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F1: De Ferran Leaves Honda Management Job
Written by: Adam Cooper
RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
07/15/2007 - 07:00 PM
Brackley, UK
 
The role of De Ferran (L, with driver Jenson Button) seemed incresingly unclear in Honda's top-heavy management structure. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos

The Honda Racing F1 team has announced that sporting director Gil de Ferran is leaving the team with immediate effect.

The former Champ Car and IndyCar star joined the team early in the 2005 season, and ever since outsiders have struggled to understand exactly what his job was supposed to be in what appeared to be a top-heavy management structure.

He had little direct experience of Grand Prix racing, other than tests with Arrows and Williams before he went stateside. However, the Brazilian played a significant role in persuading countryman to Rubens Barrichello to join the team.

Honda said that was leaving "to pursue other opportunities with immediate effect."

"I am obviously very disappointed to be leaving the Honda F1 team," he was quoted as saying. "I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for Honda, with whom I have been successfully associated for more than 10 years. Consequently, my decision to leave has not been an easy one.

"I simply feel that I came to this team to fulfill a particular
role and it has not materialized as I had hoped. I would like to thank everyone at the team for the support I have been given and I wish them luck in the future."

Team boss Nick Fry said: "I am disappointed that Gil is leaving our team. Since he joined us in 2005 we have enjoyed a very positive relationship. However, a Formula One team is rather like a jigsaw puzzle in that every piece has to fit precisely in its place.

"Gil has become increasingly uncomfortable in his role and feels the time has now come to seek fresh opportunities. We are very much hoping that Gil will choose to maintain close links with the Honda family."



Get the inside story of the people, science and history of Formula 1 each month in RACER. On the 40th anniversary of the Cosworth DFV's introduction, we chart the record and influence of the great V8 in our August issue, on sale now.