Honda , the car giant is not a poor company, it has recorded sales of 1.38 billion yen in 2007. And while 2007 sales plunged in comparison to the numbers of the year before a successful advertisement campaign such as fielding two teams representing the different lines of luxury could have resulted in a profit rise in the following year. Unfortunately this decision was never taken, but it is possible that it may have been considered.
Super Aguri has stuck with Honda to the very end; however what if the parent company had given him the authority to shop in another market; as the idea of the Korean Grand Prix comes closer to becoming a reality it is possible that Hyundai would have been more than willing to buy into the team. Volkswagen and Audi have voiced their opinions on avoiding the volatile sport, but there are more than enough car manufacturers who may consider taking a dip in the piranha bowl.
As the day draws to a close only Suzuki Aguri and Honda truly know if Honda truly helped or hindered them. The details known to us are somewhat shady; we will never know why Magna group pulled the plug on the deal, nor what constituted Honda’s decision not to accept the Weigl offer.
Some will argue that Super Aguri’s performances that often shamed the factory team led to a no love lost scenario and that it was in Honda’s best interests to see Aguri off the grid. Others will simply say that without true sponsorship backing and lack of proper structure necessary to commence the manufacture and design of an in house chassis, the program was set to fail from the get go. Both arguments could be seen as valid, however the truth of the matter will not save Super Best Friends.
As the season rolls on without the participation of the 11th team, its passing marks another chapter in the ever evolving saga of F1. Super Aguri’s presence reminded the Formula 1 fraternity of a time gone by, of days when this was not a business but a gentleman’s sport, when winning was not enough, and some were more concerned about looking classy and having fun rather than achieving victory for profit. Where Red Bull has drifted away from the party life and matured Super Aguri reminded us that a smile is often enough. Super Aguri was a team full of nice people, but also people dedicated to succeeding at all costs, and scaling the tallest mountain with the shortest rope.
While their demise may have brought tears to the founder, one can not help but feel sadness for the piloti, the drivers of Super Aguri. Few will forget Takuma Sato’s passing manoeuvre on Fernando Alonso at the Montreal Grand Prix in 2007. Young Sato accomplished a feat that sometimes Michael Schumacher failed to. Takuma wasn’t always as graceful as on that Canadian afternoon, but he did have his moments. The young Japanese may have understood that the team only existed for him as a result of the Japanese people’s outcry, but to Anthony Davidson this was the first regular drive in F1 which is now a thing of the past.
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