Suzuki holds crunch talks on team future

Aguri Suzuki has flown to Japan for talks with senior Honda executives as he bids to secure the future of his Formula One team, autosport.com has learned

Super Aguri have faced a difficult winter, with financial problems forcing them to curtail their testing programme. The team were forced to pull out of this week's Barcelona test at the last minute because of their current situation.

The team's continued absence from testing has prompted speculation that they may not make it to the season-opener in Australia, and it is understood that the talks taking place in Tokyo over the next 24 hours are now key to deciding their future.

Sources have revealed that between three and four investment deals are on the table for Suzuki to consider - ranging from a takeover of equity to more straightforward team sponsorship.

Aguri is believed to be weighing up the options but needs to finalise how much support he can rely on from Honda, who have helped fund the team since they entered F1 in 2006.

Honda chiefs are believed to be keen for Super Aguri to become a self-funding enterprise, especially as in the next few years the team will have to begin becoming an outright constructor.

The team are currently awaiting news from Japan about what Suzuki's plans for the future are, with personnel on standby to head to Barcelona to resume testing next week.