Former Benetton and BAR boss David Richards said on Monday he was keeping an open mind about any possible rescue of Honda’s Formula One team.
“I want to know all the facts, first of all. I want to know the exact lie of the land before I commit myself to anything.”
Richards, who presided over the BAR team before they were bought by Honda, had planned to return to Formula One with Prodrive this season in what would have been the sport’s 12th team on the grid.
Honda, by many estimates the biggest spenders this year in a sport with some individual team budgets in excess of $300 million, announced last Friday they were pulling out for financial reasons in the face of the global economic crisis.
“It’s not about buying it,” said Richards of a team that may have little more than a symbolic price-tag on it given Honda’s determination to close it down if no suitable buyer can be found.
“It’s all very well going along and making the commitment to buy it because I don’t think that will be too onerous,” he added.
“The real issue is to make sure that you have the resources and the wherewithal to sustain it for the foreseeable future.”
Read more on this:
Honda Withdraws From Formula One
Honda’s F1 Departure Could Shock Global Motorsport
Honda Races Against Time To Find A Buyer For Formula 1 Team Ahead Of 2009 Season
Honda Will Still Compete In Superbike
F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone Called Honda’s Exit A “Wake-Up Call” For The Sport
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