Category: Honda

Brawn GP team principal Ross Brawn has revealed Honda Motor Company’s ”frustration” that they have not been part of this year’s success for the team.

The parent company for the Brackley-based outfit withdrew from the sport in December 2008 in the context of a dismal two previous years on the track and the worst climate for the car industry in living memory.  Read more... (227 words, 1 image, estimated 54 secs reading time)

Bruno Senna has said that he is ‘resigned’ to ex-Honda F1 team principal Ross Brawn having chosen Rubens Barrichello for the second seat in his new-look team. The Brazilian is reported to be disappointed by the decision, which has yet to be confirmed, but would see Barrichello partner Jenson Button for the 2009 season. But Senna said that because he had been led to believe the seat was his, he had not considered other career options.  Read more... (273 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

The team formerly known as Honda is said to be preparing their 2009 car, the RA109, for testing. The news comes despite no formal acknowledgement of any buyer of the Brackley-based outfit, and continued speculation around the future of the team. However, autosport.com reports that the team has been issued with instructions to continue preparations for the season, including shakedowns and pre-season testing.  Read more... (241 words, estimated 58 secs reading time)

Honda Motor Company have said that there is no ’serious’ buyer yet apparent for their F1 team. The Japanese marque’s CEO Takeo Fukui – soon to be replaced at the helm by Takanobu Ito – told Reuters that although many offers had been received, none had appealed to the Tokyo management sufficiently.  Read more... (233 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)

This week saw renewed speculation about the future of the ex-Honda F1 team, with the result the almost-universal perception that some sort of rescue will come in the form of Richard Branson and Virgin. Whether this materialises or not, other bidders reportedly wait in the wings, and the general consensus is that what remains of Honda Racing F1 will fight another day.  Read more... (665 words, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)

Bruno Senna has said that Honda Racing’s difficulties could work in a positive way for him personally, by reducing the pressure on the young Brazilian if he gets the second seat with the team. The nephew of legendary three-time champion Ayrton Senna is the foremost candidate for the seat alongside Jenson Button at the Brackley-based outfit, and told Autosprint that the adverse circumstances around the team would reduce the expectations for 2009.  Read more... (393 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

Honda Racing team principal Ross Brawn has earmarked Monday 23 February as the day when the future of the team will be decided. Recent reports have linked the embattled squad – still without a major backer with only just over a month before the 2009 season starts – to Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. The team has acknowledged there are other bidders, and Brawn told German newspaper Blick that some sort of decision would emerge ”on Monday”.  Read more... (239 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

Virgin has made a bid for the Honda F1 team, it has been revealed today. News agency Reuters reports that the Virgin Group – known worldwide for its airline and music businesses, amongst others – prepared a buy-out deal for the team yesterday. The Brackley-based outfit has been looking for a financial lifeline since the Japanese parent company withdrew from the sport in December.  Read more... (108 words, estimated 26 secs reading time)

Contrary to reports over the weekend, Bruno Senna has not yet been signed by the erstwhile Honda F1 team. Some quarters of the press had reported that Brazilian petroleum company Petrobras had offered title sponsorship money to the Brackley-based team for the 2009 season on the condition that they run Senna as one of their drivers, but today’s Daily Telegraph reveals that this is not the case.  Read more... (253 words, estimated 1:01 mins reading time)

The embattled Brackley-based F1 team previously known as Honda could qualify for UK government aid as part of the car industry, the Guardian revealed today. The government will allocate a significant amount of money to help the car industry, of which a portion could find its way to Honda, providing they fulfil the necessary criteria. Today’s report in the Guardian suggests that Honda do indeed meet the requirements.  Read more... (227 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)