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Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has insisted that he has “no regrets” about withdrawing from Formula One, despite seeing Brawn GP run away with both the constructors and drivers’ championships last weekend.

The Japanese manufacturer took evasive action in December, pulling out of the sport as the worldwide financial crisis bit hard, and it was forced to consider temporary closures at its UK car plant.

But when Ross Brawn came forward to take the reins at the trouble hit team, renaming it Br...Read the full article

The Honda name has been linked in a positive way with Brawn throughout the season, so I'd image they are happy with the amount of "positive coverage" the car company has received from the win.

In reality though, if Honda had stayed involved, would this win have been possible?  I doubt it, and they probably know this too.

This way, they have got the best of both worlds.

Of course if Honda had still been in control in Banbury, then Brawn would not have been using a Mercedes engine; and they would have been possibly battling with the Renaults and Williams still.

The Brawn story has more to do with having the best car at the start of the season mated to the best engine. Just look at Hamilton's speed once they got the car right.