Carlos Slim - The saviour ?
The very quiet Christmas season was disturbed by the story in Italian papers La Stampa. The story has since been denied by both camps – Carlos Slim and Honda (see bottom of this article). The article posted on December 27 suggests that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has put his cash into the Honda F1 team:
“The news is not official as all the details have yet to be formalised. But two things are certain – the team has been saved and the drivers will be Jenson Button and rookie Bruno Senna.”
Bruno Senna connection does make sense. He has been one of the drivers considered and tested in Barcelona by Honda F1 prior to Honda’s withdrawal announcement. Also Bruno Senna has been sponsored by Embratel (subsidiary of Slim’s Telmex) since 2006.
Bruno Senna backed by Embratel since 2006
As Jose Arellano commented earlier on different post Carlos Slim’s Telmex has been involved in motorsport for quite a while supporting teams and drivers in many different racing series – T Sport in British Formula 3, Chip Ganassi team in the USA for example. Telmex has also been supporting development of Mexican drivers through its “stairway” concept that starts in series such as Barber Dodge Formula, German BMW Formula, British Formula 3, Atlantic Formula, Formula Renault, the now defunct Champ Car, even NASCAR. Some similarities with Red Bull’s junior driver program come to mind here.
Telmex in British F3 with T Sport
Formula 1 seems to be the natural step up for Carlos Slim. Let’s see how this story develops. Autosport for now believes any deal for Honda F1 team is yet to be finalized. According to Autosport Carlos Slim is only one of four parties talking to Honda (besides David Richards and his Kuwait backers Investment Dar Company, Greek shipping magnate Achilleas Kallakis and an unidentified Swiss group) and no announcement should be expected before end of the year.
Both Carlos Slim’s Telmex and Honda acted quickly to deny this stroy:
Ross Brawn (to The Daily Telegraph):
“We would love it if it were true, but it’s pure speculation from various members of the media. It’s just been one of those rumours which has developed a life of its own. There has been a huge amount of interest. It’s now got to the stage where we need to filter out the serious from the not so serious. We’re all hopeful that something will happen and we’re anxious to turn up the wick again in the new year.”
Nick Fry to autosport.com:
“While it would be inappropriate to comment on any one potential purchaser of the team, Ross and I are very pleased with the level and calibre of interest in our team and we hope that we can bring this to a conclusion by the end of January. In the meantime, preparations for Melbourne continue.”
Escuderia Telmex:
“Escuderia Telmex informs that Carlos Slim Helu has not acquired nor has any negotiations for this aim with the Honda Formula One team. All the information on this subject lacks foundation and is completely false.”
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Ohh, so it wasn’t true??? HAHAHA
Somebody told me that the team already was sold by a single $ to a Mexican magnate, which I believed it was Carlos Slim. From where came that info? Sure not in F1Wolf, but in some russian source. Anyway, it’s a pity to not have still the backing financial support for Honda for the next season still, I thought it would be much more easy for them.
It would be fantastic to get a North/Central American owner to Honda, which would surely bring the sport back to our continent. I know very little of Carlos Slim. What is the source of his wealth? There has been a lot of corruption and criminal syndicate leaders making tons of money in Mexico. I hope he is beyond that.
About Carlos Slim – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Slim_Helú
It does not however explain where all the money actually came from
I did a little research on the internet. Mr. Slim appears to be not only a honest and fantastic businessman, but a well known philanthropist. He is a self made man, coming from modest beginnings. Obviously one of the more exceptional human beings in our world. And he is the world’s second or third wealthiest man with an obvious interest in racing.
He would make a welcome addition to F1.
well, at the moment he says he is not interested and not even talking with Honda. but who knows what is going on behind the scenes …
slims money came from telmex the only local phone company in the country. telmex used to be goverment property and the only one allowed to provide the service… slim should thank hes friend and mexico ex president carlos salinas de gortari for the company.. but he also made it grow a lot. and he also created infinitum (isp) and telcel (mobile phone and also present in local racing)
well, when state property is up for sale, good connections do help. look at Russia and their oil and minreral barons
yep,.. the trick here was that for a loooong time the law didnt permit any other company to offer those services, so mr slim could charge whatever he wanted and still everybody was stuck with him.. and im talking more than 20 years..
[...] future has not been sorted out yet. The rumours about the deal with Carlos Slim have been strongly denied by both parties but according to optimistic Ross Brawn the negotiations with several interested [...]
[...] have been mentioned before. The “most likely” candidates however ruled themselves out. Carlos Slim was apparently never even considering getting involved, David Richards may have been but is not any [...]