Super Aguri unlikely to finish 2008 F1 season

Max Mosley says he is not confident that formula one will make it through 2008 without losing a formula one team. Prodrive was expected to become the twelfth team this season, until David Richards baulked at the customer car issue. More recently, F1 insiders have expressed grave concerns about the health of the Super Aguri team, as the Japanese squad fails to appear at crucial pre-season winter tests. Additionally, the small Leafield based squad, powered and supported in 2006 and 2007 by Honda, is yet to announce a launch date for the 2008 season or confirm its driver lineup.

FIA president Mosley on Monday told reporters that he thinks Super Aguri will appear for the first race of the 2008 season, in Melbourne in mid March.

"I wouldn't like to stake my life on that. I think so, but you can't be certain," he said.

When asked if he is confident that all eleven teams will contest the entire 2008 championship, he is quoted as responding to PA Sport: "Not very."

Super Aguri, run and named after former grand prix driver Aguri Suzuki, struggled financially through the latter part of 2007 and was openly in search of partners.

Mosley acknowledges that, in the formative stages of his cost-cutting regimes, it is difficult for a private team to survive.

"As far as we are concerned they are a normal team perfectly entitled to race," he said.

"They're entered into this year's championship, and we expect to see them in Melbourne."