Honda Racing's CEO Nick Fry has been talking confidently about finding a buyer by next year. But the FIA president does not agree. Max Mosley has said it would be "difficult" for Honda in the current economic climate. Honda announced plans to withdraw from F1, citing the global economic downturn for their decision, and put the team up for sale with a deadline of January for potential buyers to come forward. Mosley, however, warned the levels of spending in the sport could derail any potential sale, and reiterated his call for costs to be dramatically slashed.
"It would only pay somebody to take over that team and run it if we get the costs down to the point where it's viable without a huge car manufacturer pouring in huge sums of money. And that's not going to be easy," he said. "Honda, one of the best-managed companies in the motor industry, were not the people you would expect to stop." When asked if another team could go under before the start of the 2009 season, Mosley said: "Yes, because they will not be able to raise enough money to go on spending." But he refused to be drawn on which team he considers to be most at risk.
* PA Sport