Super Aguri will be on the grid at the season-opening race in Australia, according to team co-owner Fumio Akita.
Test absence due to car-parts mix-up, says team co-owner
Super Aguri will be on the grid at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, according to the team's co-owner Fumio Akita.
Recent reports have suggested that Super Aguri's future is in doubt following cash-flow problems, which led to the team pulling out of this past week's final pre-season test in Barcelona.
However, Akita insists the situation is not as dire as has been reported, saying that the withdrawal was due to a mix-up over car parts and not because of finances.
"The cancellation was because some parts hadn't arrived in time," he said. "We are usually scrambling to be ready for the start of the season.
"It was very tight last year and this year is following the same pattern. But we will be on the grid for Melbourne. We're not worried at all about missing out."
Buy-out?
Team principal Aguri Suzuki has recently been involved in discussions with current backer Honda as well as potential investors in a bid to secure the team's future.
And Akita admitted that the team could face a buy-out as they bid to secure the finances needed to stay in Formula One.
"It might be 100 percent. But obviously any sponsors or investors who leave the infrastructure there and back the team to improve results would be ideal," he added.
"How much any potential stake in the team would be does depend on the conditions the investor has. But even if it's a 100 percent stake you can't sensibly get rid of the team per se.
"If you have no Aguri (Suzuki) you probably lose Honda as engine suppliers. If investors come in and say they can bring in BMW engines that's a different story.
"But even if we give up 100 percent share it doesn't necessarily mean the owner or the team name goes with it."
