Senna signs for Honda, will be on 09 grid!

[Conceptual]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21178.html

Senna signs for Honda?
According to our sources Bruno Senna has now signed for the Honda Racing F1 team - and an announcement that the team will be going ahead will be made soon. The team is expected to use Mercedes-Benz engines and Senna will be partnered by Jenson Button. Backing for the team - the name of which has yet to be announced - is expected to come from Petrobras and probably one or two of Senna's personal sponsors.

It is not clear when the announcement will be made.

There have been some rumours in recent days that the team may have the backing of none other than Bernie Ecclestone. This would not be a surprise as Ecclestone is keen to make sure that the teams are not unanimous within the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) and having a financial interest in one of them is a good way to ensure that this happens.

It is believed that the majority of the money to run the team will be coming from Honda itself as it is cheaper to pay to keep the team alive than it is to lay off all the staff.

If Honda is still paying the staff, why wouldnt they run the Honda engine? Maybe it is simply cheaper at this point to buy a reliable/powerful Mercedes engine/transmission/KERS system from Mercedes than it is to build your own at Brackley?

So many questions, but this could be yet ANOTHER surprise performer in 09!

REALLY looking forward to the surprise launch of the new car!

[Scania]

because Honda won't make new F1 engine for them

[Conceptual]

because Honda won't make new F1 engine for them

I find it hard to believe that there are zero left from last year... They only need 16, and what did they do with the surplus Super Aguri engines?

I think they have them, they just don't want to look as if they are still "IN" F1.

But still paying the staff is rediculous if you dont get SOME kind of return... I mean, how realistic is it for Honda to sponsor (pay staff) a Mercedes powered team? If I were paying the staff, you can guarantee that the car would have MY logo on it, and have MY left over engines in it!

[Skunk0001]

Weren't the Honda engines arguably worse than even the Renaults? Given the chance they were probably more than happy to change to Merc

I'll believe all of this when I see it though.

[natef1]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21178.html

There have been some rumours in recent days that the team may have the backing of none other than Bernie Ecclestone. This would not be a surprise as Ecclestone is keen to make sure that the teams are not unanimous within the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) and having a financial interest in one of them is a good way to ensure that this happens.

I hope to God this bit isn't true. That's what we really don't need, Bernie meddling in FOTA. Without a unanimous vote they could achieve little.

[ESPImperium]

Makes sence that theres no Petrobas signage on the Williams as they have been the fuel supplier there for the past 2-3 years.

Also with Senna bringing Embratel as the other main sponsor, makes a good move as well.

Mercedies-BenzHighPerfomanceEngines for their engines and drivetrain and KERS system is a good move, but one that i think is for the short term, as i think that in the future Honda will want to return to F1, as Murry Walker said in this months F1Racing Mag, when the balance sheet permits.

That could be the clue for the longevity of this team.

Honda still pay the staff
Senna brings the revinue for running the team (exc. Staff)
Button gets racing, albit at a lesser pay grade than pre new name
Bernie and Max get their blueprint for what a new team will look like for 2010, without Bernie meddaling in the FOTA.
McLaren get another 2 cars for engine testing, and posibly for race strategy (Excuse my cynisism)

But its looking good for 20 cars for 2009. Lets hope that the Ross Brawn/Jörg Zander designed car will actually do something compaired to the Honda RA108 and RA107, whitch were just pigs for cars.

Im liking what im hearing so far.

[miqi23]

Looks like it is a load of rubbish.

Drove past the factory and saw only two cars belonging to the security people at the gate house. I guess they are not working on the car anymore and weren't the staff sent home during Christmas? All Honda did was to pay their wages till March to cover the gardening leave policy that exists in F1.

[Conceptual]

Is it possible that they were just doing CFD work, and didn't need anyone there that day?

[kilcoo316]

Drove past the factory and saw only two cars belonging to the security people at the gate house.

Seriously? What time of day was that at? (I assume during the week also)


A big empty car park means only one thing - they're pretty much goners - unless a miracle happens.

[donskar]

So many questions, but this could be yet ANOTHER surprise performer in 09

I'll be very surprised if anything comes of this.

[xpensive]

Let's see now, Mercedes to supply last-minute engines to a team controlled by Ecclestone, with intentions to upset FOTAs apple-cart? Indeed an interesting concept that one.

[hulmerist]

Let's see now, Mercedes to supply last-minute engines to a team controlled by Ecclestone, with intentions to upset FOTAs apple-cart? Indeed an interesting concept that one.

keep your friends close...

[ggoldberg81]

F1 »

Brawn 'e-mail' hints Honda F1 saved
With little over six weeks to go now before the 2009 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, rumours are finally circulating that Honda F1 has been saved – and will be on the starting grid Down Under at the end of March.

Crash.net understands that Ross Brawn – team principal of the beleaguered Brackley-based outfit, put up for sale by the parent company in Japan back at the beginning of December – has circulated an e-mail to staff to the effect that a deal has been done to secure the squad's future, and that everybody should begin preparing for Melbourne.

It is also claimed that five sponsors have been found to adorn the side of the car, and though the identity of the engine-supplier is unknown, McLaren partner Mercedes-Benz is strongly believed to be the most likely candidate.

On the driving front, finally, it is understood that Jenson Button will remain, with the British ace expected to be joined by reigning GP2 Series runner-up Bruno Senna – who impressed when he tested for the team at Barcelona in Spain late last year – with backing from a portfolio of Brazilian sponsors.

What truth there is to the latest speculation is unclear, but with time fast advancing an announcement is expected to be imminent.

Honda staff were remaining tight-lipped when Crash.net contacted the team for a comment on Thursday.

[ISLAMATRON]

Let's see now, Mercedes to supply last-minute engines to a team controlled by Ecclestone, with intentions to upset FOTAs apple-cart? Indeed an interesting concept that one.

keep your friends close...

and your enemies in need of an engine.

[ESPImperium]

Personally i could have seen BMW suppply the engines, but if Mercedies are supplying engines from either last year or even 07 spec engines, i can see how that deal would be posible, with a McLaren rear end and a KERS package, might just be the way this team can survive.

But again, i could have seen BMW supply the engines, just to have a couple of "extra" cars on the grid, if you get my meaning.