Medilloni 6 Report post Posted January 8, 2009 Better news than I hoped for Sean - 12 instead of 5 or so. So, does this mean that final offers are now on the table and it's simply down to choice? Will Honda big-wigs have the final say (I bloody hope not!) or will they take the advice of Brawn? And I bet Fry's trying to protect his own bum, unfortunately. Wonder how long it will take them to arrive at a deal - if fast enough they might still get a tiny bit of testing done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 8, 2009 Better news than I hoped for Sean - 12 instead of 5 or so.So, does this mean that final offers are now on the table and it's simply down to choice? Will Honda big-wigs have the final say (I bloody hope not!) or will they take the advice of Brawn? And I bet Fry's trying to protect his own bum, unfortunately. Wonder how long it will take them to arrive at a deal - if fast enough they might still get a tiny bit of testing done. I think they're waiting on someone, that's for sure. If they had clear cut choices they would have made one by now, I feel. Don't figure Honda will get involved further than having certain criteria met, which Brawn and Fry will already be aware of. B and F obviously want a long term commitment from any prospective buyer with respect to the workforce. Seems to me, there are some offers which won't include Brawn in the package, gleaning his recent remarks, which is madness as far as I am concerned and there are probably those that don't include Button or other senior personnel. Brawn had made it clear there will be no winter testing program and the current timeline would seem to support that. Fry was talking about the end of Jan as a date for an announcement but that would leave less than eight weeks to be ready for Melbourne. It will take six weeks to sort the chassis out, according to Ross and Ferrari probably want eight weeks at least, I would have thought to supply power plants. My guess would be that they already have a test model in the wind tunnel with last year's engine in it. Otherwise, it makes no make sense. If they don't get a decision down by next week at the latest, I can't see them making Oz. It won't be DR for sure - he's just bailed. My bet? A Greek bearing gifts with the initials AK. I'll say no more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Rumble Strip 0 Report post Posted January 8, 2009 Surely you should talk to all of them and quickly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Surely you should talk to all of them and quickly. Did you mean, 'one' should talk to them quickly or were you suggesting I should? In the first instance, you are right - in the second, you're probably taking the p**s! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Medilloni 6 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 @ the recent FOTA meeting they allegedly said: All of the teams present wished to express their support for the entrant currently known as Honda and they will agree to any name change registered. ...Which is damn fine of them (no, not being sarcastic!), but surely the Brackley Boys should have some representation there, at least to hammer home their views on future cost and development issues. So DR isn't in the mix, I'd love to know who the '12 or so' are..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Medilloni 6 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Daily Telegraph yesterday, I really, really hope it's not true............. Full article @ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorspor...l-at-Honda.html Snippets: Nick Fry keen to become big wheel at Honda Nick Fry, the chief executive of Honda Racing, has emerged as a surprise front-runner to take over the stricken Formula One team.........................After weeks spent sifting through propositions from over 30 groups, Fry revealed on Thursday that he had presented his parent company in Tokyo with a list comprising "something in the region of a dozen" interested parties, although he neglected to make public that at the forefront of that chase he himself was leading a proposed management buy-out. ..................... Fry's own involvement only came to light when various bidders Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Clearly, this is the reason for the delay - Fry trying to raise cash. I always favoured a management buy-out but the running costs are the problem. Obviously, he has purposely ignored bona fide bidders in an effort to further his own ambitions. I heard that Kallakis was still in as of Monday and that he was the front runner. Was Ross hinting at leaving if Honda took the Fry bid? Could be. EDIT: I don't believe that even Fry is stupid or arrogant enough to deny the staff at Brackley a future by taking a badly-funded flyer at ownership. If he has and the thing goes tits-up, I shall personally hunt him down and boil him in oil! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monza gorilla 1 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Surely there's a conflict of interest going on here. If the smiling assassin is making a bid of his own then how can he also be weeding out other bidders. Something doesn't ring true. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shampion 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Surely there's a conflict of interest going on here. If the smiling assassin is making a bid of his own then how can he also be weeding out other bidders. Something doesn't ring true. Yes.. A bit questionable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Medilloni 6 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Surely there's a conflict of interest going on here. If the smiling assassin is making a bid of his own then how can he also be weeding out other bidders. Something doesn't ring true. Indeed Monza, this type of involvement from someone who's meant to be impartial and acting in the companies best interests is crazy. The real killer is that one of the best potential investors (financially) seems to have gone public with his opinion. Madness. The poor beggars in Brackley must be really p!ssed off. I wonder if Brawn's comment about "..what's important is to save as many jobs as possible....my contunued employment isn't a priority" was something to do with this, like he'd leave if Fry was in charge? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Fry is a favoured son of Honda, as is Jens. Jesus, he has survived four disastrous seasons, Earthdreams and still managed to extract Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikathegreat2 2 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Daily Telegraph yesterday, I really, really hope it's not true.............Full article @ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorspor...l-at-Honda.html Snippets: Nick Fry keen to become big wheel at Honda And... Er, yeah, I bet it was Roll on Shumacher-Ferrari! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monza gorilla 1 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Didn't DR put Fry there in the first place? Or was that just to get him out of Prodrive? Denials ain't what they used to be. DR still hasn't said he's not interested in a convincing enough tone for me. He's dancing all round the subject but not giving an equivocal answer. As for Slim, "The Telmex Team can confirm that Carlos Slim Helu has not bought the Honda Formula One team nor is holding any negotiations to do so, therefore all information related to this subject has no basis and is completely false." It's quite possible for that statement to be true even if he is interested - if negotiations hadn't started then the statement is true - at the time he hadn't bought the team so the statement is also true. Clever things, words. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Rumble Strip 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 I meant Honda should talk. The quicker a deal is done, the better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 Didn't DR put Fry there in the first place? Or was that just to get him out of Prodrive?Denials ain't what they used to be. DR still hasn't said he's not interested in a convincing enough tone for me. He's dancing all round the subject but not giving an equivocal answer. As for Slim, "The Telmex Team can confirm that Carlos Slim Helu has not bought the Honda Formula One team nor is holding any negotiations to do so, therefore all information related to this subject has no basis and is completely false." It's quite possible for that statement to be true even if he is interested - if negotiations hadn't started then the statement is true - at the time he hadn't bought the team so the statement is also true. Clever things, words. DR brought Fry to BAR to keep Honda off his back - he smiles more in an hour than a Geisha does in a lifetime! He did a good job there as he had at Prodrive, expanding the business into outsourced engineering services and filling the order book in his first half year. The problem for DR was that Fry did his job a little too well and became Honda's No.1 choice for leading their F1 Team. Goodbye DR. Unfortunately, he decided that his main task was never to rock the boat with Tokyo, did not protest when key personnel were replaced with Japanese appointees and conned Jens and Rubihno into the bargain. He'll probably pull this off too. The prize is Brawn and Fry will have to work overtime to get him to stay. It could be Ross has his own surprise lined up - we shall see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fed up 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 My guess is nothing will happen in 09. It's getting late in the day now and the car isn't even ready. Better to let it slide, earmark key personnel for 2010 and pick up cheap infrastructure in the inevitable fire sale that will follow Honda's exit. Honda will have to pay redundancy payments and a prospective team can pick up 'cheap' engines in 2010 and spend the next year setting up the operation. There's no upside in paying top dollar now when it can be picked up for next nothing from March onwards. The longer it goes on without a buyer the less attractive a proposition it becomes for 09. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2009 My guess is nothing will happen in 09. It's getting late in the day now and the car isn't even ready. Better to let it slide, earmark key personnel for 2010 and pick up cheap infrastructure in the inevitable fire sale that will follow Honda's exit. Honda will have to pay redundancy payments and a prospective team can pick up 'cheap' engines in 2010 and spend the next year setting up the operation. There's no upside in paying top dollar now when it can be picked up for next nothing from March onwards.The longer it goes on without a buyer the less attractive a proposition it becomes for 09. Sensible argument but the lease is payed up for the next four years at Brackley and the 2009 entry fee has already been paid by Honda. Staff are still getting paid and will until March. IMHO, Ferrari have agreed to supply engines and there will be a transitional car on the grid this year. It may not be a Melbourne but it will appear, Brawn may not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Rumble Strip 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2009 Can you enter part way through the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Autumnpuma 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2009 DR brought Fry to BAR to keep Honda off his back - he smiles more in an hour than a Geisha does in a lifetime! He did a good job there as he had at Prodrive, expanding the business into outsourced engineering services and filling the order book in his first half year. The problem for DR was that Fry did his job a little too well and became Honda's No.1 choice for leading their F1 Team. Goodbye DR. Unfortunately, he decided that his main task was never to rock the boat with Tokyo, did not protest when key personnel were replaced with Japanese appointees and conned Jens and Rubihno into the bargain. He'll probably pull this off too. The prize is Brawn and Fry will have to work overtime to get him to stay. It could be Ross has his own surprise lined up - we shall see. Fry is too diplomatic and seems to be the type that's more enamored of a growing business than with winning a race. Contrast him with people like Todt and Dennis, both of whom break out in a rash when they don't win. Fry is a good second-in-command, someone to look after the house while the breadwinner is out winning races. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rainmaster 7 Report post Posted January 10, 2009 Can you enter part way through the season. There may be a rule against it but I imagine it would be superseded as long as FOTA accepted their entry. In any case I doubt the FIA would put a block on the team formerly known as Honda entering, not in the current climate of F1. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2009 Fry is too diplomatic and seems to be the type that's more enamored of a growing business than with winning a race. Contrast him with people like Todt and Dennis, both of whom break out in a rash when they don't win. Fry is a good second-in-command, someone to look after the house while the breadwinner is out winning races. Completely right - he doesn't have racing in his blood Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Rumble Strip 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2009 I'm not sure where the hatred for Fry comes from. Granted his cars may have been pretty rubbish but is that all his fault and I'd be pretty sure he has a desire to win as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dribbler 6 Report post Posted January 11, 2009 I'm not sure where the hatred for Fry comes from.Granted his cars may have been pretty rubbish but is that all his fault and I'd be pretty sure he has a desire to win as well. Ironically, he has had nothing to do with the cars. To me, and I may be speaking out of turn because I have no knowledge on the internal workings of Honda, but Fry doesn't seem to lead from the front, as Mike implies. He's a bit lacking in soul and passion. What does he represent? (apart from being a good toothpaste model) Look down the pitlane; most team leaders/owners allow a side of their personality to become the flavour of the team (if that makes sense). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Rumble Strip 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2009 It does but on the other hand as mentioned, he's had nothing to do with the cars. His lack of personality should be neither here or there really. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dribbler 6 Report post Posted January 11, 2009 His lack of personality should be neither here or there really. I would agree if he were a back room boy, doing the job of a Newey, for example. But as a leader, for me, his personality is everything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
