Telmex To Buy Honda's F1 Team?

With almost 3 months remaining until the season opener in Australia, the clock is ticking for Nick Fry's team. The outfit, left without financial support from Honda at the beginning of the month, is desperately trying to secure sponsorship for next year in order to continue their F1 run. Apparently, a number of investors have shown their interest in purchasing Honda's F1 team by January next year.

While David Richards and Prodrive seem to be in pole position for buying the team from the Japanese manufacturer – as the former Subaru boss admitted he is currently holding talks with a number of investors in the Middle East to secure team's financing for 2009 – it seems another motorsport enthusiast is ready to make his way into the Great Circle.

As the British tabloid The Sun informed earlier this weekend, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has reportedly travelled to the UK and made a short stop to team's headquarters in Brackley. Also considered the second richest man in the world, Slim is currently holding the majority of shares of Telmex telecommunications company.

Should the Mexican investor chip in, Jenson Button will most likely by joined in for next year's campaign by GP2 runner-up Bruno Senna. The Brazilian is currently sponsored by Embratel, a subsidiary of Telmex.

Also, Ayrton Senna's nephew was also linked with the backing of Brazilian oil company Petrobras. Back in October, the South American firm was reportedly in talks with Honda's F1 team for a multi-year sponsorship deal that would secure a racing seat for a 'young Brazilian driver' for the next season. With Nelsinho Piquet already confirmed at Renault for 2009, the next driver that comes into one's mind is Senna, also given his increased popularity within the South American public.

Senna has tested for Honda at Barcelona in the off-season, but the testing were soon discontinued as the Japanese manufacturer announced their F1 quit in early December.