Max."

Comment by Clive

16/02/2009 17:54:14

Filipe: Well, the story of Bruno getting the Honda drive has been denied today so I guess it was wrong about sponsors too. Be nice if it was true, however...

Comment by Steven Roy

16/02/2009 19:58:47

James Allen's blog which is much better than his TV commentary today suggested that the last minute Honda buyer may be none other than Richard Branson. http://allenonf1.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/the-honda-goosechase/

Comment by Clive

16/02/2009 20:11:22

Virgin territory for a Virgin brand, hey? It's an interesting rumour but, like all the others, not to be relied upon until officially announced. It is very late for a buy-out, too...

Comment by Leslie

16/02/2009 21:23:47

Branson/Reynard....Bye, Bye Fry. As Brocky always said "How good is this!"

Comment by Clive

16/02/2009 21:29:12

You're running with it, Leslie! Good point though - there'd be some personnel changes...

Comment by Pink Peril

16/02/2009 22:38:42

Virgin F1? Or F1 Virgin? hehehe I like it. And if anyone has the cash to splash on an F1 team, it would be Sir Richard. Plus he'd be just the sort of flambouyant person to bring a bit of character to the pitlane. However, with all team-formerly-known-as-honda rumours, I am adopting a 'believe it when I see it' approach.

Comment by Clive

17/02/2009 02:02:21

Me too, Peril, me too!

Comment by Steven Roy

17/02/2009 03:10:32

A few years ago after the EU announced laws to ban tobacco advertising Bernie threatened to take away all the European races. Branson got on TV and said if Bernie did that he would put on a rival championship using all the circuits that had lost their races. It will be interesting to see what happens if Branson does get involved whether he concentrates on his own team or if he sticks his oar in Bernie and Max's business.

Comment by Speeder_76

17/02/2009 03:15:52

Interesting. I was watching those rumors about Virgin this evening, and it's starting to make sense some of the news that we are hearing on this last few days, especially about the "buying time" untill Bahrein... But there are some places that don't fit in this puzzle: Richie Branson's Virgin Atlantic is passing troublesome times, and he looks more focused on Space Travel than Formula 1. What can he take advantage on this adventure? Let's see... in a time where rumours are flying everywhere, I have to take a careful approach about this. See it to believe it!

Comment by Nick Goodspeed

21/02/2009 13:14:29

I think there must be some awful costly contracts that come with the Honda package. For some reason one of the offers for it has been referred to as a "hostile takeover" attempt. Could it be that there is far too much baggage that comes with the useful stuff? Talk about beggars being choosers! It seems to me that this team has under achieved since its inception. Villeneuve, Button and Barrichello are/ were all, at the very least, capable drivers and the budget was there to account for far more than 1 win. Somewhere there must be an underachiever ensconced in a position that is secure. David Richards was convinced it was Villeneuve but getting rid of him didn't solve anything. Getting rid of Richards didn't either. Honda taking over BAR didn't take the team anywhere despite massive cash. Somewhere there's a reason! The Honda package becomes far less attractive if it has to be kept as is, lock, stock and barrel, for as is, it is a loser!

Comment by Nick Goodspeed

22/02/2009 13:59:57

It would seem as though Ecclestone has tried to get some leverage from within FOTA by buying into a Honda takeover. Honda would seem to have refused his offer for some reason. It wouldn't suprise me if Honda's reasons for leaving F1 is Ecclestone and his cronies shenanigans as much or more than just cash? Branson (of Virgin) seems to think Ecclestones a cool guy!!! Anyone who comes to this conclusion mustn't be looking very closely and / or had the wool pulled over their eyes!

Comment by Clive

22/02/2009 14:48:34

No one seems to have noticed yet but Branson is actually a dork. Anyone who thinks he can lecture F1 about its effect on the environment and yet have an airline must be capable of world-beating doublethink. One of his planes crossing the Atlantic spews out more poisonous waste than any GP. The fact that he likes Bernie is just more evidence that the guy has no sense. His buddies are the rich and powerful who, like himself, see nothing wrong in citicizing others who are not green enough in their opinion while ignoring their own depredations to the environment. Rather like Al Gore, in fact.

Comment by Liv0Liv

17/08/2011 06:42:06

life insurance no exam :-(( auto insurance online dwoy