18/06/2004
NEWS STORY
Honda has revealed that it after several frustrating years with BAR, and Jordan, it was close to pulling out of F1, until Jenson Button's third-place in Malaysia.
"Halfway through last year the board were close to pulling out," admitted the Japanese giant's Shoichi Tanaka, ahead of the United States GP. "They were disenchanted with the results because they expected more.
"Things improved towards the end of last year," he continued, "but the turning point was Jenson's third place in Malaysia.
"The day after the race the executive board had a meeting and, because of the result, were persuaded to continue.
"What we are waiting for now is our first win with BAR," he admitted, "Jenson is doing a great job."