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[Sam-KK24]

Would be pretty cool if Virgin do take over, and we foiled there secret work! great detective work Centauri!

We should get to the bookies and bet on Virgin buying honda!

[Gert]

So if she works for Virgin & has tried using some inside knowledge to make a bit of money on the side I suspect her employers won't be too happy.

What about VirginF1.co.uk or .eu etc etc, does she own them too?

Or would the 1st person that readsthis like to try his/her luck...

[digitaleye]

You reckon any drivers would race for no pay??

Heck back in the 80's and 90's some drivers used to pay to drive!

I'd bet that Jenson and Taku would be willing to "drive for less" to make sure things stayed afloat. Especially for Jenson, sitting on the sidelines would be really tough.

[KyrosV]

ay carumba shes a milf

[headless]

You reckon any drivers would race for no pay??

Heck back in the 80's and 90's some drivers used to pay to drive!

Yeah but we are in the 2000's now.

[Gaz]

You reckon any drivers would race for no pay??

Heck back in the 80's and 90's some drivers used to pay to drive!

Yeah but we are in the 2000's now.

yep

"we'll pay you 1million pounds to turn this steering wheel"

[cap-dude]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 1232.shtml

Seems Honda has a deadline. Or Mercedes does. Either way, the team apparently needs to be bought before monday. Please someone, buy the team already.

[Gaz]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090219171232.shtml

Seems Honda has a deadline. Or Mercedes does. Either way, the team apparently needs to be bought before monday. Please someone, buy the team already.

Virgin F1 its got to be, rather than

[headless]

You reckon any drivers would race for no pay??

Heck back in the 80's and 90's some drivers used to pay to drive!

Yeah but we are in the 2000's now.

yep

"we'll pay you 1million pounds to turn this steering wheel"

No, more like

"I want 1million to turn the steering wheel"

[7UpJordan]

No, more like

"I want 1million to turn the steering wheel"

That sounds like Button alright, but with a yacht and girls in bikinis thrown in as well.

[f1usa]

Good news and I hope they take control of the team as it would be a shame to lose them. There may still be some jobs that are cut but maybe only a small portion of the originaly estimated 700, all we can do is wait and see.

There are a few sticking points of the Honda F1 Team purchase by Branson. One is a prick known as Nick Fry.

[darwin dali]

“If we were in discussions I wouldn’t be allowed to say it because there would be some kind of clause which would prohibit me talking about it,” he said.

“I love Grand Prix,” he continued.
“If Bernie Ecclestone can make it more cost effective for the likes of the Virgin brand to come into that sport, and if he can champion clean motorcar racing, then at some stage we might be interested in getting involved.”

Asked if he could confirm the reports that he is in discussion with Honda over a takeover, Branson was unable to confirm a bid for the team suggesting that negotiations are indeed ongoing. “If there were I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you, so I cannot clarify it I’m afraid.”


He's around the issue - understandably.

[texasmr2]

Yes it does seem that he is dancing around the question. Sir Richard states he would be interested if F1 became more cost effective and greener, what the hell does think F1 is trying to do at this very point in time? He may be a sly fox but not as sly as he thinks he is.

[EwanM]

Yes it does seem that he is dancing around the question. Sir Richard states he would be interested if F1 became more cost effective and greener, what the hell does think F1 is trying to do at this very point in time? He may be a sly fox but not as sly as he thinks he is.

I think he's looking for proper assurance that the cost cutting measures will be enacted over the next few years. I mean there are still a number of cost cutting issues that haven't been approved yet - such as wind tunnel usage. Without these assurances Branson has every right to be sceptical, especially if he has to pay alot to fund the 2009 outfit.

[EwanM]

'Branson has until the end of the month'
Thursday 19th February 2009

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group reportedly has until the end of this month to decide whether to buy the Honda F1 team or the Japanese manufacturer will close down the factory.


Honda revealed on Wednesday that Virgin have put their name in the hat to buy the team, which could go for as little as £1.


"We are negotiating with several buyers and one of these parties is the Virgin Group," a Honda spokesman told the BBC.


More reports are now emerging with the Daily Mail claiming that 'Honda want to have a deal in place in the next fortnight - or else they will go ahead with their plans to close their Northamptonshire factory.'


Should that happen over 700 people could find themselves job-less, including F1 driver Jenson Button and Honda-hopeful Bruno Senna.


The report adds that Honda are, however, keen to keep the team and factory going and have even offered to plug around £40million into the team for the buyer, leaving Virgin, or whoever buys the team, needing a further £80m-plus to ensure the team sees out the season.


As for Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry and team boss Ross Brawn, who themselves are allegedly putting together a management buy-out proposal, the latter is expected to stay even if Virgin take control.


Fry's future is less certain, however, as he's 'known to be on poor terms with Branson's crucial ally Adrian Reynard, the co-founder of the BAR team that later became Honda.'

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3 ... 91,00.html

Fry is a small price to pay (and a very large wage to drop off the wage bill) if it means the team will survive.