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[Ferrari man 009]

The team currently known as Honda will be in Melbourne, but has secured enough backing to guarantee its presence at only the subsequent three Grand Prix according to one report.

The Guardian on Friday agreed with speculation and reports that an immediate solution to the Brackley-based squad's situation, following the withdrawal of owner, sponsor and engine supplier Honda, has been found.

citing sources 'close to the' team, the British newspaper said the secured $30m funds, in part thanks to Brazilian sponsors backing the rookie Bruno Senna, may get Honda to only Australia, Malaysia, China and Bahrain.

The report also claims Senna and Jenson Button will be powered by Mercedes-Benz V8 engines.
Source: F1Live.com and The Guardian Newspaper.


Good news hey, especially with Davidson going to 5 live and DC to bbc 1 we need another british driver and Senna is a very good prospect with good backing.

[Gaz]

3 merc powered teams good for Mclaren.

so glad senna and button are racing tho.

mint

[Denthúl]

I'm not entirely sure I'd be willing to trust this, seeing as it doesn't seem to have spread very far. If it's true, it's good, though I'll be a little sad. I get the feeling that Button will do nothing other than show himself to be a lazy whiner again and that Senna won't be ready.

And I'll be very sad that Rubens is out.

[Hanwombat]

that red writing is making my vision all fuzzy

[Ferrari man 009]

that red writing is making my vision all fuzzy

Sorry, I wanted to make the article stand out from my views.

[zurich_allan]

I can only hope it's true, the number of cars on a F1 grid these days is already far too low, it really can't afford to lose another two. Until an official announcement is made I have my pinch of salt on standby mind you...

[8-ball]

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One commercial rights-holder, has decided to intervene to help to save the Honda Formula One team and is exploring the possibility of investing in the 700-strong outfit or loaning funds to ensure their survival.

The Brackley-based team and Jenson Button, their British driver, have been in limbo since the abrupt decision by the Japanese car manufacturer in early December to withdraw from Formula One. Since then senior managers have been conducting an intensive search for a new owner and are also working on a possible management buyout.

Amid the continuing uncertainty over whether the team will be wound up or will make it to the starting grid for the Australian Grand Prix at the end of next month, Ecclestone told The Times yesterday that he is now actively involved in a rescue package.

“We've been talking to them - whatever happens we'd like to see the Formula One team stay in business,” Ecclestone said. It is thought that he is considering a financial commitment, but when asked about this, he would add only: “I'd rather not comment on that but we will do whatever we have to do to try to make it happen.”

A possible hurdle to Ecclestone's direct involvement is the European Commission, which defines the limits of his role as commercial rights-

holder. “I don't even know whether we could legally be involved - we probably couldn't,” he said. “The Commission might say that because we are the commercial rights-holder [that] we shouldn't be part of it. I don't know at this stage, but there is a possibility that loans could be made or something.”

The emergence of Ecclestone's involvement will come as a boost to the Honda workforce, who have been waiting nervously to discover whether Nick Fry, the chief executive, and Ross Brawn, the team principal, have been successful in their search for a way forward.

In the meantime the team have continued work on their new car, but have no engine-supply deal in place and have not been able to run their new machine at either of the official pre-season tests. A striking aspect of Ecclestone's comments yesterday was his supreme confidence that the team will compete in Melbourne, where their drivers are expected to be Button and Bruno Senna, the Brazilian rookie. “I've always been confident they will make it,” he said.

Ecclestone dismissed suggestions that Honda itself may yet play some role in a new venture, helping its team to make a “soft landing” under new ownership.

“We should stop talking about Honda because they are gone,” he said. “This is now a limited liability company which used to be owned by Honda [but] which they want to sell. It's as simple as that and we will try to help whoever is trying to do something to maintain it.”

A spokeswoman for the team would not comment on Ecclestone's involvement. She said that a management buyout was still being considered as an option but no announcement on this or any other aspect of the search for new owners was imminent. “We are optimistic for the future but we are not saying any more at this time,” she said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 728237.ece

I think this is a more likely scenario than the one with the Brazilian backers. With expectations so high for Bruno to emulate his legendary uncle, being at Honda could ruin his career before it even gets started.

[Bruno_Brazil]

Another article.

New sponsors put old Honda back on the road

• £20m raised will put Brackley-based team on Melbourne grid
• Brazilians get behind Bruno Senna as new No2 to Button

Honda's formula one team have raised sufficient funds to ensure that they can compete in at least the first four races of the coming season, according to sources close to the Brackley-based squad which was put up for sale by the Japanese car company at the end of last season.

This means that Jenson Button and his proposed new team-mate Bruno Senna, nephew of the late three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, will be able to compete in at least the Australian, Malaysian, Chinese and Bahrain grands prix, thanks in part to an estimated $30m (£20m) funding from a group of Brazilian sponsors who are anxious to support Senna, runner-up in last year's GP2 championship.

It is thought that Ross Brawn, the Honda team principal, is due to address the team workforce within the next day or so to give the green light to continue preparing the modified cars for the opening race of the year on 29 March when they will be powered by Mercedes-Benz engines rather than the Honda V8s they had originally been designed for.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/fe ... honda-cash

The rumour is getting power here in Brazil as well
Even though I think it`s a bit late for that...

[Who's Winnin]

would be great to see them back on track but would prefer them to plan a return properly and wait for 2010.

[Rivelution]

would be great to see them back on track but would prefer them to plan a return properly and wait for 2010.

Well I read that Ross Brawn is still working on the 09 car, they just dont have an engine supplier however.

[dwightschultz]

What I don't understand is why Ross Brawn and Schumi didn't pounce all over this deal? Together they should have the financial and sponsor backing to set-up a great F1 team and be more successful then Honda ever could be. They could probably even get Ferrari engines making it a sweet deal for all.

Or are they too much of a pu$$y to invest and give back to F1?

[iPod]

Well I read that Ross Brawn is still working on the 09 car, they just don't have an engine supplier however.

If this is true, and if they play their cards right, the extra time spent working on the aerodynamics could pay dividends. But, obviously running without any mileage on an engine is never a good thing. And the fact that they would have to pretty much re-design the whole of the rear to accompany a different engine could/will take absolute ages.

Anyway, I just hope they can pull it all together. I seriously don't expect them to be competitive at all though. 2010 is the best we can all hope for.

[McLaren Fan]

From Planet F1:

'Hostile' third party takeover of Honda F1?
Monday 16th February 2009

Nick Fry and Ross Brawn's proposed management buy-out of the Honda F1 team could all come to naught with reports of a third party planning a "hostile" takeover of the team.

This past weekend it was reported that Honda stand on the brink of survival thanks to a management buy-out proposal being led by the team's CEO Nick Fry and team boss Ross Brawn.

Added to that there were also reports that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was willing to get involved to ensure that the team makes the 2009 Australian GP starting grid.

"We've been talking to them - whatever happens we'd like to see the Formula One team stay in business," Ecclestone told The Times.

But, according to The Telegraph, neither option may be what Honda decides to take as a third party has also put their name in the hat.

The unnamed company is described by a Honda source as being a "reputable, able to bring long-term financial stability, with a brand image known throughout the world. Formula One would do well to have them on board."

However, the source added that members of Honda's F1 management are viewing the third parties attempts to purchase the team as a "hostile bid."

"The Honda Motor Co. board have to ask themselves what is best for the shareholders first and then what is best for the 750-strong staff," he told the newspaper.

"If they allow a management takeover to go ahead which then fails this could be deemed negligent; a grave concern for all shareholders.

"Furthermore, will the shareholders be happy to continue funding the F1 team even after Honda have pulled out? A failed MBO will also see 750 jobs lost."

The source added: "Will Honda be on the grid in Melbourne? I would say it's 50-50."

Other stories that emerged this weekend claimed that Bruno Senna had signed a deal to race for the team, bringing with him sponsorship money from Brazilian oil company Petrobras and telecommunications firm Embratel.

The Telegraph, though, reports that these rumours are 'untrue' while 'Petrobras have pulled out of a sponsorship deal with Honda for 2009.'

[Denthúl]

Won't somebody just buy the f***ing team and stop all this madness? It's driving me insane.

[Bruno_Brazil]

Won't somebody just buy the f***ing team and stop all this madness? It's driving me insane.

Ok, I`ll buy this piece of s***...