BlogF1

The off-season for Brawn GP has certainly been a rollercoaster of doubt, excitement and speculation. For months we all waited to see what would happen to the Honda team after their announcement to withdraw from the Formula One championship, and just as everything appeared to be falling apart, a management buy-out saved the squad and kept the tally of ten teams on the grid. But will Brawn be fighting for survival in 2009, or will they be fighting for the championship? Continue Reading

The headline says it all – Ross Brawn has been successful in taking over Honda’s Formula One team, saving the squad and ensuring there will be 10 teams and 20 drivers on the Melbourne grid at the end of the month. While speculation has been rife for the last three or four months, the news that the team has been saved will be welcomed the world over. Ross Brawn has released a statement that explains further and praises the efforts of those involved in the deal. Continue Reading

Bruno Senna was, up until very recently, strongly linked with a drive for the Honda team in 2009, having tested for the squad back in November following the close of the 2008 world championship. Senna, who has driven well in GP2 and is considered a talent to watch out for in the future, was suggested as being Jenson Button’s team mate for 2009, but then it all went wrong. Honda withdrew, Barrichello went into hiding for a while, things started to move forward, Senna was considered to have the drive thanks to financial backing, and then Barrichello says he’s close to a deal. Continue Reading

More news is filtering through this week on the future of Honda, and although little has been confirmed by the motor company itself, pace appears to be gathering towards a deal that will see the team on the grid in Melbourne. Reuters and Autosport are saying that negotiations are continuing, and that Rubens Barrichello is likely to remain with the team, partnered with Jenson Button and Ross Brawn will continue as team principal, at minimum. Continue Reading

When Honda first withdrew from Formula One back in early December of last year, the motoring company’s chiefs said they would do all they would to sell the squad on and keep the employees safe in their positions. Since then, the ride has been bumpy to say the least while there have been some optimistic highs for the Brackley team, the lows have also come in equal measure. And today, it would appear that perhaps the final low has arrived… Continue Reading

Although the shadow of financial doom and gloom is cast over Formula One at the current time, I cannot help but feel relatively optimistic for the sport’s future. As with many things in life, motor sport will continue long after the current recession has passed, and already we can see signs of the sport looking healthy for 2009 and beyond. Despite sponsors reducing their funding and circuits complaining of financial woe, the heart of Formula One still beats strong. Continue Reading

Former Honda test driver and Super Aguri racer Anthony Davidson has agreed to join BBC Radio 5 Live’s commentary team for the entirety of the 2009 Formula One season. Davidson was hoping to return to racing this year after the Super Aguri team were disbanded in early 2008. A return to testing – possibly even racing – was apparently on the cards with Honda, but that all fell through when the manufacturer bosses decided to pull that plug as well. Continue Reading

Before Honda owned the team they just about still do, the squad were owned by BAT and were called BAR. The cigarette company purchased the team from Ken Tyrrell, who himself had been a constructor in Formula One from 1970, famously winning the driver’s title with Jackie Stewart on two occasions and the constructors once. Although Tyrrell’s success was never to be repeated with the future owners, Honda did manage a race win in 2006, the squad’s only real triumph since 1999. Continue Reading

There was talk yesterday morning of a possible bail-out for the Honda team by the British government, sparked initially by a story in The Guardian newspaper. Although the suggestion has since been denied by those concerned at Brackley, the thought of a government helping an ailing Formula One team has fueled an interesting debate around the blogs. Most want to see Honda continue, but very few are in favour of taxpayers money being used. Continue Reading

As suggested in yesterday’s post about Ferrari rejecting requests from Ross Brawn to supply engines to the team for 2009, Mercedes-Benz are considering teaming up with the squad. Mercedes currently supply (and part-own) the McLaren team, and the German marque will also supply Force India this season. However, they have the capacity to send a few power units to Brackley as well. There are, however, some conditions that Honda will have to meet. Continue Reading