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it seems that the politics and big budgets of F1 have claimed another team as Super Aguri have been having financial difficulties lately. This leaves Anthony Davidson and Takuma Sato without rides for the remaining F1 races this season.

from F1-Live

Participating in Formula One since the 2006 season, the team, which scored its first championship points after only 22 races (Spanish Grand Prix, 2007) and finished ninth overall in the 2007 Constructors’ Championship, will cease all activities as of 6th May 2008.

Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal
“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 two years and four 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 ninth 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."

"I would like to express my deepest thanks to Honda, Bridgestone, the sponsors, all the people who have given us advise during various situations over the past couple of years all the Team Staff who have kept their motivations high and always done their best, Anthony Davidson who has always pushed to the limit despite the very difficult conditions, Takuma Sato who has been with us from the very start and has always fought hard and led the team and lastly our fans from all over the world who have loyally supported the Super Aguri F1 Team.”

a sad day but the F1 show must go on

Laterz :)

Team Super Aguri should not have raced this year at all. The cars were underfunded, slow and dangerous to others on the track.

Anthony Davidson himself was quoted in saying that the cars shook so much that the rear view mirrors were unusable and therefore he could not see the rest of the pack trying to pass him all race long.

I'm sure there cars weren't up to snuff this year but last year they were keeping up and sometimes even beat the factory Hondas. I'm just sad this continues to happen to the small teams and the only way out it seems is to go to bed with a car manufacturer just like Sauber did a few years back. How many people remember Jordan F1 which is now Force India, how about Stewart Racing? which was bought by Ford and turned into Jaguar F1 and I've lost track who they are now, Minardi F1? Lotus F1? Tyrell? Ligier?

In 1987 there were roughly 14 teams in F1 20 years later there are 10 and with Torro Rosso facing the Axe as well I think F1 will be down to 9 teams in 2009. Even Ferrari started as a privateer after he split from Alfa Romeo's team and had to start selling road cars only to fuel his addiction to racing, I doubt Enzo would last long in todays F1 if he were to start from scratch.

Laterz :)

the reason super aguri is out is because of honda. honda funded most of this year's budget and any new buyers would have to repay this debt along with providing current funding. honda wanted the debt payed back immediately and the potential buyers wanted to pay this debt over 3 years. honda is stupid because they could have had all their money back in 3 years, now the have none. also, i don't think they liked the embarrassement of being out performed by them again.