A1GP boss Tony Teixeira has revealed that he was one of the parties interested in taking over Honda's Formula One team.
Teixeira still has designs on F1
A1GP boss Tony Teixeira has revealed that he was one of the parties who expressed an interest in taking over Honda's Formula One team.
Teixeira, chairman of the A1GP series, said that he was talking to Honda as recently as a fortnight ago.
"I was one of the guys talking to Honda in the last two weeks," the South African-born businessman told
autosport.com.
However, Teixeira pulled out of the talks, citing the ongoing economic downturn.
"The only reason we want an F1 team is for the winners of A1 to go to F1," he added. "But, because of the times, I cannot commit myself to this year's budget."
With just over a month to go before the start of the new F1 season, the Japanese manufacturer is still looking for a buyer for the Brackley-based outfit.
Honda's chief executive Takeo Fukui announced on Monday that there have been no "serious" offers for the team.
Plans
Nevertheless, Teixeira, who was also linked with the Toro Rosso team late last year, could yet see his F1 plans realised.
He said that land recently acquired next to the new Portimao track in Portugal, to be used as a base for A1GP, could also house an F1 operation.
"We had done a deal on Spyker, but I let Vijay (Mallya) take it...We then went to Toro Rosso in November and all the (other) teams said 'no customer boss' so I had to walk away," he said.
"Today I'm in a completely different situation. I've built my own cars and designed my own chassis. I have my own factory.
"So I'm not a customer boss. I can now build my chassis and run with a Ferrari engine. I'm now the same as everyone else."
