The F1 Pit Box

Surely 2009 has more or less been paid for by the teams, and was at the tail end of 2008?  Honda's huff has surely meant a fat pile of cash went down the toilet when they quit so suddenly, since we had been hearing about their 2009 efforts and ongoing KERS research prior to that point.  How much more money would it have taken to stay in for the 2009 season and simply put the team up for sale - therefore giving the sport the respect it deserves and more time to find a serious buyer - while perhaps improving the dismal reputation the team attracted thanks to it's lacklustre performance in 2008?

The deadline is supposed to be the end of January for a buyer to stump up the cash, which leaves a whole week for this to happen.  If noting happens - and it's going to need a miracle - we get 18 cars on the grid next year.  Super Aguri's demise should have been a warning sign, despite Honda's denial they had anything at all to do with it, and as nobody rescued that team in a more stable economic situation, what chance does Honda have now?  

Over the weekend, Bernie Ecclestone announced plans to secure long term commitment from the teams in return for better financial terms, in order to «prevent the kind of thing we have seen with Honda because we could sue the arse off them if they left».  We get the feeling he is equally annoyed by Honda's abandonment.  

It's a great shame Honda will be remembered not for their F1 achievements, but by this exit, which although backed by bad car sales and a tough economy, just looks like a tantrum following a less-than-spectacular performance.  If you don't want anyone thinking like this Honda, do the decent thing and give Nick Fry and Ross Brawn a couple of quid and let them take the 2009 season alone, whilst securing another buyer in the meantime.