Does anybody care?as they weren't that good anyway.?

Question

Super Aguri have withdrawn from the Formula One World Championship following problems over funding.

The team, which owes engine and support supplier Honda around £100 million, had fought tooth and nail for its survival for many months.

A takeover by Magma Group, funded by Dubai money, collapsed last month and Honda were lukewarm about an 11th hour rescue bid from Germany's Weigl Group.

The team was effectively created to give an F1 seat to Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who was dropped by Honda in 2005, while Briton Anthony Davidson was chosen for the second car in 2008.

"Regretfully I must inform you that the team will be ceasing its racing activities as of today," team principal Aguri Suzuki stated on Tuesday morning.

"The team has competed against the many car manufacturer-backed teams and succeeded in obtaining its first points after only the 22nd race, finishing in ninth place overall in the 2007 constructors' championship.

Answer 1

As other people have said, it is sad when a team can no longer compete in a sport because of financial problems.

I do, however, believe it is the right decision (for them to no longer be competing) because an F1 team requires lots of contractors and suppliers. For Super Aguri to continue operating would have just meant increased debts that probably wouldn't be paid being incurred by contractors, which would have ultimately meant increased costs passed onto other F1 teams.

Answer 2

Yes I care but probably more in a rather selfish way.

I want a full grid in F1.

It's sad in many ways, mostly for those involved but it's also sad for F1 and us as spectators that they didn't cut it.

Answer 3

In a word, no.

Answer 4

we're losing another underdog team...

may be force india is next.

fewer team, lesser thrill.

what to do

Answer 5

It's sad that they had to leave F1. They couldn't even afford to build their own cars as they do not have the money. But they've always provided something interesting during race weekends. and let's not forget that Sato actually overtook Alonso at Canada (I think) last year.

While I don't agree with the fact that the team was built so that Sato had a race seat, they didn't do too badly and even scored points. If only they had the funding, I'm sure they would've done a brilliant job.

Answer 6

All true fans care about the loss of another team from the sport!

Answer 7

Not to mention the fact that these guys were great! Personable and friendly to the F1 fans, when Kimi and Lewis would snub them, Sato and Davidson were nice enough to stop and chat. They never took anything for granted especially the fans. I am going to miss them!!!

Answer 8

Irrelvent of whether they weren't good or not, Super Aguri are merely another team who haven't the funds/infrastructure to compete in a sport that is rapidly becoming a plaything for the huge engine manufacturers.

Think of teams like Williams. If they were to come into the sport now- two guys with the technical nous of Patrick Head and the marketing savvy of Frank Williams - they would be up the creek without a paddle unless that had a minimum of $100million. How much of a shame would THAT have been?

F1 is in danger of biting itself in the *** if anymore 'little' teams cannot compete.

Answer 9

I agree with GATORADE.  It's sad to see anyone leave the sport.

I also agree with eyesinthedark.  One of these days the FIA is going to spend itself right out of a racing series.  I've been saying that for years about both Indy cars, and F-1.  It happened in Indy cars, and probably will happen to F-1 in under 10 years.  I wouldn't doubt if F-1 is reduced to only Ferrari, McMerc, and Williams in the next few years.  At least they put a hold on engine development, which is a stop-gap measure to help some of the more under-funded teams.  If the FIA doesn't do something to help the rest of the teams, the whole world will be watching the IRL's big brother.......spec cars, running spec tires, with spec engines.

Answer 10

It's always sad to see a team leave F1, especially now that there are only 10 teams participating in the sport.

They may have only been a backmarker in the sport but the so called B-team fought hard and outperformed Honda last year to the point that they had to withhold some development parts for them towards the end of the season.

Answer 11

For their budget they achieved a huge amount last year.

Remember Sato overtaking Alonso in a straight fight in Canada? And if Davidson hadn't run over a ground hog/beaver (reports seem to vary as to what it was), Super Aguri would probably have outscored their A-team Honda! An amazing achievement for such a tiny team.

It's definitely a shame, but even with cost cutting measures being brought in it really is all about the dosh.

Answer 12

Yeah I care. Anytime a team has to leave F1 and it reduces the number of cars on the grid, that's a bad thing. They were a fun little team to root for. When Sato passed Alonso in Canada last year, there was a loud cheer. It was the little guys beating the big mega team.

Honda is probably glad to see them go since they beat the factory team last year with their own year old car.

Answer 13

Yes some people care (me included).

It takes the grid back down to 20 cars when they were hoping at one time to have 24 cars on the grid this year.  While they weren't going to win a constructors title anytime soon, their departure is still not a good sign for any future expansion of the number of teams in F1.

Answer 14

I care that Super Aguri has withdrawn. My favourite driver was Davidson, and I want to see him racing. My favourite team was Super Aguri, because it has always been an underdog, and I always followed them from the beginning. I hoped they could last to at least half way through the season but they can't. I suppose I will have to back BMW now or Ferrari, none of that McLaren rubbish for me.

Answer 15

a lot of people who had wanted an underdog to succeed once in a while... just like I have with Minardi before... also it is really sad to lose another F1 team.

Answer 16

yes I'm sad, i liked the spirit of that team, who is going to buy toro rosso ? who can afford it?

i think Ive come to the conclusion that F1 cant continue with major factory teams in the sport, when Honda and Toyota back out and regress to engine suppliers f1 might be viable again for the smaller team, when Toyota is paying $500 million a year for 8th place with out attrition Honda isn't paying much less for a Q2 grid position, how does a private race team get the funding to be competitive, either that or we need Audi, GM, VW, and Mazda to find their way into the sport, other wise the sport will be choking on its own wallets

Answer 17

Its a bad day for F1, there are precious few teams in f1 anyway. i find it hard to believe a motor manufacture didn't show any interest in a complete team. They showed real improvement last season regularly out pacing the Honda A team.