Honda to Decide on F1 Future by July

BAR's engine partners Honda will decide by July whether to continue in Formula One after this season, according to a senior company official.

"The current contract is through to the end of 2004 and the contract review will happen in the first half of the season," Honda Racing Development vice-president Otmar Szafnauer told Autosport magazine on Thursday.

"By Silverstone that decision will be made."

The British Grand Prix is on July 11.

BAR, who came into Formula One in 1999, have yet to win a race but have set an ambitious target of challenging the top three teams this year and fighting for podium places with Japanese driver Takuma Sato and Briton Jenson Button.

The team were let down by repeated engine failures last season, however, including one at the US Grand Prix which Button had led. Szafnauer said Honda, who teamed up with BAR in 2000, could be relied upon this year.

"The engine is significantly lighter and it will be more powerful in Melbourne than it was in Suzuka last year," he said. "It is a step forward and we have set ourselves some pretty aggressive targets. We have got a month to meet them all and I think we will."

BAR, who launched their new car last weekend, have set impressive times in pre-season testing in Barcelona with Sato smashing the circuit record.