Jenson Button and Rubens Barichello
It was coming but few expected it to be Honda.
After pumping in millions, Honda has anounced the withdrawal from F1.
The chief factor influenced the withdrawal is the recession in the Car industry which has taken a toll on Honda car sales. Adding to the recession is the cost of maintaining a F1 team which is not producing any worthwhile results. Honda also may be embrassed to see itself in the back of the grid. F1 participation is not helping its image either.
The NEWS in the media is Honda wants to quit supplying engines too which means complete exit from F1.
I feel the fever may catch some others too as they too are feeling the heat of recession. Ferrari was in turbulence for some time due to poor sale of its cars. Then Toyota and Renaults. Toyotas budget scars me. They may become burnt out with F1. Renaults has always been very clear about its approach to F1 – “If participation in F1 does not suit us, we will quit”
Honda ‘s Nick Fry has told media that after the announcement 3 potential buyers had contacted him. He also has said they are all foriegners. But refused to speculate where they are from. It may be true or it may be to create an artificial interest. But coming month will give us ideas. I rule out TATA, as TATA are also in financial mess and its chairman, Ratan Tata, asked his Directors to cut costs. He wont be venturing into something of this kind after preaching others the opposite. The car company may be from China.
Coming to the drivers, I feel sorry for Jenson Button. Rubens Barichello should be happy to know that the crisis has come at the fag end of his career.
For F1, it is a wake up call. If they don’t, other race forms will succeed and F1 will collapse under its own weight. The need of the hour is cost reduction and technology standardization. In the next few months we will all know the road F1 takes.
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