Flavio Briatore hardly ever gets a Ligier uniform on. But on the occasion of the Hockenheim press-conference he was clothed in a blue shirt decorated with labels of the French team . . .
It seems the crucial question to the survival of Ligier is obviously the team reverting to its French origins. So Frenchmen, with a Ligier' founder Guy Ligier among them, dreaming to see Ligier as a traditional F1 French team again, are very active to carry out their patriotic intentions. Frenchmen have been undertaking a battle for Ligier' joint stock capital and buying up shares feverishly. It is difficult to say who is holding the control stocks in a company now. But in Hockenheim Flavio Briatore reminded the world of that he is not merely a managing director at Benetton but also a Ligier' owner.
What is the next "fish"?
Honda is famed for its F1 history.
Being initiating the Formula One world championship challenge with the first
Japanese F1 machine, - the Honda RA271,- the Japanese company had soon
made a name for itself as a contender to be reckoned with reputation of a
serious F1 manufacturer. It worth to note that Honda, whose engines dominated
F1 from 1986 to 1991, continues to gain valuable experience in a variety of
racing events, both production vehicle-based races and formula car racing.
In formula racing American Honda participates in the IndyCar World Series
and Honda continues to support Formula One racing through its subsidiary
Mugen.
Now Honda re-enters Formula One again. As Japanese had taken this decision before Renault have announced their retirement from F1, - whether does it mean Honda find themselves ready to fight upon a par with the French manufacturer? Let us to look at Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Gil de Ferran. Such confidence as they settle their more eminent IndyCar rivals indicates serious advantages of Honda motors over the rest. It would be probably so that Honda, coming back into Formula One, promises to appear as a new contender to the F1 World Constructors' title in place of Renault.
The sacred place is never deserted.
Flavio Briatore, known as cunning as a fox but far-sighted politician, can't help thinking about future. Renault takes its hook and Benetton faces to looking for another motor. In this case a Japanese engine really seems as a dainty bit. How to succeed an agreement with Honda for the supply of its engines to Benetton?
The first step has been done yet - Benetton have bought a 500cc Motorbike team to run in the World Championship, which is named as Benetton-Honda. In order to consolidate efforts in strengthening of friendly ties with the Japanese manufacturer it is important to keep on in contacting the subsidiary. So, there is very Mr Briatore who takes in his careful hands full control at Ligier carrying on negotiations with the Mugen Honda company to continue their supply of engines.
It must be said there was another real pretender to a Mugen Honda motor - Tom Walkinshaw with his TWR Arrows. But mr.Briatore's art of allurement is undoubtedly beyond any rivalry. Therefore nobody wondered when in the press- conference in Hockenheim the Ligier' owner was overjoyed to declare that Mugen Honda extend their providing Ligier with an engine to the end of 1997.
Naturally, the Italian is unlikely concerned by local interests of the French team. The current contract is a merely link in a slyly plaited chain, which must be ended with the realization of new mr.Briatore's dream - UNBEATABLE F1 ALLIANCE "BENETTON-HONDA". . .
May be then Ligier, at last, would find itself free from being a bird imprisoned in a cage artfully designed with all virtuosity of the Italian maestro.