Richards Ousted In Honda Deal

[Shadow 0]

From Planet-F1

Richards ousted in Honda deal

Friday November 19 2004

Team boss David Richards will leave BAR at the end of the year after engine provider Honda agreed to buy a 45 per cent stake in the team.

As had been reported earlier in the week Richards has been forced out of the team with a year of his contract still left to run. The BAR team boss will depart despite having guided the team to a best-ever second in the Constructors' Championship last season.

Honda have supplied engines to BAR since 2000 and have widely been expected to take a more active role in the running of the team when owners British American Tobacco are eased out due to anti-cigarette advertising restrictions.

On Friday Honda agreed to buy a minority stake in BAR for a substantial sum and immediately set about a management shake-up.

Richards, whose Prodrive organisation challenges for international titles in rallying and sportscars, remained positive despite having his contract paid up by the new regime.

He said: "We were brought in by British American Tobacco to turn the team around and secure its long-term future and that is what we have done."

"I am immensely proud of what Prodrive has achieved in a shorter time than anticipated. I believe that BAR Honda is now in a very healthy position to continue its pursuit of the World Championship."

"Obviously I and all at Prodrive will take a strong interest in the fortunes of the team in the future."

BAR director Antonio Monteiro de Castro paid tribute to Richards' influence in turning the team from midfield no-hopers to genuine podium challengers.

He said: "We're delighted Honda wants to increase its involvement in BAR which has gone from strength to strength this season.

"We are particularly grateful to David Richards and Prodrive for helping to achieve this improvement and providing a springboard for the next phase of the team's development."

Honda managing director Takanobu Ito added: "This is a natural extension of our relationship with BAR and is an important step for both partners. The new commitment will further strengthen the structure for cooperation with BAR as we push forward with our Formula One challenge."

[Shadow 0]

This is what you call icing on the cake. JV is back, DR is out

[Jet 0]

JV and the Button debacle aside (opinion which are purely subjective for both) you cannot deny how Richards has turned BAR around from a backmarker into a genuine championship contender. He had the foresight to see 3 to 5 years ahead and it seems next year the team will be even stronger as Honda steps up its integration within the team's structure.

But I'm not so sure its a smart move to suddenly oust Richards as team boss. Perhaps they know something about Nick Fry that we don't, but I think stability at this crucial point of the team's growth could be effected by having a new principal at the helm. Well Richards is staying on in the meantime to help the transition but I'd hate to see such a bright team suffer from what may be simple office politics.

[ecapdeville 0]

This is what you call icing on the cake. JV is back, DR is out    

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats what I call revenge!

dedicated for you nojvnof1

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greetings from mexico city...

[rodders47 2]

maybe Button will be happy now at BAR !!

[Shadow 0]

JV and the Button debacle aside (opinion which are purely subjective for both) you cannot deny how Richards has turned BAR around from a backmarker into a genuine championship contender. He had the foresight to see 3 to 5 years ahead and it seems next year the team will be even stronger as Honda steps up its integration within the team's structure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Correction Jet Geoff Willis turned the BAR into a strong team. It happened exactly as JV told it would.

AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT BANNER ECAPDEVILLE. YOU DID IT AGAIN.

[KoolMonkey 0]

I feel sorry for JV in that he spent the best parts of his racing career with BAR and worked his a## off with them, to help built what Button is driving today. I wish he had been with them this year. The feeling he would have had having all those podiums Jenson got would have been something to see. Years of hard work paying off finally. Sadly he never got to see the fruits of all his hard work. Button and Sato who never spent any hard years with a team building it up from nothing got the benefits of JV and the BAR crew. I hope he does well with Sauber and good riddance Richards. You were not the reason BAR did well. Honda were for making a great engine and Willis work paid off in his car design.

[C.A.L. 0]

It is hard to state what would of happened had J.V. stayed with the BAR Team for 2004 and they kept Sato as a main Test driver.

I truely believe that the BAR Team does not have what it takes to provide two equally reliable F1 Cars , and J.V. would of ended up with another break down year .

I think without a doubt he would of performed better than Sato ,but would either of them get a fair deal with their F1 cars compared to "Golden Boy" Button ? ..noway ...

Honda has done the right thing to rid themselves of Mr. Negative Richards so they can assess themselves of the quality of components that finally arrive to both F1 cars.

It is better that J.V. is now with Sauber or some other Team where fundamentally he will has a fresh open stable start in what may end up being a far better (reliable) F1 Car at Sauber or had Williams taken him on at Williams. I am unsure of Renault's chances next year due to so much change to the car ,probably for the good too.

Good to go to Sauber with Michelins coming in, and a great new wind tunnel ,two enormous opportunities to step forward above and beyond the highly reliable Ferrari engine already provided. Ijust have to get use to the Sauber websites now ..lol.

[KoolMonkey 0]

I am happy JV got a ride with Sauber. They will do well I hope. At first I wanted him to say with Renault but after they treated him poorly and indirectly sent blame in his direction on them not scoring points, I'm happy he is with Sauber. Williams are notorious for losing their drivers. Obviously they are doing something or have been doing it for the best part of a decade that their drivers want to leave. They used to be the super team, but now are a joke as far as I'm concerned. To come from making one of the best cars ever in Manells 92 eletronic masterpiece to a tusk nose hog of a car is funny. They will be better next year but I think it will be a few more years yet before they are the s##t again. So I'm happy JV is not with Williams either. Sauber will be getting tons of support next year. Peter's going to love it. And if JV get's a few podiums then all the better for him and JV.

[Jet 0]

I just want to see this team do well because the great thing about F1 is watching a team rise in the ranks. So often do we forget how F1 is as much as a drivers battle is it a battle of teams and manufacturers. JV has a chance now to help Sauber progress and should he be successful, I'm sure a ride will open up. Sometimes you have to take two steps back to take one step forward. I also hope Sato puts Button in his place next year. Sato hasn't failed to excel thus far in his short racing career, so it would be no surprise for him to find his stride next year.

[Shadow 0]

It is hard to state what would of happened had J.V. stayed with the BAR Team for 2004 and they kept Sato as a main Test driver.

I truely believe that the BAR Team does not have what it takes to provide two equally reliable F1 Cars , and J.V. would of ended up with another break down year .

I think without a doubt he would of performed better than Sato ,but would either of them get a fair deal with their F1 cars compared to "Golden Boy" Button ?  ..noway ...

Honda has done the right thing to rid themselves of Mr. Negative Richards so they can assess themselves of the quality of components that finally arrive to both F1 cars.

It is better that J.V. is now with Sauber or some other Team where fundamentally he will has a fresh open stable start in what may end up being a far better (reliable) F1 Car at Sauber or had Williams taken him on at Williams.  I am unsure of Renault's chances next year due to so much change to the car ,probably for the good too.

Good to go to Sauber with Michelins coming in, and a great new wind tunnel ,two enormous opportunities to step forward above and beyond the highly reliable Ferrari engine already provided. Ijust have to get use to the Sauber websites now ..lol.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So true. I agree with everything in that post.It covers everything.

[Shadow 0]

And oh, with Honda taking over BAR will they change the livery????????

[nojvnof1 0]

another masterpiece ecapdeville, good job I don't think the livery will change cos BAT still own a majority stake, in 2006 things will change when the no tobacco law comes in.

anyways, cop that DR!!!! I must say this is great news all round. F1 gets a big committment from a big manufacturer, and DR gets the boot, great news indeed. No doubt Jacques will have a wry smile on his face, and that JV fans everywhere are partying as a result of this. Talk about karma!!! This time last year we JV fans didn't know whether to laugh or cry cos of the situation JV was in cos we were all angry and in disbelief, now JV had a very good drive, is fit and confident with a strong team behind him, and DR is sacked!! whoohoo

As for JV and Sauber, the first step in the journey starts on Friday when JV tests the C23 at Barcelona, I can't wait!!! Sauber may not provide the equipment for JV to win races and challenge for the title, and JV knows this, but so long as he's competitive, not having too many DNF's which littered his time at BARf and doesn't have to cope with political mindgames along the way (just like with DR), expect a few surprises.

[Shadow 0]

As for JV and Sauber, the first step in the journey starts on Friday when JV tests the C23 at Barcelona, I can't wait!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Rest assured I am counting days too. The seson starts today and it is two more days before JV gets behind the wheel of a Sauber for the first time.

[Shadow 0]

And what was that s##t about Prodrive achieving everything with BAR????????????

[KoolMonkey 0]

Despite what the PR hacks say, Richards was fired. Straight up and simple. If he was doing such a great job, they would have kept him. But he did 2 things wrong. One, he messed with JV and I guarantee you Honda were not happy with that. They came back into F1 because of Pollock and JV. JV is HUGE in Japan. They love him there. So by Richards effectively making the situation at BAR unliveable for JV and forcing him to leave didn't go down well with Honda. Then finally BAR come good this year and sure enough Richards is at it again with Button. He said recently he came out unscathed after that unlike Button. Really!? You got a pink slip mate. Doesn't get much more clear cut than that. Richards is a jerk and I'm happy to see the end of him.

[AutoRacer5 0]

agreed, and nojvnof1, put that in your signature immediently.

[Senna 0]

Despite what the PR hacks say, Richards was fired.  Straight up and simple.  If he was doing such a great job, they would have kept him.  But he did 2 things wrong.  One, he messed with JV and I guarantee you Honda were not happy with that.  They came back into F1 because of Pollock and JV.  JV is HUGE in Japan.  They love him there.  So by Richards effectively making the situation at BAR unliveable for JV and forcing him to leave didn't go down well with Honda.  Then finally BAR come good this year and sure enough Richards is at it again with Button.  He said recently he came out unscathed after that unlike Button.  Really!?  You got a pink slip mate.  Doesn't get much more clear cut than that.  Richards is a jerk and I'm happy to see the end of him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Although Honda was indeed supportive of JV in the early years they became somewhat disillusioned with him as the years passed by. By 2003, certain key people at Honda were desperate to get rid of JV and by bringing in a youngish Japanese driver as his replacement; Richards made more Japanese friends than he lost. Richards did a good job last season, although greatly aided by the efforts of GW (signed by CP not DR) and a great many others, he managed to turn the team around and finish second in the WCC despite only having one good driver in what was undoubtedly BAR

[AutoRacer5 0]

Richards could not get his priorities straight. he wanted to please honda with Sato yet couldn't get it right on the performance base.