Honda Ends F1 Team

[RichardA]

Honda is pulling out of Formula One as the global economic crisis continues to bite.

Honda have until January to find a buyer or else the doors will be closed for good, leaving drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello without a team to drive for next season. Staff at the Northamptonshire-based team have been told to expect redundancy notices before Christmas.

Honda returned to F1 in 2006 after taking over BAR (British American Racing), previously acting as a supplier of engines to the BAR team. In the pre-Lewis Hamiltion era, Englishman Button was the driver predicted to make an impact on the sport for the UK, but only scored one victory with his win in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

[guest684]

Poor Jenson!  Shouldn't have been so loyal eh!

[JazzyB]

Its a shame and sad that Honda have pulled out of F1. I know there recent performances have not been brilliant but maybe next year or the one after they might of been up there with the top teams.

Maybe they will return in the future, I hope so.

[olduser1]

A sad day fro motorsport enthusiasts, I can remember the 1st Honda at the TT in the 1960's and watched the various Honda team at the Touring car race days, maybe F1 is a spent force. Its so much a put on show for the TV audience these days, you cannot even speak to drivers in the pits, no so at Aintree GP Circuit in the 1950's.

However the saving on the budget may well produce lower car prices for EU drivers !?

The new 2009 Jazz in Japan under £9k, so where are the imports in the UK?

[RichardA]

NSX supercar project also canned

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Honda-NSX/236594/

[RichardA]

Heard Branson is thinking of buying!

[JazzyB]

some one like branson just what the team needs!

[csp]

I hope Honda find another buyer with some experience of F1 not Branson and his publicity spin!

[JazzyB]

well the management have bought-out the team