Super Aguri future in doubt

UPDATE Super Aguri owner, founder and boss Aguri Suzuki has denied that the team's current financial situation could spell an end to his formula one foray. Reports recently have revealed talks with potential buyers in India and possibly also Spain, Japan and Russia. To the Tokyo Chunichi Sports newspaper on Saturday, Suzuki played down fears that the team could fold. "There are many things to be resolved at all levels. But we will be alright, we will never disappear," he said. Suzuki added: "We are holding talks with a few companies not mentioned before.

01/31/08 (GMM) The sale of Super Aguri to an Indian consortium could be scuppered by a disagreement about the team's 2008 driver lineup.

The small Japanese team's manufacturer partner, Honda, is not keen on the interested Spice Group's plan to put Narain Karthikeyan in the cockpit this year.

Honda F1 chief executive Nick Fry made it clear earlier this week that he thinks Anthony Davidson is of a higher standard.

Spice Group spokesperson Neha Rastogi is adamant, however, that bringing 31-year-old Karthikeyan back to the grid is central to the consortium's interest in buying into Super Aguri.

"The discussions right now are centered on commercial feasibility," Rastogi told India Times.

"But our main mission is to support Indian drivers and give Narain the opportunity to drive in F1 again.

"So you can say the deal is contingent on this condition," she added.