Honda pulls out of Formula One Racing
12-05-2008, 11:08 AM
#17
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12-05-2008, 11:10 AM
#18
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Manufacturers come and go in F1 depending on their corporate mood/financial state at the time. One thing is for certain, F1 is a lot of dough to fork out for a manufacturer... and that's even before the first race is run.
IMO, Honda, have shown tact and left the circus at the right time - while the automotive world is in a recession. They will probably return at a later date... as history has shown.
I wouldn't blame Toyota if they, too, choose to abandon F1. They've done OK as far as results go, so it wouldn't be seen as a failure on their part if they bowed out now. At least the next time Toyota will have the necessary experience to relaunch at a later time. All is not lost.
IMO, Honda, have shown tact and left the circus at the right time - while the automotive world is in a recession. They will probably return at a later date... as history has shown.
I wouldn't blame Toyota if they, too, choose to abandon F1. They've done OK as far as results go, so it wouldn't be seen as a failure on their part if they bowed out now. At least the next time Toyota will have the necessary experience to relaunch at a later time. All is not lost.
Honda is using the current state of the auto industry as an excuse. They haven't been competitive for some time and if it wasn't for Force India, would be at the bottom of F1. With the new engine requirements for 2009, they were going to have to invest a lot of money in improving their car, and possible hire a new driver (although I saw now problem with continuing with Barrichello). That said, things didn't look too rosy for Honda's 2009 season in F1 anyway and thus saving over $100M that would've basically been thrown at the Honda F1 team, they look good to the bean-counters.
However, I have heard no mention of Honda moving out of other racing series. Keep in mind they are the engine supplier to Indycar as well as several other series. If Honda pulls out there as well, then I'll start believing the excuse that the state of the industry has forced this. Otherwise, I'll keep believing it was because their cars sucked in F1.
However, I have heard no mention of Honda moving out of other racing series. Keep in mind they are the engine supplier to Indycar as well as several other series. If Honda pulls out there as well, then I'll start believing the excuse that the state of the industry has forced this. Otherwise, I'll keep believing it was because their cars sucked in F1.
Except that Toyota has spent more than anyone else in F1 not to barely make the podium occasionally but to win regularly. It might seem like they have done OK from a spectator viewpoint but from a Toyota management perspective they have failed miserably.
Toyota has already said they are cutting back on testing of their 2009 package. I wouldn't be surprised to see them drop out either, however they showed improvement towards the end of last season and they have one of the top young drivers in Timo Glock. Toyota F1 is in less of a bind than Honda is, so they just may hold out and try to ride through this economic downturn.
F1 may not be big here in the US, but it is huge everywhere else.
F1 may not be big here in the US, but it is huge everywhere else.
Last edited by Northwest94Z; 12-05-2008 at 11:25 AM.
12-05-2008, 11:13 AM
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12-05-2008, 11:14 AM
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12-05-2008, 11:15 AM
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12-05-2008, 11:22 AM
#23
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Since announcing they are withdrawing from F1 they have already received 3 legitimate offers for a buyout. This is directly from the mouth of Nick Fry. That's in a 12 hour window.
12-05-2008, 11:26 AM
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The checks were written in Dearborn... SO I'll call it a collaborative Anglo-American deal...
Winning Indy was part of the underlying purpose in the project. Indy used to be part of the F1 season and even though Indy was dropped from the F1 season after 1960, killing 2 birds with one stone was a factor.
Winning Indy was part of the underlying purpose in the project. Indy used to be part of the F1 season and even though Indy was dropped from the F1 season after 1960, killing 2 birds with one stone was a factor.
Last edited by 1fastdog; 12-05-2008 at 11:34 AM.
12-05-2008, 11:26 AM
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He's following the money. Sponsorship money. It makes business sense. Not that I like it.
12-05-2008, 11:31 AM
#27
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For anyone who loves F1; why would you rejoice at any particular make dropping out and/or wishing specifically for another make to drop out?
12-05-2008, 11:36 AM
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12-05-2008, 12:03 PM
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Keep in mind they are the engine supplier to Indycar as well as several other series. If Honda pulls out there as well, then I'll start believing the excuse that the state of the industry has forced this. Otherwise, I'll keep believing it was because their cars sucked in F1.
Maybe Porsche too
12-05-2008, 12:14 PM
#30
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Second the exiting of Toyota from F1 is cause for rejoicing (at least for myself) because it means someone else can step in take over the team already established as far as chassis and drivetrain and have a go at it from different direction hopefully with better results thus better racing and more diversity in the results. Toyota has done little to improve over the years except throw more and more money at their lack of results. You can even argue that they have hurt the sport with their continued involvement. Actions like purposefully placing your cars on the grid with nothing but vapors in the tank for the sole purpose of stealing camera time at the front of the grid for 8 whopping laps to make your sponsors feel their money is well spent while you had no hope of finishing anywhere near the top 8 at the detriment to the cars behind you that were in fact trying to win as opposed to pulling off a publicity stunt. Does a "Trulli train" mean anything to you? Heck if Toyota could have built a better car this year then Maybe Timo Glock could have held of Hamilton in the last two laps of the this years Brazilian GP instead of being passed on the next to last turn thus finishing a mere 3 seconds behind him and inadvertently helping Hamilton win his first Drivers championship. How is that for bias. Do you want me to continue?