PARIS (AFP) — Honda's shock Formula One withdrawal looks likely to torpedo Bruno Senna's hopes of carrying his family's name into the 2009 world championship.
Senna, the nephew of legendary Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna, had impressed in winter testing for the Japanese team and was hopeful of occupying one of the seats next year.
Now the 25-year-old must wait to see if Honda can find a buyer for its Formula One operation which was dramatically halted on Friday as the global financial slump claimed another high-profile victim.
"We'll have to look around and see what other options are open to us," said Senna in an interview with Motorsports-Magazine.com.
"These things happen. It's never been easy to get into Formula One - you just have to keep plugging away and see what turns up.
"I'm not burning any bridges there (with Honda), but I can't wait forever. On the other hand, the financial situation is tough everywhere at the moment and it is difficult to see where things are heading. So in the circumstances, you have to be very flexible."
If Senna was to drive in the 2009 championship, his debut would come 15 years after Ayrton Senna, the world champion in 1988, 1990 and 1992, was killed at Imola.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian press lamented the end of Honda's F1 interest, fearing for the future of Rubens Barrichello, the veteran driver of 271 races and the man who delivered the team's best result in 2008 - third place at Silverstone.
"Honda says goodbye to Formula One and to the Brazilians," said the O Globo newspaper.
"An open door to Formula One is closed for Bruno Senna....another Brazilian victim is the experienced Rubens Barrichello, who has been with the team since 2006".
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