Honda Withdrawal – Reactions from Team Members

Ross Brawn and Nick Fry from Honda Racing, respectively the team principal and managing director, are deeply committed to finding a buyer to save the team.

The Honda team announced Friday morning that it is immediately withdrawing from F1. The pressure is now on the management team, which must try to come up with a rescue plan for a potential buyout.

Takeo Fukui – President of Honda:

We are going to discuss with the partners of the Honda Racing F1 Team and Honda Racing, the engine supplier, regarding the future of both companies. The team is being considered for sale.

Brawn, for his part, spoke to the staff to announce potential buyers. Ferrari might step in and supply engines for the future team in 2009.

David Butler, marketing director at Honda, wrote a letter that was primarily addressed to the suppliers and partners of the former team, confirming that every effort is being made to find new owners: « It is with regret that I write to inform you that at 13:30 Tokyo time this Friday, December 5 (5:30 in France), Honda announced it is withdrawing from Formula 1 at the end of the 2008 season. »

Nick Fry remains hopeful that the team will be on the starting grid of the 2009 Australian Grand Prix: In a short time, we have three buyout possibilities, so we are keeping the Melbourne race as our goal. We have 700 people working for the team and for now, everything is going as usual.

« This is a completely different situation compared to other team withdrawals. This team is one of the most funded, it has the best assets, the best resources in the paddock with a fantastic workforce designing a single-seater under the guidance of Ross Brawn. »

« You know the financial situation in the world, and as you know, all car manufacturers are being hit hard by the decline in vehicle sales. This year, however, we have developed the 2009 Ross Brawn car. »

Jenson Button has a contract with the team and if we find new owners, we hope that nothing will change regarding the driver line-up defined to date. He has been an integral part of the team for years. He is now a fantastic driver and a great asset to the team.

Precisely, Jenson Button claims to remain hopeful about his future in Formula 1: « I was informed at the same time as everyone else on the team. It’s a shock for me. »

« The first hours were the most painful. We just have to keep a positive attitude, maintain teamwork, because if we don’t show this attitude, who will want us? It will either make us stronger or it will break us. One or the other. »