New Honda Update, Prodrive Pull Out, But Mercedes Could Be In!

Whilst surfing the net, desperately trying to find something, anything, out about Honda F1’s fate, I came upon an article suggesting that Prodrive is no longer an option.  Prodrive, under the leadership of David Richards, had been the ex-Honda team’s most promising and best hope. Upon confirming the news, Nick Fry and Ross Brawn repeated their long running statement that there were still many interested buyers.  However, as one buyer after another drops out of the race my hope turns to despair!

The news isn’t all bad though as Prodrive’s old partner Mercedes seem to have appeared as possible saviours.  There has long been speculation that Ferrari would be an obvious choice for engine supplier for Honda F1 due to the Ross Brawn connection.  However, Ferrari don’t seem to want to provide Ross with an engine.  I suppose this is fair enough; last season the Italian giant may have won the constructors championship, but I would argue they defiantly lost the driver’s competition.  Arguably it was more often then not Massa’s car that failed him. (Remember Hungary? If it wasn’t for his engine Massa could have pretty much wrapped up the title there and then).  I think Ferrari would rather concentrate on the work’s team than supply more engines elsewhere.

For 2009, Mercedes will provide both McLaren and Force India with engines and Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug is in no hurry to dismiss a link with Honda F1.  Whereas Stefano Domenicali has rated Ferrari’s chances of providing an engine as close to zero!  I think the fact that Mercedes refuses to deny a possible deal can only be good news.  I do worry though that they state that they will only join if the climate is right.  The problem is that’s what Prodrive said….and the climate ‘not being right’ is the reason Richards has pulled out!  Of course Mercedes has the same problem as Ferrari; it wants the constructors for McLaren and would like to maintain the top driver spot.  These issues taken with the new rule changes do not create an ideal climate!

Still no real news on the ‘Greek question’ at Honda but I thought the withdrawal of Prodrive and the interest of Mercedes was enough to prompt an article.  There are reportedly still twelve interested parties in contention for the Honda take-over, but I’m not sure how promising that is.  Of the four original ‘big offers’ only one remains.  Carlos Slim was evidently never an option, Vijay Malaya only wants to bolster his Force India team, and now David Richards is out for the unforeseeable future.  That only leaves Achilleas Kallakis, and I fear we’ll be hearing that he has decided to pull out before long! 

For now Loyal Honda fans, our hope lies in Germany.  So come on Mercedes lets have McLaren, Force India and Brackley Mercedes racing to conquer the 2009 grid! (Of course we want Brackley Mercedes racing to eventually be your number one team). So go for it!