It was a real surprise that Honda decided to pull out of F1 for 2009. True, they haven’t yet seen the sort of success that their efforts, and money, should have yielded, but they have a superb product and, more importantly, potentially one of the best set-ups in F1 led by the best of the best, Ross Braun, who was pretty much responsible for the renaissance at Ferrari and Michael Shumacher’s domination of the sport.
But there could well be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Honda F1 Team. It has been reported that David Richards, Aston Martin boss from Prodrive, is looking at leading a consortium to take over the stricken F1 team from Honda. And Richards is one man who knows what he’s doing.
David Richards of Prodrive - Taking over Honda's F1 Team?
When BAR had a big upheaval in 2001, it was Prodrive, with Richards at the helm, which was brought in to put the team back on its feet. Never a paddock leader, BAR did however manage to perform well under Richard’s guidance, achieving runner-up position in the constructors championship in 2004, and bringing Jenson Button in to the team. But Richards found himself and Prodrive were surplus to requirements when Honda took over BAR in 2004 and turned it in to Team Honda.
Richards has found himself busy in the last few years with Aston Martin and running the Subaru Team in the World Rally Championship. But Subaru has pulled out of the WRC for 2009, leaving Richards with some free time. So it now seems a distinct possibility that Richards, with the support of the Kuwait Investment DAR (the main owners of Aston Martin), could see the Honda Team under its banner for 2009.
That’ll please Bernie.
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