BAR Banned!

The FIA just handed down the quilty verdict to BAR Honda - quilty of running underweight cars at Imola. The 10 points won at Imola will be stripped, BAR has been banned from the next two races in Spain and Monaco and BAR received a 6 month ban suspended for a year.

Certainly a light punishment, it could have been a lot worse if it were a total exclusion from the 2005 season. However the consequences of this will be felt for a long time... Button will probably be swapping his white/black/red racesuit for some white/blue ones soon. I wouldn't be surprised if his agent has already contacted BMW.WilliamsF1 and trying to get out of his current contract with BAR Honda leaving poor Sato to carry the team. What about BAR's sponsors? Will they stick it out with BAR and risk tainting themselves in the process or will they jump ship? And Honda? Now the once prestigious Honda will be associated with cheating for some time. Gil de Ferran, BAR's new Sporting Director is at the wrong place, at the wrong time. And David Richards is somewhere having his last laugh. Even old JV might have some self satisfaction at the news. Heads will roll and Nick Fry might get fried at the end of the season.

The 2005 season is effectively over for BAR and its fans.