F1
F1 : Honda to announce shock Formula 1 withdrawal
Source/Credit - GMM
Honda is expected to announce on Friday morning its shock withdrawal from Formula One.
The more than 700 staff at the Japanese team's Brackley (UK) headquarters were informed by
bosses Ross Brawn and Nick Fry on Thursday, and fellow teams learned of the decision at the FOTA
meeting in Geneva.
A public statement from Tokyo, grappling with news of plummeting sales of road cars, is expected
early on Friday, amid rumours the outfit is up for sale and faces complete closure should a buyer
not be found by January.
It is understood Honda will take responsibility for any debts, and would hand over the team to a
buyer for a nominal price.
The news, amid the global financial crisis, comes after Honda's notable underachievement in the
past two years despite one of the biggest budgets in the sport.
It would leave British driver Jenson Button, and his 2008 team-mate Rubens Barrichello, without
seats for the 2009 season, and scuppers the plans of young hopefuls Bruno Senna and Lucas di Grassi.
The 2009 grid would be reduced to just 18 cars, and spark fears that other manufacturers, whose
commitment to Formula One was considered perhaps less steadfast than Honda's, could follow suit.
Following the meeting of team bosses in Switzerland, FOTA confirmed in a statement that they
"unanimously agreed" to more cost cutting measures, including a "new low cost
engine" for 2011.
Spokespeople for Honda, and Formula 1's governing body the FiA, declined to comment.
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F1 : Honda President Takeo Fukui to confirm Honda Formula 1 exit in Tokyo
Source/Credit - GMM
Fukui
Honda Motor Company has confirmed that Chief Executive and President Takeo Fukui will front a media
briefing on the topic of Formula One in Tokyo on Friday afternoon (13h00 Japanese time).
It is widely expected that the Japanese manufacturer will announce its withdrawal from the sport,
and the closure of the Brackley (UK) based racing outfit should a buyer not be found in the coming
weeks.
Spokespeople for the Formula 1 team and the manufacturer would not confirm the speculation, both
instead insisting more information will not be available until Fukui's briefing.
The unofficial news, however, led to shares in Honda Motor Company rising 0.2 per cent.
A financial analyst in Tokyo told the Bloomberg news agency: "A withdrawal by Honda would
highlight just how awful the situation surrounding the auto industry is."
Staff of Honda's Brackley factory anonymously said their pay will be guaranteed only to the end
of March, and sources at other Formula One teams report they were flooded with enquiries about jobs
as the news broke.
Sources close to Toyota, meanwhile, flatly denied suggestions it might follow Honda out of Formula
One, amid similar troubles for the Japanese manufacturer due to the economic downturn.
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F1 : Statement by Takeo Fukui, President and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Source/Credit - Honda Worldwide
Fukui
We, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., have come to the conclusion that we will withdraw from all Formula One
activities, making 2008 the last season of participation.
This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment
facing the global auto industry, brought on by the sub prime problem in the United States, the
deepening credit crisis and the sudden contraction of the world economies.
Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties
in the economies around the globe continue to mount. A recovery is expected to take some time.
Under these circumstances, Honda has taken swift and flexible measures to counter this sudden and
expansive weakening of the marketplace in all business areas. However, in recognition of the need to
optimize the allocation of management resources, including investment regarding the future, we have
decided to withdraw from Formula One participation. We will enter into consultation with the
associates of Honda Racing F1 Team and its engine supplier Honda Racing Development regarding the
future of the two companies. This will include offering the team for sale.
In its third era of Formula One activities, Honda has been participating in Formula One races from
the 2000 season, initially with BAR, by adopting a new format of jointly developing racing machines.
Subsequently, in a move to meet the changing environment surrounding Formula One, we switched to
running a 100% Honda owned team commencing with the 2006 season.
Surmounting many challenges, the Honda Team achieved a Grand Prix victory in 2006, enabling Honda to
receive overwhelming support from Honda fans around the world that were looking forward to greater
success. It, therefore, has been an extremely difficult decision for us to come to this conclusion
without having been able to fully meet the expectations of our fans.
By making the best of what we have learned during these times of economic turmoil, coupled with the
spirit of challenge gained through active participation in racing, we intend to continue with our
commitment in meeting new challenges.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our fans and all those who have
supported Honda’s Formula One efforts, including everyone in the world of Formula One.
Thank you very much.
Takeo Fukui
President and CEO
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
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F1 : Honda will not offer Formula 1 engines to team buyer
Source/Credit - GMM
Fukui
As expected, Honda Motor Company chief Takeo Fukui in Tokyo confirmed on Friday afternoon that the
Japanese manufacturer is withdrawing from Formula One ahead of the 2009 season.
He said the decision was taken as a result of the prevailing conditions in the automotive sales
sector, including a near unprecedented decline of more than 30 per cent in its biggest market, the
United States, last month.
Fukui also revealed that Honda will not even remain involved in Formula 1 as an engine supplier,
despite attempts to sell the Brackley based team as a going concern before the 2009 season commences
in late March.
Instead, it is understood that Honda team boss and former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn has
arranged that a buyer of the Brackley outfit will be powered by 2.4 litre Ferrari V8s.
2008 constructors' world champions Ferrari have the capacity to supply an extra team next year,
given the switch of customer partner Force India to Mercedes power.
According to early speculation, one potential buyer of the team could be Dubai International Capital
(DIC), which came close to buying Super Aguri when Honda pulled its support for the satellite team
earlier this year.
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F1 : Dani Clos to test Williams Formula 1 car again
Source/Credit - GMM
Clos
Dani Clos, a young Spanish racing driver, will reappear at the wheel of a Williams at next
week's Formula One test at Jerez.
The 19-year-old F3 Euroseries competitor from Barcelona was among the rookies in action at the
Spanish circuit in September for the Formula One 'Young Driver Day'.
Clos will drive on Monday, as teams gather for the last two weeks of testing before Christmas.
"It is another great opportunity to demonstrate my abilities," he is quoted as saying by
the Spanish sports newspaper Marca.
"I have been working closely with the team and we have a really good relationship now,"
Clos added.
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F1 : Mika Hakkinen backs medals concept for Formula 1
Source/Credit - GMM
Hakkinen
Mika Hakkinen has backed Bernie Ecclestone's proposal to introduce an Olympic Games style system
of coloured medals for the scoring of the Formula One Drivers' World Championship.
The Finn, who still would have won his titles in 1998 and 1999 under the Formula 1 Chief
Executive's proposed system, said he believes medals rather than points would better motivate
the drivers.
"I have thought about it and I must say I think the concept is very good," Hakkinen, 40,
told motorline.cc on a visit to Austria.
"Sometimes when you are in a Grand Prix and in fifth place, you think 'ok, a few
points'. But with the medal system you would be under more pressure to move forward to get a
medal," he said.
Hakkinen, therefore, believes the system would spice up the racing beneath the top three finishers,
amid some commentator's view that they will be unmotivated because of the lost incentive of
points down to eighth place.
"Instead they would have a bigger goal and there would be more fights," he insisted.
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F1 : FiA statement on Formula One costs after Honda withdrawal announcement
Source/Credit - FiA
The announcement of Honda’s intended withdrawal from Formula One has confirmed the FiA’s
longstanding concern that the cost of competing in the World Championship is unsustainable.
In the FiA’s view, the global economic downturn has only exacerbated an already critical
situation.
As the guardians of the sport, the FiA is committed to working with the commercial rights holder and
the remaining members of FOTA to ensure that Formula One becomes financially sustainable.
The FiA President has today sent the attached letter to all of the Formula One teams:
Further to my letter of 18 November (see below), we have completed the tendering process and are now
in exclusive negotiations with Cosworth together with Xtrac and Ricardo Transmissions (XR) to supply
a complete Formula One power train starting in 2010.
The engine will be a current Formula One engine while the transmission will be state of the art
Formula One and a joint effort by two companies which already supply transmissions to most of the
grid.
The cost to each team taking up this option will be an up front payment of €1.97 million Euros
and then €6.42 million Euros per season for each of the three years of the supply contract
(2010, 2011, 2012).
This price is based on four teams signing up and includes full technical support at all races and
official tests, plus 30 000 km of testing.
he annual cost will reduce if more teams take up the option, for example to €5.84 million Euro
per team with eight teams. It will further reduce if less than 30 000 km of testing is required.
Neither engine nor transmission will be badged.
As suggested in my letter of 18 November, teams participating in the 2010 Championship would then
have three options:
The above.
The right to build an engine themselves, identical to the above, having been supplied with all the
necessary technical information.
The right to continue to use their existing engine, with the current ban on development and
requirement for engine parity still in place.
Teams opting for one of the latter two options would nevertheless use the XR transmission.
In combination with the programme of cost reductions for the chassis, race weekend and team home
base outlined in my letter of 18 November, these arrangements have a number of advantages. These
include:
- Enabling the independent teams to survive in the current difficult economic climate.
- Facilitating the replacement of a manufacturer team if we suffer additional losses.
- Stabilising Formula One while new road relevant technologies are introduced together with a state
of the art high tech engine, which could be in Formula One as early as 2013 should the car industry
by then be in a position to fund its development.
- Avoiding any change to the Formula One spectacle and keeping the technology at current levels.
These arrangements are on the basis that at least four teams enter into contracts to use the power
train described above, and do so no later than close of business (5pm CET) on Thursday 11 December
2008.
In the event of fewer than four teams signing up, the FiA may still proceed but the price on offer
will vary. The supply contracts will be with Cosworth but in the first instance teams are requested
to make their intentions known to my office.
Yours sincerely,
Max Mosley
*******
Letter of 18 November 2008 from Max Mosley:
Thank you for your letter of 4 November.
As you already know, your earlier letter of 31 October reached us in time for the proposal signed by
all the teams on 30 October to be put before the World Motor Sport Council, who agreed to it. I am
pleased to say that the three-race engine will therefore be part of the 2009 regulations.
However, your letter of 4 November did not reach me until after the beginning of the meeting on 5
November and we were therefore unable to deal with it.
Having now had an opportunity to review your letter of 4 November, I must say we greatly appreciate
what is clearly a significant effort to reduce costs.
However, cost reductions of the order mentioned in your third paragraph are inadequate having regard
to the current economic situation. Reductions of €20-48 million Euro per year will not save the
independent teams, nor will they reduce the budgets of the major manufacturers to a level at which
we can feel confident of their continued participation.
If I may approach the questions in more detail:
Power Train
- Engines
We understand that the FOTA proposal is to produce a €5 million Euro engine from 2011. We are
in fact looking for a complete power train for less than €5 million Euro and we believe it is
essential to have this in place for 2010 and not wait until 2011. By 2011, it may be too late.
Furthermore, we understand that instead of an inexpensive but high tech in line 4 cylinder engine,
FOTA are now considering developing a brand new V6 for 2011. In our view, the latter would rightly
be seen by the public as an inferior version of what we already have and be a waste of development
money. There is a strong case for deferring the introduction of a new engine until the manufacturers
are in a better position to fund its development. This would imply the use of an interim engine
until at least 2013, as suggested in the note which was sent to you on 14 October.
- Transmission
In order to achieve significant savings, there is a very strong financial case for a standard
gearbox and an even stronger financial case for a ten race standard gearbox with fixed ratios,
serviced only by the supplier. We should like to discuss these possibilities with FOTA.
- Complete power train
We are now confident that we will be able to source a power train which is visually, technically and
audibly indistinguishable from the power trains currently in use, for significantly less than
€10m per team per season. We would then be able to
offer each competing team three options:
(i) the FiA sourced power train or
(ii) the right to build an engine identical to the FiA sourced engine or
(iii) to continue with a current engine and to operate it within the constraints of the 2010
regulations.
An engine with less than current Formula One technology in combination with a ten race gearbox would
come in under the original €5 million Euro budget. However, the attractions of continuing to
use full current Formula One technology for less than €10 million are significant.
- Chassis
We note the list of elements attached to your letter of 4 November, but I would reiterate the point
made in my letter of 27 October. A more rigorous analysis is needed in which every element of the
chassis is looked at, so that a considered decision can be taken as to whether it should or should
not remain a performance differentiator. Only by considering each individual element can a proper
analysis of the chassis be made and a reasoned decision be taken as to what costs might be saved and
in which way.
We are therefore going to revise the chassis rules for 2010. We would like to do this in
consultation with FOTA. The plan is to make a list of every single chassis component and then, one
by one, decide whether or not each component should be a performance differentiator. At present,
virtually every component has an effect on performance even if only minimal. In today's ultra
competitive F1 this has led to vast sums of money being spent on items which make no difference to
the appeal of F1 and contribute nothing to technology. This money is therefore being wasted. In the
present economic climate, that cannot continue.
Having considered each component and decided whether or not it should continue to be a performance
differentiator, we would have three lists of components: List A: those which will continue to affect
performance, List B: those which will no longer affect performance and List C: those which it is
customary to purchase from outside suppliers.
We will put out to tender the supply of each of the List B components and all teams would then use
them. The same would apply to items on List C whose cost is other than trivial. We will also
introduce rules to prevent teams using very expensive materials and/or manufacturing processes for
List A components.
From this will follow a very clear and simple definition of a customer car, namely one which does
not incorporate any component which features on List A if it is also to be found on another
competing car.
Whether so called customer cars should be admitted to the Championship and, if so, on what terms, is
a matter for discussion with the teams and the commercial rights holder.
- Race Weekend
We will revise the regulations governing the race weekend in exactly the same way. We will look at
each item of expenditure and consider whether it can be eliminated without affecting the spectacle.
All such items will be eliminated unless they are likely genuinely to affect safety or the teams
need to keep them for marketing reasons. Again, we should prefer to do this in consultation with
FOTA.
From this will follow whether any, and if so what, changes to the regulations or procedures should
be made.
- The home base
Similarly, all aspects of R&D at a team's factory must be looked at. These include limitations
on wind tunnel use and the maximum scale of the models, restrictions on CFD and the use of
simulators of all kinds as well as numerous other items. I believe FOTA are currently working on
proposals which we look forward to receiving.
The target
As mentioned above, reductions of €20-€48 million Euro per year are inadequate. In present
circumstances we need to introduce radical change before it is forced upon us. Fortunately, Formula
One is currently a business from which more than 80% of the costs can be removed without affecting
the "product" in a way which the customers would notice.
In order to ensure the survival of the Formula One World Championship with confidence, we believe
that costs must come down to the point where the income from FOM, split among 12 teams, will cover
all a team's costs except for the power train, the drivers and marketing. If expenditure exceeds
this level by anything other than a marginal amount, we cannot be confident that enough of the
current teams will survive to ensure a viable championship.
When we enter the era of a new, low cost, high tech engine, we would expect the manufacturers to
help us frame regulations to ensure that the research and development associated with the new engine
is useful for their core business. The regulations should also ensure that the cost per kilometre of
operating the new engine is far lower than today's cost.
In the meantime, the power train as outlined above will be much less expensive, but nevertheless
maintain current technical levels and ensure that an entertaining and viable World Championship
continues, apparently unchanged.
With these arrangements in place, the FiA would join with FOTA in seeking to persuade FOM to divide
the prize money so that up to 12 teams are guaranteed at least €40 million Euro each. This
would ensure a full grid with a strong possibility that new teams will enter the Championship,
filling the two vacant slots as well as any additional vacancies.
Finally, I should make it clear that the FiA has an absolute duty to ensure that its Formula One
World Championship continues. When a problem such as the current worldwide financial crisis emerges,
the FiA must rapidly introduce whatever regulations it judges necessary to ensure the survival of
its principal championship.
We will, of course, always do this in consultation with the stakeholders and we will try hard to
accommodate the wishes of at least a majority of the teams.
However, we must recognise that in an extreme situation, not all teams may agree with our measures.
We appreciate that in these circumstances some teams might decide not to enter the World
Championship and opt instead for some other professional racing series.
Furthermore, we are, of course, always ready to sanction an international series for teams which
wish to run under regulations other than those of Formula One. We would require only that the series
in question did not fall below current safety standards and met the generally accepted criteria of
sporting fairness.
We would, of course, not be concerned with the financial viability of a series which was not part of
an FiA championship, nor with the amount of money spent by participants.
As always, I and my advisers remain ready to meet the teams at short notice.
Yours sincerely.
Max Mosley
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F1 : Cosworth wins FiA Formula 1 engine tender
Source/Credit - GMM
Cosworth has won the tender to supply a low cost engine and transmission package in 2010 and beyond,
Formula One's governing body announced on Friday.
In the wake of Honda's shock departure from the sport, the FiA said in a statement that the
news confirmed its fears about the current financial format, and sent a letter to team bosses.
It is revealed that the cost to teams wanting to use the un-badged Cosworth engine option will be
$2m euros, plus 5.5 million euros each season.
"The annual cost will reduce if more (than four) teams take up the option," FiA president
Max Mosley wrote.
Teams not wanting to use the standard engine have "the right to build an engine
themselves", or a de-tuned version of their current 2.4 litre V8's, but must use a standard
transmission supplied by Ricardo Transmissions, a British company.
Mosley said the measures will help small teams survive, and also pave the way for the replacement of
more outgoing manufacturers, "as seems likely" to be necessary.
He wants four teams to sign up the scheme by next Thursday, or the price may go up.
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F1 : Nick Fry hopeful Honda Formula 1 team will be sold
Source/Credit - GMM
Fry
Nick Fry on Friday said he is confident Honda will find a buyer for the Brackley based Formula One
team and be on the grid as scheduled in Melbourne next March.
Citing the world economic situation, in which sales of motor cars has crashed, Honda Motor Company
announced from Tokyo that it will no longer be involved with the sport.
The team is therefore currently on the market, and in a race against time to find a buyer before the
factory doors are closed.
Team Chief Executive Fry told the BBC: "In the last 12 hours we've had three serious people
come and suggest they'd like to buy the team."
Honda, although uncompetitive in the last two years, spent most of last season working on its 2009
car.
Honda is prepared to assume any debts, and sell the team as a going concern for a nominal sum.
"I've no doubt Honda would have been in the top four next year without any problems,"
said Formula 1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone.
"They've spent a lot of money to put themselves in that position so if anyone does want to
be in Formula 1 this is a team they should look to buy."
"It's a big opportunity for any company that's run efficiently to benefit," he
said.
Fry revealed that should the team survive, Jenson Button is first in line for a race seat.
"He has a contract with the team for next year," Fry said, referring to the 28-year-old
British driver.
He said a decision about Button's team-mate, with Rubens Barrichello, Bruno Senna and Lucas di
Grassi believed to be in the reckoning, has not yet been taken.
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F1 : Max Mosley - Honda exit is Formula 1 warning
Source/Credit - GMM
Mosley
Max Mosley on Friday derided the efforts of Formula One teams to cut costs.
Following the meeting of the FOTA alliance in Switzerland on Thursday, where bosses learned of
Honda's withdrawal from the sport, the FiA President slammed their decisions as "fiddling
about" rather than getting serious about reducing spending.
In Geneva, the bosses agreed a new package of cost cutting measures, including a new engine formula
for 2011 and reduced testing.
But to the BBC, Mosley dismissed their efforts as mere "fiddling about".
On Friday, he vowed to push ahead with the idea of standardised engines, arguing the withdrawal of
Honda for economic reasons is a "very significant warning" that drastic action is
required.
"If the teams don't notice now what's happened, you have to abandon all hope for
them," said Mosley.
He claims that if the team bosses were in charge of the sport, Formula 1 would "lose one team
after another and we would end up with no teams at all, or a grid that lacked all credibility".
Formula 1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone played down the situation.
"Formula 1 is in no bigger crisis than any other company in the world at the moment but the
world won't stop, that's for sure," he said.
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F1 : 2008 Jerez - December test - Provisional driver line-up
Source/Credit - F1SA
Below is a provisional list of the drivers to test for the teams taking part.
Formula One returns to the Circuito de Jerez next week from Tuesday the 9th to Thursday the 11th of
December with a collective total of six teams instead of the seven originally planned in the
beginning.
| Team
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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| BMW Sauber
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Christian Klien / Nick Heidfeld
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Robert Kubica / Nick Heidfeld
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Robert Kubica / Christian Klien
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| Ferrari
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Kimi Raikkonen / Felipe Massa
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Kimi Raikkonen / Felipe Massa
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Kimi Raikkonen / Felipe Massa
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| McLaren Mercedes
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Pedro de la Rosa / Gary Paffet
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Pedro de la Rosa / Heikki Kovalainen
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Pedro de la Rosa / Heikki Kovalainen
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| Renault F1
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Nelson Piquet
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Fernando Alonso
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Fernando Alonso
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| Toro Rosso (*)
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Sebastien Buemi / Sebastien Bourdais
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Sebastien Buemi / Sebastien Bourdais or Takuma Sato
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Sebastien Buemi / Sebastien Bourdais or Takuma Sato
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| Williams F1
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Nico Hulkenberg
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Nico Rosberg
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Nico Rosberg
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(*) No official confirmation from the team.
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F1 : Honda team calls off December Jerez Formula 1 tests
Source/Credit - GMM
Button
Brawn
Jenson Button on Friday reacted to the news he could be without a Formula One cockpit for the 2009
season by travelling to Honda's Brackley factory.
It was business as usual at the UK facility, on the outskirts of the town in Northamptonshire, even
though in a best case scenario many of the 700 strong workforce may be laid off.
"We need to stay positive ourselves and as one team because if we are not, no one will be
interested in taking it over," the 28-year-old British driver said, according to AP.
One group of designers were said to already be working on accommodating a different engine in the
2009 car, after Honda said from Tokyo it did not want to be "half in and half out" of the
sport by remaining as a mere supplier.
The race is on to find a serious buyer before Christmas, and, if that is the case, Honda is willing
to keep the factory running and staff fully paid up so that a deal can be finalised in time for the
first Grand Prix of 2009.
"I believe we have got a front running car already designed," said boss Ross Brawn,
although it is believed he has called off the team's attendance at the two Jerez tests before
Christmas.
A
team and driver line-up
for the Jerez test next week was announced today.
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F1 : After the Honda Formula 1 shock Bruno Senna cannot wait forever
Source/Credit - adrivo.com Motorsport Magazin
Senna
Bruno Senna thought he was so close to realising his long cherished Formula One ambitions.
Then came the shocking news that Honda were withdrawing from Formula 1 with immediate effect.
Senna’s main hope must now be that the team finds a buyer who also happens to be impressed by
his recent test performance and by the potential pulling power of his name.
But the Brazilian has no intention of sitting on his hands. “We’ll have to look around
and see what other options are open to us,” said Senna in an interview with
Motorsports-Magazine.com.
“These things happen. It’s never been easy to get into Formula One, you just have to
keep plugging away and see what turns up.”
Obviously, he is hoping that the now ex-Honda team keeps going: “And I’m not burn any
bridges there, but I can’t wait for ever. On the other hand, the financial situation is tough
everywhere at the moment and it is difficult to see where things are heading. So in the
circumstances, you have to be very flexible.”
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