TEAM REPORTS (BRACKLEY) - GIL DE FERRAN TO LEAVE HONDA RACING F1 TEAM

Brackley, UK
16 July 2007


GIL DE FERRAN TO LEAVE HONDA RACING F1 TEAM 

By mutual agreement with the Honda Racing F1 Team, Gil de Ferran will
leave his role as Sporting Director to pursue other opportunities with
immediate effect.

Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer of the Honda Racing F1 Team, said: "I
am disappointed that Gil is leaving our team. Since he joined us in 2005
we have enjoyed a very positive relationship. However, a Formula One
team is rather like a jigsaw puzzle in that every piece has to fit
precisely in its place. Gil has become increasingly uncomfortable in his
role and feels the time has now come to seek fresh opportunities. We are
very much hoping that Gil will choose to maintain close links with the
Honda family."

Gil de Ferran commented: "I am obviously very disappointed to be leaving
the Honda F1 team. I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for
Honda, with whom I have been successfully associated for more than 10
years. Consequently, my decision to leave has not been an easy one. I
simply feel that I came to this team to fulfil a particular role and it
has not materialised as I had hoped. I would like to thank everyone at
the team for the support I have been given and I wish them luck in the
future."