Reactions on buy-out
Oshima, Rembiszewski and Button comment on Honda's acquisition of the full 100% shareholding in the B.A.R Honda F1 team. Yesterday BAR and Honda announced that Honda took 100% stake in BAR and this only a couple of days before Honda's home Grand Prix at Suzuka.
Hiroshi Oshima, Operating Officer, Corporate Communications and Motor Sports, Honda Motor Co., Ltd "After discussing Honda´s future F1 participation, we have decided that Honda should own 100% of the team. We greatly appreciate the partnership of BAT, which has managed the team with us until now, and we wish BAT the best of luck in its future endeavours. From next season, we will be even more energetic in our F1 activities, working hard as a team in order to improve our technology, develop our young engineers and achieve our goal of winning the World Championship. We look forward to your continued support."
Jimmi Rembiszewski, British American Tobacco Director, Marketing "It will be sad to end our association but it is immensely satisfying to leave the team in the competent hands of Honda who are proven winners in the sport. We wish Honda every success for the future and look forward to our last year of sponsorship."
Jenson Button "Honda buying the team is fantastic news and really shows the strength of their commitment to winning the World Championship. With each of the past three years that I have been with B·A·R Honda , this team's determination to succeed has been incredible and I have been very proud to be a part of that. Everyone knows how much I wanted to stay with the team and a big part of the reason for that was because I could see that things will only get better from here. Honda knows what it takes to win Championships and I have no doubt that they can win more. This team is my best chance of winning the Driver's title and it would be a fantastic achievement if we can achieve our ambitions together. The good thing is that nothing will change on a day-to-day level. We have a fantastic structure in the team and that will continue but wih greater stability and co-operation. I think we have every reason to feel very excited about next season and the longer-term future and it's fantastic for me that I will be driving for B·A·R Honda."
