12/01/2009
NEWS STORY
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has effectively ruled out any hope of the Italian outfit supplying Honda with engines.
Speaking at the unveiling of his own team's 2009 contender this morning, the Italian, when asked about the prospect of supplying Honda, said: "The chance of us supplying engines to Honda is close to zero."
Only last week, Honda Team Principal Ross Brawn, who left Ferrari at the end of 2006 having helped it to a string of titles, claimed the Brackley outfit was hoping to secure an engine supply from the Maranello outfit, with many believing that this made perfect sense, what with his long successful relationship with the company. However, today's comment from Domenicali appears to put such a deal very much in doubt.
There has been talking linking Ferrari with Honda ever since the Japanese outfit announced its withdrawal from F1 in December, however, there has also been speculation that Mercedes might be willing to supply engine, though it is already supplying Force India.
The apparent lack of an engine deal will be a further worry for the employees at Brackley with just over two weeks to go before the team reaches its deadline.