Dubai and Honda’s ’b’ team

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Dubai based 'Emirates Airline' has denied that it is involved in setting up a new formula one team. It had been suggested that the airline, originally linked to the stillborn 'Dubai F1'-McLaren project, had switched its focus to the mysterious 'B' team involving Honda.

''When it comes to sponsorship,'' a senior vice president at the airline, Mike Simon, told the 'Arabian Business' publication, ''I can deny that Emirates is interested in (formula one).''

He said Emirates – also linked to McLaren-Mercedes' possible 'b' entry for 2007 – had 'declined' a 'number' of approaches from grand prix teams.

It remains true, however, that Emirates' sponsorships of the World Cup and the America's Cup will soon end. The airline is run by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum — the brother of the 'A1' founder.

Emirates also sponsors English football, horse racing, cricket, golf and rugby.

Simon insisted: ''All of (this) keep(s) us pretty busy.''

10/12/05 The latest gossip in the F1 rumor mill is that the failed 'Dubai F1' project is involved in Honda's mysterious eleventh team for 2006.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the brother of the 'A1 grand prix' founder and involved in the Emirates airline, is reportedly at the helm of the latest F1 team link.

The unnamed and unknown team's owners, though, are already facing opposition from within pitlane, with departing Minardi boss Paul Stoddart claiming that the 'Concorde' agreement would prevent the team from running a version of the 2005 spec BAR.

''To just sell the intellectual property rights … doesn't actually get around the problem,'' the Australian F1 principal claimed.

Former driver and F1 pundit Martin Brundle agrees that the existence of the enigmatic team seems 'unusual.

''Secrets are difficult to keep in the paddock,'' said the Englishman. ''I would be shocked if they could already have something under way so quickly. It would not surprise me if the project is delayed until 2007.''