Unfortunately it is now the end of the line for Super Aguri. After seeking backing from many different sources in the last year, the end of the line has finally come. Today Aguri Suzuki announced the withdrawal from Formula 1 of Super Aguri with immediate affect.

It has been a mammoth effort from Aguri Suzuki to keep his team alive. No stone was left unturned in this effort, but with Honda standing firm on it’s refusal to help, and then banning Super Aguri from the circuit in Turkey, the end was written on the wall.

Here is the statement from Aguri Suzuki

“In order to realize my dream to become an owner of a Formula One Team, I applied for a grid position in the FIA Formula One World Championship in November 2005. Since then, I have participated in the championship for 2 years and 4 months as the Super Aguri F1 Team, but regretfully I must inform you that the team will be ceasing its racing activities as of today.

“The team has competed against the many car manufacturer backed teams and has succeeded in obtaining the first points after only the 22nd race finishing in 9th place overall in the 2007 Constructors’ Championship. However, the breach of contract by the promised partner SS United Oil & Gas Company resulted in the loss of financial backing and immediately put the team into financial difficulties. Also, the change in direction of the environment surrounding the team, in terms of the use of customer chassis, has affected our ability to find partners.

“Meanwhile, with the help of Honda, we have somehow managed to keep the team going, but we find it difficult to establish a way to continue the activities in the future within the environment surrounding F1 and as a result, I have concluded to withdraw from the Championship.

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The clouds and uncertainty haven’t ever left Super Aguri and their quest to survive keeps on day after day. Will they survive? I don’t know, but I hope so. Among those who want the team to quit the game altogether there are certain players who for their own gain want Super Aguri on the track.

Bring on Honda. Honda are looking a little like the parents who are abandoning their children before they’re old enough and are feeling the heat of these accusations. There may be however, at least a couple of reasons for Honda to want Super Aguri on the grid and they seem pretty reasonable.

One, Honda will have more of a chance of getting some money owed to them back with the team alive rather than in ruins.
Two, Ferrari gains a lot of engine data from the engines they supply to lets say Toro Rosso for example and it really can be a bit of an advantage to be able to do that. What about Honda? Bring in Super Aguri. They run Honda Engines and just as Ferrari, Honda gains potentially valuable data from that source.

Formula 1 itself has at least one reason to want Super Aguri alive and that’s because an 11th team on the grid provides back of the grid competition. Remember that the top 10 teams get travel money and that’s an incentive to get off the back end. No 11th team and no incentive at the back of the grid to keep out of the bottom.
Now, if Super Aguri would go away, F1 may adjust the rules and make it the top 9 teams or something like that, but for now rules are rules and competition for expenses is a big deal.

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Super Aguri is my next 2008 season team preview. They have just been resurrected in a partnership with Magna Group so it is fitting to preview them right now.

This pre-season has not been good to them has been absolutely terrible to them. Financial issues that plagued Super Aguri last season have continued in earnest. Testing has been almost non-existent with only about 300 laps put in and until now, they haven’t even been able to officially confirm their drivers. However, good news came yesterday when the acquisition by Magna was officially announced and the team’s equipment could be seen arriving in Melbourne.

What car will they use? They call it the SA108, but if you peel off the sticker you will find Honda RA107 underneath. Not so good, but at least it is a start for a team literally picking itself up off the floor only a few days before the Australian Grand Prix. Hopefully they will receive the new Honda before long.

It’s been a long winter for both Anthony Davidson and Takuma Sato having no real assurance they will drive this year until now. Takuma Sato may fair a little better than Anthony Davidson at the back of the grid.

This season will with no doubt be a season long testing period for Super Aguri who will be looking to the future and 2009.

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Technorati Tags: Super Aguri, SA108, Honda RA107, Australian Grand Prix, Anthony Davidson, Takuma Sato

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Back to the continuing saga of Super Aguri. Have they been saved? A story is floating around that they have, and the mystery buyer we have heard about is Magma Group headed by former Ford and Maserati executive Martin Leach.

The most interesting story around this man on the move was after he left Ford Motor Company. The move was prompted by an offer by Fiat boss Giuseppe Morchio to head both Ferrari and Maserati. As soon as this offer was known by Luca Montezemolo, Montezemolo immediately opposed the move and in the end won out over Giuseppe Morchio. The end result was Jean Todt leading the entire Ferrari company and Martin Leach heading up Maserati.

This didn’t last long after Alfa Romeo took Maserati and Leach moved on to start Magma.

So far nothing has been announced, but it is fun to speculate and after I took interest in this guy a few years back and what he was doing, I’m interested to see where this goes.

What we do hear is that the deal will keep Aguri Suzuki on as team principal and still be on board with Honda. Super Aguri will use the 2008 Honda chassis later in the year and Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson will still have jobs in 2008 and maybe beyond.

If this is true, it is good news for Super Aguri as a large infusion of cash would be available and from a guy with a lot of interest and knowledge of the industry.

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Technorati Tags: Super Aguri, Magma Group, Martin Leach, Ford Motor Company, Giuseppe Morchio, Luca Montezemolo, Jean Todt, Ferrari, Aguri Suzuki, Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson

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It’s been along road for Super Aguri and I have to admit, I wasn’t sure they would make the grid in Australia, but today we here from Co-owner Fumio Akita that Super Aguri will take to the grid in Australia. Talk about last minute.

When Super Aguri missed the last organized test session in Barcelona, things didn’t look to good, but Akita says it was all about parts.

“The cancellation was because some parts hadn’t arrived in time.”

“We are usually scrambling to be ready for the start of the season.

“It was very tight last year and this year is following the same pattern.

“But we will be on the grid for Melbourne.

“We’re not worried at all about missing out.”

This year is still pretty tight with finances and Honda are not in a position to support Super Aguri with Honda technology as they may have if they themselves weren’t struggling.

It really is quite impressive how this team continues to fight.

A serious budget problem last year when their main sponsor SS United didn’t pay up. This combined with contractual disputes withGiedo van der Garde and 10 million dollars from his sponsors going to Spyker spelled serious problems.

Now their lifeblood, Honda experiencing so many of their own problems, full tech support just isn’t going Super Aguri’s way either.

That’s not all. In 2 years due to the new regulations, Super Aguri will have to design and build it’s own chasis.

This is tough and the small budget they have severely needs a cash injection either by investors or perhaps in the form of a buy-out. It’s hard to say what the future holds. Apparently talks are still underway with up to 3 investors and then this on a potential buy-out:

Technorati Tags: Super Aguri, Fumio Akita, Honda, Honda technology, SS United, Giedo van der Garde

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Ok, now that testing is just about over, I can make my F1 drivers championship predictions. Testing has been pretty informative, a little surprising, but not too surprising.

Originally I had thought Honda would show better, but they haven’t given me any reason to keep that prediction. Red Bull and Toro Rosso are just about the same as last year, but Williams have improved like I thought they would. I’ve been more than impressed with Force India, but the learning curve is pretty steep so the rear of the train in front of Super Aguri is where I place them.

I’m not sure Ferrari is really in front of McLaren as much as testing has shown. They have been quick out of the box, but McLaren have tweaked their car enough for me to put them right up there. I anticipate a good battle there.

BMW-Sauber has had issues with their car that certainly weren’t expected and despite what Fernando Alonso says, I don’t believe they are as close to McLaren as he suggests they are, but I will go out and put them ahead of Renault. I think there will be a pretty good battle between Renault and BMW-Sauber with Williams in there too.

Originally I would have put Toyota up a place, but after erratic testing, NOT.

1. Ferrari
2. McLaren
3. BMW-Sauber
4. Renault
5. Williams
6. Red Bull
7. Toyota
8. Honda
9. Toro Rosso
10. Force India
11. Super Aguri (if they show up)

My predictions are not that far off many others I’ve seen. I would like to see Honda in 6th position and Force India in 9th position, but that isn’t a prediction.
I do think there will be a great battle between Ferrari and McLaren, and a good battle between BMW-Sauber and Renault.

Technorati Tags: F1 drivers championship predictions, Honda, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams, Force India, Super Aguri, Ferrari, McLaren, BMW-Sauber, Renault, Toyota

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This has been a dreadful time for Super Aguri with seemingly no end in sight. Last week they pulled out of this week’s test session at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya with only ‘circumstances beyond our control’, but did say they would have a media question and answer session instead.

Financial issues with sponsors and driver contracts are burdening this team and although they seem upbeat, it’s almost too much. Questions about the team’s future in F1 are always circulating, but last week when asked about the possibility of folding the team, Suzuki remained adamantly against it.

Now, the media Q&A they scheduled in Spain with Aguri Suzuki and his technical director Mark Preston has also been called off again with no public answer as to why. This could be good news and they’re not ready to talk about it, or more bad news, but at this late date, and only one test session, this season is a lost cause.

With the never ending struggles this team is having, even just to be able to attend test sessions makes me seriously wonder why they don’t just pull the plug. Australia is just around the corner and they’re unlikely to unveil their final driver line-up, livery and sponsorship package until then.

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Technorati Tags: Super Aguri, Circuit de Catalunya, Aguri Suzuki, Mark Preston

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3 posts in one day is a little off for me, but today, well…it happened.

Another good weather day at Jerez except for the wind. 16 driver were out today and some because of wind ended their day early not expecting to get the data they needed. Lewis Hamilton was one of them, quiting early at 15:00.

Even though wind was a factor, Mark Webber in the Red Bull came out on top with a 1:18.628 in 72 laps and had both Williams right behind. Fuel loads were probably pretty good to achieve those times and clearly Williams has solved their wing mounting problem. Honda continue to struggle with not much difference in their time from yesterday, but at least they weren’t last.
BMW-Sauber with Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica piled on the laps today, but initially had long runs scheduled, but again, wind prevented any clear results and they abandoned that idea.

A few incidents on trace disrupted things a little. Coulthard parked unexpectedly on track and Nelson Piquet jr. copied later with an engine failure, and then Sebastien Bourdais caused a stoppage right near the end of the session.

1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1min 18.628secs 72 laps
2. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1min 19.091secs 98 laps
3. Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1min 19.215secs 91 laps
4. Fernando Alonso Renault 1min 19.710secs 104 laps
5. Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber 1min 19.829secs 116 laps
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1min 19.857secs 68 laps
7. David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1min 19.883secs 97 laps
8. Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1min 19.889secs 114 laps
9. Nelson Piquet Renault 1min 20.014secs 110 laps
10. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1min 20.152secs 84 laps
11. Nick Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1min 20.201secs 109 laps
12. Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1min 20.536secs 76 laps
13. Jenson Button Honda 1min 21.147secs 85 laps
14. Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1min 21.376secs 101 laps
15. Rubens Barrichello Honda 1min 21.710secs 58 laps
16. Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1min 22.244secs 86 laps

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Technorati Tags: Jerez, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Red Bull, Williams, Honda, BMW-Sauber, Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica

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Day 2 at Jerez is over and the times all in.

McLaren are continuing to improve and are an easy 2nd behind Ferrari. It would have been cool to see Ferrari today so we could see what kind of gaps are left for Mclaren.

I see BMW-Sauber are finally coming to grips (literally) with their car and now posting some respectable times. Robert Kubica up in 3rd, off 4 10ths, that’s 4 10ths behind Lewis in the McLaren, not Ferrari. Nick Heidfeld quite a bit slower than Kubica.

Renault not far off. A great fight is shaping up between BMW-Sauber and Renault.
Force India behind Super Aguri? They did evaluate a number of chassis set-ups in the SA07B interim car. I still expect more from Liuzzi.

Honda Honda Honda, what is happening there. Ross Brawn must be tearing his hair out. Alex Wurz only pulling out a 1:21.950 in 86 laps.

Nick Fry:

“I’m very much enjoying myself, and going home with a sense of achievement as opposed to going home with a sense of frustration that no matter how hard we tried, progress was slow.”

Jenson Button

“The RA108 is completely new which means we are starting from zero in terms of developing the set-up,” he told the official Formula One website. “We are also working on driveability as we adapt to the new ECU.

“These challenges were reflected in our speed at our debut test in Barcelona, especially on single fast laps, but our long-run consistency improved. We have a good basic car with new opportunities for aerodynamics and other areas and a clear plan for addressing any issues in the coming tests.”

Basic car? Honda has so much experience in F1 it’s amazing they can’t come up better by now.

Technorati Tags: McLaren, BMW-Sauber, Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld, Renault, Force India, Super Aguri, Honda

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Testing at jerez. 2008 testing got underway today with 9 of the 11 teams on track. Weather was a bit of a story in the morning with a wet track to start things off, but it certainly didn’t faze Ferrari as Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa turned in the fastest times on the day. McLaren, Ferrari and Toyota had their flashy new cars churning up the track, but Felipe Massa’s new F2008 showed a first bug when he lost track time with an unspecified mechanical problem. A relatively quick fix and Massa was off again and turned out the second fastest lap on the day.

It was a good showing for Toro Rosso with Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais finishing the day with Vettel grabbing the 4th fastest time and Bourdais taking 6th fastest time.

McLaren representatives today were Pedro de la Rosa and Heikki Kovalainen both driving the MP4-23. de la Rossa had an inspiring day finishing with a best lap time of 1:20.548 placing third on the day. Kovalainen faired a little worse finishing the day with a 5th best time at 1:20.936.

Nico rosberg in the FW29 fell short today with a 7th fastest time.

Toyota drivers worked hard today with Jarno trulli driving the new TF108 a leading 86 laps and finishing with the 8th fastest time. Timo Glock wasn’t as lucky and spun off track early losing valuable time and finished with the 13th fastest (or slowest) time of the 14 drivers in action today.

Jarno Trulli

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