Honda F1 Roundup: Brawn, Schumacher and Ferrari
F1 teams change hands all the time, but when a major manufacturer pulls out of the sport, it's bound to trigger a rumor mill of tsunamic proportions. And that's exactly what's been going on in the motorsport press following Honda's announcement to cancel its F1 program.
First came rumors that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was to buy the team, but those reports were later denied. Ferrari, meanwhile, has confirmed discussions with Ross Brawn, formerly the Scuderia's technical director and now head of the Honda F1, over the prospect of supplying engines to the team if and when a new buyer is found. (Last year Ferrari supplied both Toro Rosso and Force India, but the latter has switched to Mercedes for the upcoming season.) Brawn and his colleague Nick Fry are reportedly speaking to a number of potential buyers (Prodrive's David Richards possibly still among them), but while the asking price for the team must be lower than usual given the economy and Honda's motivation to sell, sources don't expect the list includes any automakers. (For our part, we wouldn't be surprised to see Hyundai make an offer.) Some reports suggested that Michael Schumacher – with whom Brawn built a close relationship during their tenure at Ferrari, and who races occasionally with Honda on two wheels – could get involved, but Schumi's own spokespeople have denied the rumors. For his part, Brawn has stated his number one priority is securing the jobs of the team's many employees, but even that might prove to be a tall order during these troubled times.
[Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
vaibhav 7:36AM (1/15/2009)
Now Ashish Deora manufacturing in auto sector
Till now, contract manufacturing has largely been associated with either the fast moving consumer goods industry or some other small daily use items. But for the first time, such a facility is being readied for automobiles in India.
Argentum Motors, co-promoted by Spice Jet's Ajay Singh, Hyundai Motor' former president B V R Subbu and Ashish Deora, plans to get into the contract manufacturing business soon.
Argentum has taken possession of the erstwhile Daewoo Motors plant at Surajpur (Haryana) and plans to assemble cars, LCVs and other vehicles some months down the line.
This facility was acquired for about Rs 850 crore and the company now plans to invest another Rs 500 crore in upgrade facilities.
"OEMs are looking at low-cost manufacturing options and many of them are hesitant to set up full-scale manufacturing facilities in India," ...
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14564473
http://www.ashishdeora.com
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Keith Collantine 7:28AM (1/14/2009)
Richards said he's not buying Honda: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/08/david-richards-says-f1-costs-are-still-too-high-and-hes-not-buying-honda/
Ferrari said they're not supplying engines: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/12/no-ferrari-engines-for-honda-domenicali/
But Mercedes might: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/14/mercedes-may-suppy-honda-with-engines/
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David 8:50AM (1/14/2009)
What he said!
Ian 10:15AM (1/14/2009)
Mercedes wants to own 100% of an F1 team. Anything is possible.
Hyundai are unlikely to launch into the money pit of owning an F1 team in these economic times.
If Forsythe could get a major sponsor he might be interest and use his Cossie engines.
Richards has to many balls in the air re surviving with a diminished Prodrive and Aston Martin.
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Scott 11:36AM (1/14/2009)
Why do all F1 drivers look like goofy bastards?
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Snix 12:13PM (1/14/2009)
If I had Michael Schumacher's talent and money, you could call me a goofy looking bastard all day long........I wouldn't mind.
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