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[EwanM]

Parr: Another team will follow Honda
Tuesday 9th December 2008

There is a high possibility that only 16 cars will make it to the starting grid for next season's opener in Melbourne, according to Williams chief executive Adam Parr.


Honda's shock withdrawal from Formula One last week means only nine teams are on course to start the season in March, but the ongoing global economic crisis means the future of several other teams are in the balance.


However, while many predict an independent team will be next to go, Parr believes there is a "very high chance" that another manufacturer will follow Honda out of F1.


"I had expected one or two teams to pull out of Formula One imminently. And I also said that it was not necessarily going to be just independent teams that were involved," he told Reuters.


"I believe that we probably will lose another team before the beginning of next season and there is a very high chance it will be a manufacturer."


The Williams CEO also insists "Honda didn't have to leave Formula One, it chose to" and believes it was a "natural consequence of unlimited and unrestrained spending".


However, Parr dismissed talk that Williams could leave the sport, saying it is "completely illogical".


"Williams would never choose to leave Formula One. So long as we can rub together a few pennies and put together a half-decent budget, we are going to go racing.


"If we have to tailor what we spend to a lower income, then we'll do that. To me, it's just completely illogical to talk about Williams leaving Formula One.


"We believe that our position is pretty much different to all the other teams because every other team in Formula One is primarily dependent on one of its shareholders that is providing either all or a very high proportion of the income for the team.


"That shareholder is in Formula One primarily for marketing reasons. They can at any time decide that the cost-benefit ratio of leaving Formula One makes sense.


"The difference with Williams is that we don't have a choice about being in F1, that is what we do."

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3 ... 20,00.html

One thing to note is the integrity of Williams. One of the last "true" racing teams. As long as we have the likes of them on the grid, Formula One will survive

As for a pull out, im really worrying about Renault. Despite running on a tight budget they certainly pulled the plug quickly in 1997

[Gaz]

yeh good work Williams it would be a very sad day for F1 if they were to leave.

[bud]

if another is to go i think it would be STR

[Gaz]

if another is to go i think it would be STR

Yeh but when they say "go" i still think people would buy them the were a few teams intrested in F1

Prodrive and Ultimate if there's a bargin to be had i'm sure one of those guys will take it.

[KyrosV]

Ferrari: The team is seperate from Fiat and the Ferrari Automobile side so They will stay on. For F1 is Ferrari. They will push for a new series if standard engines come obout though, which is good because they aim to make the best cars and engines by themselves, why should they be compressed to run cars the same as everyone else?

McLaren: Team Mclaren exist to race. But Mercedes can easilly pull out there investment and sell it on. Mclaren will still be about if it happens.

BMW: They wont pull out, theyve put alot of hard work in and they know 2009 is going to be there year to push for the title! Besides I think the Top 3 teams are pretty secure with prize money and the top sponsors behind them. Germany is probably having the worst financial outcome at the moment but they will be one of the first out of it.

Renault: Im worried, I think out of all the manufacturers Renault is the most likely to drop out. Theyve been on the edge of dropping out for a while, even when we were winning. I really hope they dont because they are going to have a good season next year.

Toyota: They wont drop out This season but 2009 is crunch time. 3rd or 4th or a win is needed for them I think. Toyotas cars always look outdated so maybe the retro-style regs for 2009 will benefit them

Red-Bull / STR: one of these teams will have to go. If the financial markets get worse, I cant see how they will be able to run 2 formula one teams. Its crazy!

Williams: They exist for F1 so why will they pull out until they find only fluff and a paper clip in there pockets. Maybe they will need to get there priorities right though as they have been going for wins for the last 3 seasons They should really set more realistic goals or maybe say "we aim for 1 point" and be pleasently surprised when they get 26 points

Force India: The Doctor has a dream, hes just bought a drivetrain contract will Mclaren So It would be stupid if they dropped out. Also countries like India and China are not suffering much. I mean they are going to space for gods sake!

Kyros,

[Stealthgate007]

Parr was chastise for saying another team may leave F1 before the 2009 season starts. He had to clarify his statements... What For?? It seems he's getting dropped in the grease for telling the truth (although it hurts).

[Dutchcruijff]

Not RBR, argument can be put for that they are one of the safest F1 teams because they have a sole purpose, to advertise their refreshments company and due to some stats I've seen the effect of Red Bull's involvement in all Motorsports has been positive.

[Gaz]

Parr is abit confused i think in last months F1 racing he said the credit crunch won't affect F1 now he's saying another team will go.

lol

[McLaren Fan]

To be fair, it has only been in the last month it has become absolutely clear how badly the automotive industry is being affected. That said, it could probably have been predicted. There are still some people in denial, however. Ecclestone is kidding himself, for instance, that nobody else is at least considering bailing out.

In terms of Williams' situation, they are a truly brilliant racing team - up there with McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus - and it would be a travesty if they were to leave Formula One. I'm not altogether sure how safe they are. It was not so long ago they were revealed they were losing a lot of money at unsustainable levels. In my opinion, Williams need to have a really good 2009 season (i.e. show serious signs they can be a force in the sport) or hope that some effective means of reducing expenditure come along pretty soon or we'll be seeing the back of them. It's plain that Sir Frank Williams doesn't want to change his outdated business model.

[f1maniac95]

I think that Williams are in real troubly of quiting F1 they need to improve otherwise it will just not be possible for them continue racing in F1.

[Stealthgate007]

Like I said before, Par seemed to be right. The motorsports market is taking a beating:

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ ... t_id=36750

It could be the global change in all motorsports that we all fear.

[cap-dude]

Its gonna be either Renault or Red Bull, no doubts about that. But Renault won't pull out just yet, and they have huge backing from ING. Of course that depends if ING continue there sponsorship. I can't believe several banks have pulled out yet.

So Red Bull or STR. I think it would be wise to merge the teams somehow. I mean, clearly the STR team are doing something right, so it would completely unwise to drop that little team. If Red Bull concentrate their efforts on one car, they could produce a much more competitive package.

[Gaz]

Its gonna be either Renault or Red Bull, no doubts about that. But Renault won't pull out just yet, and they have huge backing from ING. Of course that depends if ING continue there sponsorship. I can't believe several banks have pulled out yet.

So Red Bull or STR. I think it would be wise to merge the teams somehow. I mean, clearly the STR team are doing something right, so it would completely unwise to drop that little team. If Red Bull concentrate their efforts on one car, they could produce a much more competitive package.

Williams is in a worse state than RBR

[McLaren Fan]

I can't remember the figures of hand (we're talking about twenty or thirty million anyway), but I read an article which said that Williams' finances are completely unsustainable and that the team cannot continue as it is now for too long into the future. It gave Williams only a few years.

[7UpJordan]

I can't remember the figures of hand (we're talking about twenty or thirty million anyway), but I read an article which said that Williams' finances are completely unsustainable and that the team cannot continue as it is now for too long into the future. It gave Williams only a few years.

I think that was Mad Max who said that to Sir Frank 2 years ago.