Honda to quit F1 over financial crisis

[Denholm]

AFP

TOKYO (AFP) ? Honda said Friday that it was pulling out of Formula One due to the global financial crisis.b>

"Honda Motor Co. has come to the conclusion that we will withdraw from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season for participation," an emotional Honda Motor president Takeo Fukui told a press conference.

"This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the subprime problem in the United States, the deepening credit crisis and the sudden contraction of the world economies," he added.

Honda Motor also supplied engines and other technical support to Formula One team Super Aguri, which called it quits due to financial problems in May.

[azz0r_wugg]

I had ths weird dream last night, that I was in Asda buying presents and food...buying lots...then my mom rang me and said Asda-Tesco-HSBC and Natwest had gone under and to not buy what I'd got in my trolley because it'll be cheaper tomorrow.

Then they announced it over the tannoy that everyone working for Asda no longer has a job, and people just flooded out the doors.

Was so bizarre and real.

[Denholm]

I feel bad for Jensen Button. Hope he get's to drive for another team, or that Honda F1 Racing is bought by someone so they can continue racing.

[Pilsbury]

Unless there's some deal done to supply engines for the next season, I don't see anyone buying the team, as with the rule changes for 2009, it's probably too late to redesign the car to take another engine.

[zeta_immersion]

that old fart ... senile **** messed up the entire F1 ... man , i can just kick him in the face but i am afraid he's loose skin might drag me into his stupidity

[tuckeratlarge]

It's a pity for Honda. As for Rubens - retire already!

Jenson Button. Hmmmm, I always thought his ego outweighed his talent. He squandered his chances and with the Williams contract fiasco he is damaged goods. On the other hand, I hope he gets a drive just to see if he is crap or it was always the car.

Now that the habitual moaner Coulthard is out of the picture maybe it is time for Jenson to quit and go and do something else. Bring on the young talent that at least has a go and tries to overtake and the doesn't blame the car all the frigging time.

[TheHMan]

I don't feel sad for Jenson Button, but for Bruno Senna, i hope he gets another drive, because he is amazing.

[digitalsoft]

This is a massive shame imo, I was looking really forward to see what honda could produce in the 09 season.

[Martyn]

It's a pity for Honda. As for Rubens - retire already!

Jenson Button. Hmmmm, I always thought his ego outweighed his talent. He squandered his chances and with the Williams contract fiasco he is damaged goods. On the other hand, I hope he gets a drive just to see if he is crap or it was always the car.

Now that the habitual moaner Coulthard is out of the picture maybe it is time for Jenson to quit and go and do something else. Bring on the young talent that at least has a go and tries to overtake and the doesn't blame the car all the frigging time.

Coulthard and Barrichello are legends mate!

[revvo]

The financial crisis is hurting everyone, including Acura which is their NA only brand. That on top of how lame the F1 became with their silly restrictions on car makers are good reasons to get out of the F1. If they do force the "same engine" bs next season, everyone will follow Ferrari's lead and leave at that moment.

This is the result of F1's silly regulations, getting out of the Canadian Grand Prix and the financial crisis where people think that NOT putting money into the economy will fix the economy.

Coulthard and Barrichello are legends mate!

If they're legends, then Ayrton Senna was God. Scratch that out, he was an F1 God :p

[sn00pie]

It's only a matter of time before we see a few more companies pull out. It has been a two or three horse race for a really long time now :yes:

[digitalsoft]

...

If they're legends, then Ayrton Senna was God. Scratch that out, he was an F1 God :p

For his era maybe ;)

[sn00pie]

Ayrton is definitely a legend in Formula One history, but if you put him against Hamilton in a race today, I'm sure the Brit would come out on top ;)

Then again I'm a huge Hamilton fan :laugh:

[revvo]

For his era maybe ;)

Yep, then it was Schumacher's time to dominate the next era with Hakkinen as his only worthy opponent.

Now the F1 is as boring as watching a game of bowling on a Sunday afternoon.

[Pilsbury]

Ayrton is definitely a legend in Formula One history, but if you put him against Hamilton in a race today, I'm sure the Brit would come out on top ;)

Then again I'm a huge Hamilton fan :laugh:

Even though he's won a driver's championship, Hamilton has none of the talent or drive that the likes of Senna or Schumacher had.

[sn00pie]

Yep, then it was Schumacher's time to dominate the next era with Hakkinen as his only worthy opponent.

Now the F1 is as boring as watching a game of bowling on a Sunday afternoon.

I'd disagree with that. The last race of this season was perhaps the greatest race I've ever seen. I was shocked at how Hamilton managed to win, and its quite obvious the F1 gods were on his side, but he was sliding all over the place on that last lap and he managed to keep the race alive.

[revvo]

^ I'll admit that this past season was pretty heated between Hamilton and Massa, that was fun to see :cool:

[theyarecomingforyou]

Even though he's won a driver's championship, Hamilton has none of the talent or drive that the likes of Senna or Schumacher had.

Nonsense. He has already proved himself and has only just got started, something acknowledged by Schumacher. If you don't like the guy then that's fair enough but to say he has none of the talent of previous greats is patently untrue.

Jenson Button. Hmmmm, I always thought his ego outweighed his talent. He squandered his chances and with the Williams contract fiasco he is damaged goods. On the other hand, I hope he gets a drive just to see if he is crap or it was always the car.

Yeah. He's not a particularly good racer nor does he have a particularly appealing personality. I certainly don't wish him out of his job but it wouldn't be a great surprise to me if he's not picked up by another team.

[Martyn]

If they're legends, then Ayrton Senna was God. Scratch that out, he was an F1 God :p

Agreed. No one could touch Ayrton.

[Pilsbury]

Nonsense. He has already proved himself and has only just got started, something acknowledged by Schumacher. If you don't like the guy then that's fair enough but to say he has none of the talent of previous greats is patently untrue.

He hasn't only just started, he's been with McLaren for years, it's not as if he's just jumped into a Formula 1 car for the first time last year.

To say he's better than Senna is what is nonsense. He's yet to actually prove himself IMO. He's never driven anything other that one of the top F1 cars (and let's face it, given a McLaren or a Ferrari, most current F1 drivers would be up at the top end), and he hasn't put in any really spectacular drives to date IMO.

Examples of spectacular drives IMO are:

Schumacher, 1994 Spanish Grand Prix

Senna, 1988 Japanese Grand Prix

Fangio, 1957 German Grand Prix.

Those are all races where the driver in question excelled over the rest of the drivers or conditions.

I'll admit I don't like Hamilton as he's made the mistake of believing his own PR, and British drivers would appear to be the greatest in the world if you listen to F1 commentators from the UK. I'm also still not 100% convinced about the last lap of Brazil this season, but, that's another matter.

I'm not saying he's not a good driver, he is, like all the rest of the F1 drivers. He's just not worthy of being mentioned along with the great names like Fangio, Schumacher and Senna. Maybe he will be some day. Maybe he won't.

[Denholm]

Agreed. No one could touch Ayrton.

Ayrton was too ruthless. His hotheadedness also lost him races.

For me a true legend was Schumacher, Miachel :laugh: Not Ralf.