Super Aguri: Poor Planning Or Super Cautious?
Written by George Katinger · December 3, 2005
Super Aguri F1 Racing has been omitted from the list of accepted teams for the 2006 season. No bond came with the application, or they would have qualified. Poor planning by Aguri or clever stall?
speedtv.com: Aguri Team Still Trying to Race in F1 Next Year
grandprix.com: Why Super Aguri F1 is not on the entry list
reuters.co.uk: Aguri to re-apply for 2006 F1 grid spot
timesofmalta.com: Japan team left out of entrants list…
Several theories have been floated as to why Super Aguri did not make the grid entry for 2006. The common accepted reason is that the bond (a mere $48 million dollars) did not accompany the application and was rejected. But the real question is why no bond? Super Aguri has stated that the bond will be paid but did not accompany the paperwork. Some have guessed that the team is not funded properly. Another is that they really had no intention of making the field for ‘06, and were merely trying to save face for Honda over the Sato sacking.
My personal theory is that Super Aguri and chief Aguri backer Honda were very concerned that the FIA would squeeze both teams to sign the Concorde extension agreement, or risk rejection of their car design at the first race next year. Max Mosley has set the table for this possibility with his not so subtle reminder that any team must build, design, and own the intellectual rights to their car. The implication is no begging, borrowing or stealing from other teams, thank you very much.
If Aguri had posted the bond and Aguri and Honda both signed on to the extension, is there any doubt whatsoever that the car Aguri presented next year would have been found acceptable? So Honda’s active participation in the GPMA and the threat of moving off to the new series is what kept the two from posting the bond. At risk is a forfeiture of $12 million dollars of that bond if the new team can’t come up with a FIA accepted car. And we know the FIA can come down on either side of that rule, particularly as interpreted by Bernie’s prime axeman, Max Mosley.
As to the chances of Aguri making the field with a late application, which would still require the bond, but also the agreement of all ten teams: I rate their chances as slim and none. As all the postings emphasize, the small (and my guess some of the not so small) teams will not want to further dilute their share of F1 earnings with another upstart team. An upstart team with Honda backing that may gain points and push the likes of Midland and Minardi, er, Toro Rosso, further down the finishing order and earnings chart.
All it takes is one nay vote, and the process stops cold. I found Aguri partner Fumita Akita’s reference to Max’s comment most amusing:
“Mr. Mosley kindly said on the phone we could apply once more, even though the cut-off line has passed,”
And Mr. Mosley will kindly take your $12 million dollars and reject your car design come March ‘06 if you don’t sign up, thank you very, very much!
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12 million for nothing?!
Hmmm… how can I get into this business?
I thought it was a dead give away when Nick Fry said that the team had a 65% chance of going ahead. Honda did what it had to in order to get off the hook with the pro Sato media on the home front. Funnily enough, I would not be surprised if the team had a chance of being on the grid in 07.With use of the old Arrows facility at Leafield & Honda providing customer lumps, Suzuki has 06 to run around & find some Japanese backers & see where the political winds are blowing.
If this team principal is Super Aguri, does that make BMW’s head Super Mario?
“Super Mario”? You’re a sick man, Peter!
He will achieve that esteemed title only if he wins a race next year. Any chance of that? Right, and the winning driver will be Super Jock, er Jacques!