By Phil Huff (25/08/2004)
August 25 2004

We managed to endure the Ferrari demonstration that was called the Hungarian Grand Prix, but now we have the far more exciting Belgian Grand Prix to look forward to. There's still little doubt that a Ferrari will be leading at the end of the race, but at least it's a proper race track, and not some glorified karting circuit.

And we also now know that Jenson Button is as committed to securing BAR's first win as he's ever been.

According to reports on some other websites however, Jenson hasn't been fully committed to the teams marketing demands, with news trickling through that he refused to participate in a Honda shoot out at London City Airport. The plan was for Jenson to race his BAR Honda against a British Superbike and Formula Honda 225 powerboat.

Trust BAR-Talk.com to get it right, however. The event did happen, Jenson did turn up, and Honda were happy. We had the reports, the quotes and, most vitally, the pictures.

While we had everything, Takuma Sato most definitely didn't. Turning up at Brazil for some PR work (so much more glamorous than London City Airport), Sato was promptly refused entry and sent straight back to Blighty. Seemingly someone forgot to sort out a visa, which doesn't bode well for the forthcoming Grand Prix there. Will Anthony Davidson finally get a race with BAR? It'll all depend on the office admin.

Not subscribed to the BAR-Talk.com Newsletter? Click here to register now. Once registered, you can also use your details on the BAR-Talk.com Message Board and throughout the rest of SportNetwork.

Far more serious than missing a day's PR work is David Richards' situation at BAR. From what we've heard, and we've heard direct from very high level sources, Honda are none too happy at hearing about Jenson's departure via the television. Neither are some members of the BAR board, who were blissfully unaware of the situation evolving beneath their very noses.

Despite all the good that David has done for the team, there have been quiet calls for at least one head to roll over the Button debacle. If it's his head that does roll, what will happen to BAR?

Well, we do know that ex-BAR boss Craig Pollock is rapidly learning to speak Cantonese, at just the same time that rumours surface about Chinese oil giant Sinopec wanting to buy an F1 team. Pollock's leading the bid, and is still very close to Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve has recently stated he'd be happy to return to BAR...

That may be just too many 'ifs' for one story, but stranger things have happened.

Such as Enrique Bernoldi driving for BAR. No, really. Alright, it's just two tests over the next month, but surely there's a few other names BAR could call on.

We hear Mika Hakkinen fancies having a go.

Until next time,

Phil Huff.
BAR-Talk.com