Honda To Exit Formula One

[Mulboyne]

[American Oyaji]

[FG Lurker]

Not too surprising really considering the economic situation, cost of running an F1 team, and Honda's very, very poor showing recently.

The question now is, "Who's next?" Williams maybe...?

[Takechanpoo]

Apparently this Brit's guy spoiled Honda Racing F1 Team.
Why hadn't not Honda discharge this douche bag?
I had gotten irritated to see this douche brit driving our Honda in every races.

[Mulboyne]

[Takechanpoo]

[FG Lurker]

But this Brit boy, undoubtedly, lacks talents as a top driver

While I agree that Button isn't one of F1's absolute top drivers, the Honda car has not been at all competitive. There isn't much chance to do well when the car is that slow.

[Taro Toporific]

Mosley fears Honda domino effect if costs not cut
7 Dec. 2008 DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
LONDON: Honda could trigger a domino effect of manufacturers toppling out of Formula One unless costs are slashed dramatically, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley said on Friday.
"I have to say it was not entirely unexpected," the Briton told reporters after Honda announced they were pulling out amid slumping car sales and factory closures in the global economic downturn.
"I've been expecting one of the major manufacturers to stop for some time because even before the current situation the costs were completely out of control.
"And now I think its difficult to imagine how any manufacturer could stay in unless we make really substantial reductions in cost," he added in a conference call.
Major car manufacturers own, either wholly or in part, six of the 10 teams that ended the season in November. They also supply the rest with engines.
A recent Formula Money report put Honda's annual budget at $350 million, with Japan's second largest carmaker pumping an estimated $1.5 billion into the sport over the last five years.
Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Renault and FIAT (Ferrari) also burned through well in excess of $200 million a year. Toyota entered the sport in 2002 and have yet to win a race.
"Unless we can demonstrate to the directors of these big companies that the costs are coming right down, I don't doubt that they will start to discuss the possibility (of withdrawing)," Mosley said....more...

[Sentakki Fried Chicken]

I think motor sports would become a hell of a lot more attractive if Max Moseley took over direct management of race queens.

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi: Subaru pulls out of World Rally Championship, following Suzuki

The World Rally Championship lost one-third of its teams within 24 hours when Subaru announced Tuesday it was following Suzuki out of the competition. Both Japanese automakers cited concerns about the global economic crisis for quitting the sport. It leaves Citroen and Ford as the only manufacturers in the FIA WRC competition for next season and it followed the shock decision of Honda, Japan's second biggest car manufacturer, to withdraw from Formula One. Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru's parent company, announced the decision Tuesday.

"We will not contest the 2009 FIA World Rally championship due to the pressures of the global economic crisis that spread from the U.S. financial crisis that began this Autumn," FHI president Kyoji Takenaka told a news conference. "The automotive industry worldwide, whether they are in developed on non-developed countries, have been hit hugely. "Our company included, our business environment has been dramatically changed due to the quick deterioration of the global economy." A Fuji Heavy Industries statement said: "In order to optimize the management resources and to strengthen further the Subaru brand, FHI decided to withdraw from WRC activities at the earliest timing." Subaru has been involved in the WRC together with Prodrive, a British-based auto sports group, for 19 years and has won three constructors' titles and three drivers' championships. It was third on the standings among six teams this season.

Car makers worldwide are under intense pressure to reduce spending as demand has dried up in recent months. Honda announced it was pulling out of F1 on Dec. 5, a day after announcing it was cutting jobs in Britain and Japan and reducing its annual production of consumer cars because of plunging vehicle demand. F1 unveiled a series of cost-cutting measures for teams in the wake of Honda's withdrawal. WRC organizers have bigger problems, with only four teams backed by two manufacturers remaining. "Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons," Prodrive chairman David Richards said in a statement. "The Subaru World Rally Team has created true champions such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns and its absence will be felt by many the world over. "Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive's history, our focus now turns to the future."

[IkemenTommy]

Big loss. That now leaves only Mitsubishi as the last Japanese manufacturer still competing in WRC.

[FG Lurker]

Definitely a huge loss. Subaru leaving the WRC will have a lot more impact than Honda leaving F1.

[Mulboyne]

AFP: No Honda F1 buyout, says Mexican billionaire

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has not bought the Honda Formula One team and is not even in negotiations for the Japanese outfit, a source at the businessman's industrial and financial empire said on Sunday. "There is no deal for the Honda team. There is neither agreement nor negotiations," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Honda, with an annual racing budget of around 400 million dollars, pulled out of the Formula One world championship earlier this month and was put up for sale with the Japanese manufacturer struggling in the current global economic slowdown. Earlier Sunday, Slim's son had also told the Mexican media that reports of a deal to save Honda were also without foundation. On Saturday, Italian newspaper La Stampa claimed that Slim, who they described as the world's second richest man, was poised to buy the Honda team...more...

[GuyJean]

Not sure if this merit's it's own thread, so..

Downturn Blamed as Kawasaki Quit MotoGP



http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/01/09/motogp.kawasaki/index.html

.. Aside from a brief spell in the 1970s, Kawasaki have been mainstays of motorcycling's elite category but will not be supporting a work's lineup in the 2009 season.

"Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd announced today (Friday) that it has decided to suspend its factory MotoGP racing activities from the 2009 season," read a statement.

"In a quick-changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking countermeasures to cope with the situation," it added.

Kawasaki are following the trend set by Honda announcing last month they were quitting Formula One and Subaru and Suzuki withdrawing from the world rally championship...

GJ

[wuchan]

Not sure if this merit's it's own thread, so..

Downturn Blamed as Kawasaki Quit MotoGP



http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/01/09/motogp.kawasaki/index.html
GJ

I think this falls into the "why bother" category. Kawasaki has not won a manufacturer cup since 1982(350cc, which ended that year), they have never won a 500cc motoGP cup. Since 1983 only three companies have won the cup in the motoGP class: Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati(one in 2007)

[IkemenTommy]

Honda S2000 to discontinue production (in Japanese)

Truly, sad. Now all Honda will be producing will be those vagina K cars for the pussy masses.

[Mulboyne]

[FG Lurker]

F1's Honda reaches agreement with Brawn
The Mainichi Daily News, March 6, 2009

TOKYO (AP) -- Honda reached an agreement to pass the ownership of its Formula One team to Ross Brawn, with the team to be called Brawn GP.

The former Honda team principal assumed control "with immediate effect" and the British-based team confirmed on Friday that Jenson Button and Rubens Barichello will be its drivers this year.

[...]

Brawn GP will not use Honda engines after securing a partnership with McLaren to use its Mercedes engines.

(Full Story)

No word regarding the price (very low I am guessing...$1 perhaps?)

Without the backing of a major manufacturer it is difficult to see how they will be competitive. Maybe the new rules really will level the field somewhat?

[Mulboyne]

Reuters: Toyota slashed F1 budget after Honda pullout

Toyota came close to following Honda out of Formula One after their Japanese rivals pulled out of the glamour sport to cut costs in December, Toyota team principal Tadashi Yamashina told Reuters Monday. "Our Formula One budget was cut again and again from its original figure," Yamashina said. "It was cut again after Honda's announcement they were leaving F1 and within a month the figure was reduced again after Toyota's end of yearly earnings target was revised. "I'm not able to put a figure on how much the Formula One budget was slashed by but in all my time at Toyota I have never seen cuts like it."

Toyota have yet to win a race after seven years in Formula One and spent an estimated $300 million on the Cologne-based team in 2008, a figure only exceeded by Honda. Toyota finished fifth overall last year but returned to the podium for the first time since April 2006 with German Timo Glock second in Hungary and Italian Jarno Trulli third in Germany. "Winning and results are important," Yamashina said. "There are other factors too. It's a business and unless we make the team viable, next year we may have to cut costs further." With the world's biggest carmaker set to suffer its first ever operating annual loss due to the slump in global car sales, their continued presence in Formula has come under scrutiny. Honda, Japan's second largest carmaker, blamed the worldwide economic downturn for their Formula One exit.

TIMELY BOOST

Toyota's decision not to follow suit was believed to have been a very close one, a renewed sponsorship deal with Japanese electronics company Panasonic providing a timely boost. Honda's team were saved earlier this month and will race this season as Brawn GP under new owner Ross Brawn. "It has been very difficult," said Yamashina. "Laying off people and cutting costs is part of business. As a business you have to do what you can to survive. "No matter how much we have to reduce the budget by or how far we have to down-size the team, that is what business people have to think about." Dozens of contract employees have lost or will lose their jobs under Toyota's restructuring while other measures devised by the teams' association FOTA had been adopted to save money. "We're cutting down on tests and we will keeping spending under tight control," said Yamashina. "Having said that results are important. "There's little point doing it if we are crawling home in 17th or 18th place in every race."

[Mulboyne]

Brawn, which took over the Honda team, has just placed first and second in the Australian Grand prix.

[FG Lurker]

Brawn, which took over the Honda team, has just placed first and second in the Australian Grand prix.

Better M-B engines maybe?

[Greji]

[quote="FG Lurker"]Better M-B engines maybe? ]

That was pretty funny. Since they waxed the Mercedes team, the press asked the Mercedes owner for a comment and he said "It's nice to see the customer is kept happy."

[Mulboyne]

There's another more tenuous Japan link here as well. Race winner, Jenson Button, is romantically involved with half-Japanese model Jessica Michibata:

[IkemenTommy]

Jessica Michibata

I guess she was recently on TV doing CM for Evian.
[YT]BIgAzYalXmU[/YT]

[Mulboyne]

...Jenson Button, is romantically involved with half-Japanese model Jessica Michibata...

Middle England readers of the Daily Mail are getting quite excited about the couple:

The Japanese lingerie model who has got British Formula One hero Jenson Button firing on all cylinders

...After clinching first place in the race despite marginally overshooting the pit box, new love Jessica was one of the first people Jenson wanted to celebrate with. Reports from Melbourne claim Jenson spent 15 minutes alone with Jessica in a locked room before he addressed the press to discuss his triumph. Leaving the room, Jenson smirked at the press, saying: 'Things got a bit steamy in there'...more...

[Mulboyne]

SMH: Bridgestone to quit F1 after 2010 season

Japanese tyre-maker Bridgestone Corp is quitting Formula One at the end of the 2010 season, following other high-profile firms citing the global downturn. Bridgestone said on Monday it would end its contract as the official tyre supplier to the FIA, raising questions over who would replace it after French rival Michelin pulled out in 2006 and US maker Goodyear left in 1998. "Bridgestone today announced that it will not enter into a new tyre supply contract with the FIA Formula One World Championship series," the Tokyo-based tyre and rubber industry giant said in a statement. The move comes after Toyota Motor pulled out of hosting the Japanese Grand Prix, while Honda sold its Formula One team a year ago as the companies struggled to fight off the global recession.. Bridgestone has supplied tyres to F1 for 13 years and has been the exclusive supplier since 2007.

Battered by a global auto industry slump amid the economic downturn, Bridgestone said it was "addressing the impact of the continuing evolution of the business environment." Bridgestone, which vies with Michelin to be the world's top tyre maker, posted a net loss of Y38.34 billion for January-June, a turnaround from a year-earlier profit of Y37.24 billion. Last month Bridgestone said it would shed nearly 900 jobs in closing factories in Australia and New Zealand. Bridgestone says on its website that in 2009 it made about 40,000 Formula One tyres for 10 racing teams in its factory in Kodaira, a western suburb of Tokyo. F1 exposure boosted brand recognition over the years. "In 1996, Bridgestone's brand recognition in Europe's five largest countries was 13 per cent, but by 2003 it had risen to 34 per cent. In recent years the arrival of Bahrain and China to the F1 championship has enabled Bridgestone to increase its activity in the Middle East and Far East."

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Middle England readers of the Daily Mail are getting quite excited about the couple:

The Japanese lingerie model who has got British Formula One hero Jenson Button firing on all cylinders

Well, she certainly touches my button, too....

[wuchan]

SMH: Bridgestone to quit F1 after 2010 season

Does this mean we will begin to see the spray painted on logo of M/T on F1 tires?Mickey Thompson and Toyo are they only reputable tire makers left to supply F1.

[Mulboyne]

AP: Toyota pulling out of Formula One to cut costs

Toyota Motor Corp. announced Wednesday it is pulling out of Formula One racing, citing a need to cut costs and focus on its core business. "Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw from Formula One," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said at a news conference. "This has been a very painful decision for the company." Toyota follows Honda Motor Co. as the second major Japanese automaker to withdraw from the sport. Honda pulled out last December amid worsening economic conditions. Brawn GP, which took over the old Honda team, won the 2009 F1 championship. Toyota, the world's largest car manufacturer, expects to post an operating loss for the six months ended Sept. 30. It is due to report earnings Thursday. The company posted its worst ever loss in the financial year at the end of March. Like other Japanese exporters, Toyota has been hurt by a strong yen. The dollar has recently hovered around 90 yen. Akio Toyoda, grandson of the company's founder who became president this year, has vowed to avoid a third straight year of losses.

On Monday, Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone Corp. announced it would not renew its exclusive deal to supply tires for F1 when its contract expires in 2010. That announcement came one day after the 2009 F1 season concluded with the Abu Dhabi GP. In July, Toyota-owned Fuji International Speedway announced it would not host the Japanese F1 GP from 2010 and beyond amid the faltering global economy. Fellow Japanese automakers Subaru and Suzuki pulled out of the World Rally Championship ahead of this season, citing concerns about the global economic crisis. Toyota made its F1 debut in 2002 but has never won a grand prix. The team's best result was in 2005 when Jarno Trulli finished second in Malaysia and Bahrain. Despite a promising start to the 2009 season, Toyota finished fifth in the constructors' standings. Trulli and Timo Glock raced for Toyota this season. Trulli finished eighth in the driver standings and Glock was 10th. Kamui Kobayashi filled in for an injured Glock in the last race of the season and posted a sixth-place finish at Abu Dhabi.

[FG Lurker]

I can see why Honda decided to pull out before the 2009 season -- height of the crash and all that. It doesn't really make sense that Toyota is pulling out now though. The economy seems like a convenient excuse to cut losses on a venture that never had the success they wanted.