Mercedes could help Honda

German manufacturer may step in with engine offer

Last updated: 14th January 2009

Norbert Haug: no presents

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Just days after Ferrari announced that they will not be supplying engines to Honda, German manufacturer Mercedes opened the door to the possibility of teaming up with the beleaguered outfit.

Honda are still hopeful they will find a buyer before the start of the season and team boss Ross Brawn admitted earlier this month that he contacted Ferrari about a possible deal for the 2009 season.

However, Scuderia team boss Stefano Domenicali made it clear on Monday that this is not an option for them, saying: "the chance of us supplying engines to Honda is close to zero".

Brawn's mood will have brightened in the last couple of days, though, as Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has revealed that they could come to Honda's aid should the Japanese manufacturer find a new backer before the season starts.

"If there is a feasible solution with an investor for that team, we would be prepared to discuss it," Haug told Autosport. "But the financial background needs to be there.

"You cannot give any presents at this time and in this (financial) climate, but we would like to help for the sake of Formula One. Ross Brawn and Nick Fry and their guys have done a good job so far, so if we could be in a position to help we certainly could try to do so.

"But the financial feasibility is very important. It needs to be 100 per cent bulletproof.

"This is not ideal timing. We have lots to do with KERS and the new rev limit and so on, which is a really big task."