Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has refuted reports he has struck a deal to save Formula One team Honda.
Japanese team still not saved yet
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has refuted reports he has struck a deal to save Formula One team Honda.
Italian newspaper
La Stampa had stated a deal with the owner of telecommunications company Telmex was sealed and that drivers Jenson Button and Bruno Senna would be confirmed as the team's 2009 line-up.
But Slim has denied even entering into negotiations with the Japanese car giants in a statement issued on the Telmex racing team website.
"The Telmex Team can confirm that Carlos Slim Helu has not bought the Honda Formula One team nor is holding any negotiations to do so, therefore all information related to this subject has no basis and is completely false," it read.
Interest
Honda team principal Ross Brawn has also confirmed the inaccuracy of the reports, but has insisted talks are ongoing with other parties interested in saving the team.
"We would love it if it were true but it's pure speculation from various members of the media," he told the
Daily Telegraph.
"It's just been one of those rumours which has developed a life of its own."
"There has been a huge amount of interest though. It's now got to the stage where we need to filter out the serious from the not so serious.
"We're all hopeful that something will happen and we're anxious to turn up the wick again in the new year.
"We haven't really lost anything yet as it has still only been a few weeks. Everything is in place although we have had to turn down various programmes.
"We have enough funding to get us through to Melbourne and we still have a competitive package."
The new season gets underway in Australia at the end of March.
