Today was probably one of the most important moments in F1 history. Honda’s announcement that it was pulling out of Grand Prix racing was not only a shock (and also a slight disappointment for me) but it makes us all wonder where this leaves F1, and who’s next?
It takes a brave man to say: ‘Right, that’s it. We’re in a global downturn and the millions spent on F1 are better utilised elsewhere’. Honda is a huge company, and was looking ahead to a strong 2009, so will this be the start of something big? Will Toyota be asking itself the same questions? Maybe Renault?
I’d shudder to think what F1 would be like if all the major car manufacturers decided that the best business policy was not to spend money going racing. The returns just don’t seem viable in the current economic conditions and we could be looking at a very dark future.
Okay, Ferrari, Mclaren and Williams will be ok as F1 is their business, but for some of the others it’s an advertising tool. F1 is in a massive bubble right now and I wonder if Honda’s withdrawl could be the pin to make that bubble burst. I love F1 and hope this never happens, but in today’s financial era we just don’t know.
Finally, even though Honda hasn’t been successful over the past few years, I’m saddened to hear the news and hope the talented staff at the F1 HQ in Northamptonshire find a way to continue what they are doing – they deserve it.
Honda is a great brand in F1 and deserved a better result. I hope it returns one day.
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