Motor racing-Japanese will come back to F1 one day, says Brawn

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Formula One can expect Japan's departed carmakers and companies to return eventually but it could be a long wait, according to championship-winning team boss Ross Brawn.

Brawn's former Honda team pulled out last December while Toyota followed this month and Bridgestone, Formula One's sole tyre supplier, have announced they will leave at the end of next season.

The Briton told Reuters that he suspected the Japanese would have a rethink some time in the future, once the global financial situation had improved sufficiently.

"They've obviously decided that this is how they need to respond to difficulties they are facing, but they have got a lot of history in Formula One, particularly Honda and Bridgestone, so let's hope," Brawn said.

"It will take a while, it's going to take a few years but Honda's was their second or third involvement in Formula One," added Brawn, whose team use Mercedes engines and have been linked to a takeover by the German carmaker.

"Manufacturers look at the value to them of Formula One, there's no sentiment I'm afraid. So when it's viable they come in, and when it's not they don't."

EBB AND FLOW

While Honda's British-based team was a stand-alone operation rescued by a management buyout led by Brawn, Toyota's is integrated within a car plant in the German city of Cologne and is set to be wound up.