Ferrari prepared to provide Honda team with engines

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One champions Ferrari would be prepared to supply engines to whoever takes over the Honda team but nothing has been agreed so far, a spokesman said Tuesday.

"They (the team management) have asked us if we are able to provide engines and we said yes," he said. "That's it, nothing more."

Any rescue deal would realistically need to be in place by early February if the team are to make the season-opener in Australia on March 29.

Japanese manufacturer Honda, hammered by slumping sales in America and the strong yen, stunned the sport a month ago when they announced they were pulling out both as a constructor and engine provider due to the world financial crisis.

The Brackley-based team, run by former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn and chief executive Nick Fry, have said several 'global players' are interested without identifying any of them.

A number of wealthy individuals, including former world champion Michael Schumacher and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, have been held up by the media as possible purchasers only to subsequently deny interest.

Brawn told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper that Honda remained supportive of efforts to find a buyer and he was confident the team would be on the Melbourne starting grid.

"All I can say is that there are more than one (potential buyer)," said the Briton, whose drivers last year were compatriot Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. "The aim is to save people's jobs.