”No chance” of Super Aguri F1 return

There is "absolutely no chance" that Super Aguri could return to formula one even with a low budget cap next year. That is the insistence of co-owner Fumio Akita, despite former co-owner and team boss Aguri Suzuki recently suggesting to Japanese press that he is interested in reviving the collapsed project.

Akita told Reuters that there was "absolutely no chance. Even without the world financial crisis and its effect on Japan's economy Super Aguri couldn't afford it."

With Honda's technical and financial backing, Super Aguri operated on a small budget in 2006 and 2007, then folding after four races of last year's championship.

Akita continued, "we already pulled out once because we did not have the resources to continue. Even if we had $60 million to spend we would have to start from scratch again. We don't know where these newspaper reports came from but Aguri has also said there's no chance."

Further pacifying the Super Aguri rumours, its star driver Takuma Sato has admitted on a visit to the Indy 500 preparations that he is keen to pursue a future in America's open wheeler scene.

The figure for the voluntary budget cap in formula one next year has been set at £40 million after being ratified by the World Motor Sport Council in Paris late last month. At the same time the maximum number of teams was increased by 1 to 13 for 2010. An entry list for 2010, potentially featuring a full grid of 26 cars, will be published by the Paris body in June.

The story doesn’t end there as Honda, having seen the stunning success of its former Brackley-based team under the guidance of Ross Brawn, is also rumored to be considering a return to F1 after its hasty withdrawal at the end of last season.