Grapevine: Aguri could tip political balance

According to high level sources close to the FIA, Super Aguri are likely to commit their long-term future to F1 and Bernie Ecclestone rather than get involved in the manufacturer plans for a breakaway championship.

Should that be the case, then it would mean that six teams have signed up for F1 beyond 2007 - with Ferrari, Williams, Midland, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso already having committed themselves.

This compares with just five teams remaining in the breakaway Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) - McLaren-Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, Honda Racing and Renault.

Although the numbers in each camp are not significant yet, should Aguri sign up to F1 then it would be important because the team have considerable backing from Honda.

The team are likely to consult closely with the Japanese carmaker about their plans and any move into Ecclestone's camp would give the firmest hint yet about the future intention of Honda itself.

Autosport.com reported earlier this month that Honda and Toyota are believed to have told the GPMA that they are no longer interested in the breakaway plans and will sign-up to F1 as soon as they are free of a binding contract they signed last September with the GPMA, which currently prevents them from leaving its fold.

While the sport awaits Aguri's decision about their plans, the likelihood is that the first few weeks of 2006 will be crucial in terms of what happens with the breakaway.

The GPMA warned last month that it viewed the end of 2005 as the point of no return in its plans for the future.

"I think it is true that the end of this year is probably a turning point," said Renault F1 chairman Patrick Faure. "We cannot wait much more for the new championship, because we need to sign circuits to organise ourselves."