Two teams in '02, says Honda tech boss
Honda's Formula 1 technical boss Kazutoshi Nishizawa has stepped in to end speculation that the company would drop one its two teams for 2002, saying that British American Racing and Jordan would be powered by the Japanese V10s next year
Paddock sources maintain that Honda was looking to add extra focus to its quest to take on Mercedes, Ferrari and BMW by dropping a team.
The decision was expected to be based on the points situation after the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this month. However, Nishizawa was adamant that the status quo would be maintained.
"I don't understand why this rumour is circulating," he said in this afternoon's (Friday's) FIA press conference. "We will supply both teams next year. In fact we presented our 2002 engine to both teams in Malaysia and we already have had several meetings with them.
"We never planned to drop either team," he added.
Nishizawa said that Honda would not be averse to reducing engine capacity in the category - a view not shared by Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug.
"From the safety standpoint, Honda would agree to reduce engine power by reducing engine capacity to 2.5-litres," said the Japanese.
But the Mercedes man countered, saying: "Our feelings are that we don't need to change anything because it doesn't contribute to lap times that much, or contribute to safety issues."
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