World's 2nd Richest Man Saved Honda F1 Racing

You have to do everything possible for the safety of the competitors, spectators and the people who work in F1. But we mustn’t emasculate it. We mustn’t take away the spectacle. At the moment, we have a good balance, but I will never give up working and pushing the FIA to make changes in the interests of safety. Everywhere you look, there is an opportunity to hurt yourself and we don’t want F1 to be marred.



- Damon Hill



Honda will be present on the starting grid in 2009 after the Formula One team was rescued by the world’s second richest man.

Italian newspaper La Stampa has reported that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has ploughed his cash into the ailing firm after they announced earlier this month that they would withdraw from F1 due to the global financial crisis.

The newspaper did not name its source but claimed that Jenson Button and rookie Bruno Senna would represent the team next year, with veteran Rubens Barrichello as expected dropping out.

"The news is not official as all the details have yet to be formalised," said the paper. "But two things are certain - the team has been saved and the drivers will be Jenson Button and rookie Bruno Senna."

Honda had a disappointing year, finishing ninth in the constructors championship with just 14 points, but the announcement of their withdrawal still came as a shock.

The Japanese company first competed in F1 in 1964 with the latest of its three Grand Prix wins coming via Button’s success in Hungary in 2006.

Motorsport in Japan has already been hit by the financial slowdown with Subaru and Suzuki pulling out of the world rally championship.

Source: skysports.com