RealHondaF1.com's Christmas Message

Whilst many will be glad to see 2008 come to an end, that won't be true of the people at Brackley, most of whom face an uncertain future. It's with that background that, despite the gloom, we sincerely wish every team member, ever supplier and every fan a very Merry Christmas and a positive and Happy New Year.

On track, 2008 was very much a non-event for Honda Racing F1, bar a fortunate podium for Rubens Barrichello in adverse weather conditions. There was no hiding from the fact that the RA108 simply wasn't competitive and, to Honda's credit, they made no attempt to hide it.

For most, that meant ploughing through a 'character building' year while resources were switched to 2009, and what a positive year that looked like being. All the data (which, to be fair, is not 100% reliable) points towards the RA109 being a genuine contender for victory, something the drivers, and Jenson Button in particularly, have been waiting a long time for.

With the economic downturn forcing Honda's hand, and the decision being made to withdraw from the sport, there's now doubt that the RA109 will even see the light of day. What we can say is there a many passionate people working night and day to ensure a suitable buyer can be found for the team.

Whilst that won't remove the uncertainty over the Christmas period, it will lead to a very happy new year.

And it's with that optimistic frame of mind that we leave you for 2008. RealHondaF1.com will return in January, although we'll remain on standby if some vital news breaks before then.

Thanks for sticking with us. Now it's time to stick with the team.

Merry Christmas.