"The team are working their arses off to produce a great car for 2009 and with the team and the attitude we have, I can't believe there's not anyone interested in buying the team and helping us out," he told the assembled stars, workers and guests. "What they'll get is a great team with excellent facilities. And with the leadership of Ross Brawn, and the whole team as they are, we can come through this and be on the grid in 2009."

Formula One chief Bernie Eccclestone is certain that the sport will survive the crisis, although stops short of saying Honda will be saved. "I think Formula One is in no bigger crisis than any other company throughout the world," Ecclestone told the BBC. "The world is in crisis at the moment, but it won't stop, the world won't stop, that's for sure. Everyone has been working like crazy to reduce the necessity to spend to be competitive. Even yesterday there was a meeting of the technical people to change the regulations in order for this to take place, and I have no doubt that there would have been a drastic reduction in the cost and the necessity to spend to be competitive - which is what we've been trying to do."

Reducing costs now is too late for Honda, however, and their withdrawal shocked the motor racing world, Button included. "It was a big shock for me on Thursday," explained Button, "but on Friday I headed up to the factory to see what was going on, not in a very positive mood. After spending half an hour with the whole crew, in every department of the factory, I realised that we can't change what's happened - it's very disappointing for all of us.

"The only thing we can do is to stay positive, and that's what we are doing."