Tec wrote:I think the point here is that Honda began developing their 2009 car approx 9 months before everyone else. Most of their annual budget was spent on the new car as opposed to the 2008 car. Even Ross Brawn said that he ditched the 2008 season when he arrived as the 2008 car was simply not good enough and was therefore concentrating on 2009. Brawn has been quoted as saying that he believes that the 2009 car is one of his best designs.EvoStu wrote:How is someone in the know? No real 2009 testing has taken place yet so no one knows what the grid is going to look like or the relative performance of any of the cars yet. Winter testing always throws up potential challengers and then its as per normal come Australia, big boys on the front row. I expect it will be the same. Standard engineer/ team silly season hyperbole. Honda weren't the only team to develop next years car after all! I would be very surprised if it was ahead to McLaren, Ferrari and BMW. BMW could have come far closer last year if they hadn't diverted the effort from the 2008 car so early.Tec wrote:Honda also said that they have until the end of January to find a buyer otherwise everyone is on the dole. We're almost half way through January now.The company is continuing to trade as money was given by Honda until the end of this month. Like they stated in the press release it was business as normal until then. Any company taking over will almost certainly cut the workforce in half though.
Personally I'd be amazed if anyone even remotely touches it. No one can justify Honda F1s overheads in the current climate. 700 staff.... Does anyone know if they've been working on the car since the Honda decision? If they haven't I presume the car will again be at the back of the grid.
The car is apparently a top 3 ranking machine according to those in the know though so it may be worth an investment as the initial groundwork is done.
EvoStu.
EvoStu.
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