05/10/2005
NEWS STORY
The last couple of days have witnessed some frenzied activity, and even more frenzied speculation in both the media and on Formula One message boards and forums.
Silverstone is seeking a 'partner' in order to carry out a £600m redevelopment, Coca-Cola is contemplating entering F1 as a sponsor, or maybe even as a team owner, while Honda is not only purchasing the remaining 55% of BAR but is also considering running a 'junior' team, with Dome being mentioned as a possible partner.
Before we all get carried away, it would be wise to take some of the speculation with a very large pinch of salt.
The purchase of BAR makes perfect sense, especially when one considers that the Brackley team, and British American Tobacco, has been very, very jumpy since the European Union Directive on tobacco became law in the summer.
With Takuma Sato, according to many, Japan's brightest hope of F1 success, being dropped in favour of Rubens Barrichello, it makes perfect sense for Honda to talk of a 'B' team featuring the popular driver, especially in the days leading up to his - and its - home race.
Pitpass previously reported that well-placed sources had revealed that Sato will contest a number of rounds of the A1 series at the wheel of his country's entry, we stand by that story, and according to our sources it is Honda that has helped the twenty-eight-year-old get the drive.
As for a second - 'Junior' - team, this is all very well, but at a time when the sport is (apparently) striving to reduce costs, this really doesn't make sense. In the wake of Tuesday's announcement, the media has been filled with articles claiming that Honda will spare no expense in beating Toyota and helping (insert either Button or Barrichello) to win the title.
The very moment the Coca-Cola 'story' was run, Bernie Ecclestone was in there like a shot, quote at the ready. Therefore one has to suspect that, not for the first time, the F1 Supremo is involved in the behind the scenes machinations up to his elbows. There are many within the F1 paddock who believe that Ecclestone was financially involved in the Jordan buy-out and both Red Bull ventures, after all, who has most to gain from these three ventures?
Honda entering F1 in its own right is a logical conclusion, after all, it was only a few years ago that (the late) Harvey Postlethwaite was putting together what seemed destined to be the official Honda F1 project, with Dallara providing the chassis for Jos Verstappen to test throughout the winter of 98/99.
Although people are looking at the Dome scenario, wouldn't Dallara make a little more sense, especially as the Italian company was originally contracted to build Midland F1's chassis for 2006.
This of course brings us back in a neat little circle to Takuma Sato, who previously drove for Trevor Carlin, whose company is running the Japanese A1 team, and who for a few short months worked as Sporting Director at Jordan. It's known that Carlin was seriously 'miffed' at the way Dallara was treated by Alex Shnaider and his men.
Look closely, and you'll notice a few 'red herrings', a bit of spin, some clear evidence of Bernie's handiwork, but also a few little clues that in recent days we've witnessed a few nuggets of truth.