Honda: Quits Formula 1
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Honda: Quits Formula 1
Can Toyota be far behind? This financial crises is starting to piss me off now!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72319
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72319
#3
Senior Moderator
Man, that sucks. But in these economic times, everything is on the line. Let's see what they announce tomorrow. If Honda goes, other manufacturers will likely follow.
Not having real sponsors also doesn't help.
Not having real sponsors also doesn't help.
#4
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Original thread title; If you can't win, quit?
Still think the economy is just an excuse to pull the plug on what has been a tremendous waste of money, resources and talent.
Still think the economy is just an excuse to pull the plug on what has been a tremendous waste of money, resources and talent.
#6
Drifting
Join Date: Aug 2007
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F1 is a testing grounds for technology 10 to 15 years upstream yet. That means they'll be seeing returns on the investment trickle in for years to come. Chances are when that well begins to run dry they'll jump back into F1 or another similar test bed program. Everybody is tightening their belts right now and getting ready to live lean for a few years.
#7
Senior Moderator
Just read that Audi is reducing its factory racing calendar. Only Sebring and Le Mans will be on its agenda next year. Although privateers will still run the cars.
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#9
She said: it's GINORMOUS!
at one point i cared, but F1 is a joke today...no USGP, no Canadian GP...glad honda's leaving.
go spend the $$ on diesel/hcci research, bring a REAL diesel to NA. come back when F1 gets their shit together!
go spend the $$ on diesel/hcci research, bring a REAL diesel to NA. come back when F1 gets their shit together!
#10
6G TLX-S
It's a good time now to pull out from this increasingly-technological-deterring F1 motorsport, and divert more resources into the high-tech ALMS motorsport instead.
#11
6G TLX-S
Moreover, dropping USGP and Canadian GP from the F1 calendar means F1 will have absolutely no exposure whatsoever in North America where it is Honda's major auto market. Therefore, the purpose is loss and there's no further point for Honda to continue burning $$$$$ participating in F1.
#13
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Honda confirmed this today in a press conference led by Ross Brawn, who I feel very bad for. He came out of retirement for this??? Whatta waste. The saddest part of this is countries are withdrawing their support to host races (Germany, France & China in the last few weeks). Now a major mfr. is out. That is what bothers me the most-that the signs of the times are not good for our favorite sport. It made me wonder though, if Honda is withdrawing to protect its "core business" of selling cars, then what about the rest of the grid? Renault? Toyota? MBZ? Last, does anyone else wonder if the demise of the N. American races had any impact on this decision?
#14
Senior Moderator
Well, my interest for next year took a huge dive. I wonder what will happen to MotoGP and ALMS?
With Audi scaling back in ALMS, would Acura even continue with the LMP1 program, since the competition wouldn't be there anymore?
#16
The sizzle in the Steak
...a sign of the times.
#17
Senior Moderator
Sad Sad day. I see many more pulling out. I wonder if some of this really has to do with Bernie and all the constant changes trying to get the sport more affordable ???
#18
Senior Moderator
I see this more having to do with Bernie eating all the profit from the sport. If there was a more equal distribution of wealth from the huge profit that the sport is making, then the teams would be self sufficient in its funding.
#19
AZ Community Team
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Is this the beginning of the end for F1? Will it soon become as trivial as CART/ChampCar became? Or as dead as USAC Indy Cars?
#22
Senior Moderator
#23
6G TLX-S
Continue with the LMP1 program is the only way for Acura to set it's target on Audi's dominance in Le Mans LMP1.
#24
Senior Moderator
Honda F1
#26
Bernie Ecclestone quote:
"The average guy in the street doesn't care how many cylinders the car has, doesn't know, or what the capacity of the engine is, doesn't care," Ecclestone said. "We are in the business of entertainment and we should be building race cars to race."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...T4eXAD94SMKNO0
That's all auto racing is at the professional level: entertainment and the marketing of the sponsors.
"The average guy in the street doesn't care how many cylinders the car has, doesn't know, or what the capacity of the engine is, doesn't care," Ecclestone said. "We are in the business of entertainment and we should be building race cars to race."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...T4eXAD94SMKNO0
That's all auto racing is at the professional level: entertainment and the marketing of the sponsors.
#27
6G TLX-S
Or better put it, Bernie Ecclestone is in for the hefty money reaped from the sport.
#28
Big Block go VROOOM!
"The average guy in the street doesn't care how many cylinders the car has, doesn't know, or what the capacity of the engine is, doesn't care," Ecclestone said. "We are in the business of entertainment and we should be building race cars to race."
#32
6G TLX-S
It may be cheaper for Honda to pay default on them rather than wasting mega money as well as losing face to support 2 backmarking clowns on the F1 circuits.
#33
I'm the Firestarter
#34
I'm the Firestarter
Pretty soon F1 will be a 2-way race between Ferrari and McLaren.
#35
Senior Moderator
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76947
While I agree with Ito on everything he said, is this just to cover himself over his big mistake?
Honda chief says F1 not attractive
By Pablo Elizalde Monday, July 13th 2009, 11:17 GMT
Formula 1 is not appealing anymore for Japanese manufacturer Honda, according to the company's new chief executive.
Honda withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of last year citing financial reasons, having underperformed for years.
Under the new ownership, the Brawn team is now leading both championships using a Mercedes engine.
The company's new chief says the sport has become much less attractive for Honda given its technical restrictions, and he admitted there is no interest in a possible return.
"It was a real shame that we had to leave Formula 1," Takanobu Ito was quoted as saying by Reuters during a media briefing in Tokyo.
"On the other hand, F1 is becoming less of a medium in which companies can test their various strengths and more of an event with mounting restrictions.
"There's little room for us to challenge new fields, so bearing in mind the current state of series, I don't think we have the desire to return, even if the economy improves."
By Pablo Elizalde Monday, July 13th 2009, 11:17 GMT
Formula 1 is not appealing anymore for Japanese manufacturer Honda, according to the company's new chief executive.
Honda withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of last year citing financial reasons, having underperformed for years.
Under the new ownership, the Brawn team is now leading both championships using a Mercedes engine.
The company's new chief says the sport has become much less attractive for Honda given its technical restrictions, and he admitted there is no interest in a possible return.
"It was a real shame that we had to leave Formula 1," Takanobu Ito was quoted as saying by Reuters during a media briefing in Tokyo.
"On the other hand, F1 is becoming less of a medium in which companies can test their various strengths and more of an event with mounting restrictions.
"There's little room for us to challenge new fields, so bearing in mind the current state of series, I don't think we have the desire to return, even if the economy improves."
#36
Senior Moderator
"There's little room for us to challenge new fields"
#37
I feel the need...
Honda Misses $255 Million F-1 Exposure, Media Researcher Says
Honda Motor Co. missed at least $255 million of brand exposure on television by selling the Formula One team that swept the world championship titles yesterday, a media analysis company said.
The Japanese carmaker sold the team to manager Ross Brawn in March, depriving it of 8 1/2 hours of international coverage the squad’s cars got in the first 15 of 17 races, according to Godalming, England-based Margaux Matrix Ltd., which analyzed broadcasts and advertising rates in 18 countries.
That’s more broadcast time than rivals including Ferrari SpA’s team and more than three times what Honda got when it finished ninth last year, the media monitoring company said.
“I’m sure there have been some conversations internally in Japan saying ‘Whoops, did we get that wrong?’” said Zak Brown, chief executive officer of Zionsville, Indiana-based Just Marketing Corp., an auto-racing consultant.....
The Japanese carmaker sold the team to manager Ross Brawn in March, depriving it of 8 1/2 hours of international coverage the squad’s cars got in the first 15 of 17 races, according to Godalming, England-based Margaux Matrix Ltd., which analyzed broadcasts and advertising rates in 18 countries.
That’s more broadcast time than rivals including Ferrari SpA’s team and more than three times what Honda got when it finished ninth last year, the media monitoring company said.
“I’m sure there have been some conversations internally in Japan saying ‘Whoops, did we get that wrong?’” said Zak Brown, chief executive officer of Zionsville, Indiana-based Just Marketing Corp., an auto-racing consultant.....
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#38
Senior Moderator
Honda snoozed. Oh well, i dont feel sorry for them
#39
Senior Moderator
Stupid Honda
No NSX
No HSC
No F1
No proper engine for LMP
Didn't sign Rossi when they had the chance
No NSX
No HSC
No F1
No proper engine for LMP
Didn't sign Rossi when they had the chance