Fry spoke out in public ahead of crunch meetings between Aguri Suzuki and the Honda board in Japan, saying he was skeptical about the success of a proposed rescue-bid by the Weigl Group.

He was also at the center of claims that Super Aguri’s trucks were barred from entering the paddock at Istanbul last weekend after he told Bernie Ecclestone the team would not be racing in Turkey.

Fry’s influence in the situation did not impress Suzuki, who criticized him in a farewell press conference in Tokyo last week.

Let’s be realistic about this. The Honda works team (run by Fry) no longer wanted to take the chance that they would be shown up by the Honda second team (Super Aguri). Why spend your own money to embarass yourself.

This is a real shame. Super Aguri did wonders with very little money. They were screwed by their main sponser (SS United) who reportedly did not pay the agreed sponsorship money. Formula 1 cannot afford to lose more teams.

A meeting with backers Honda in Japan on Wednesday could decide the future of the struggling tail-enders after they limped through the first European grand prix of the season in Spain.

“They don’t look in very good shape at the moment, unfortunately,” Ecclestone told Reuters at the Circuit de Catalunya.

“I want them to stay, I’ve been helping them the last week,” he added.

There is no doubt that Barrichello would be a useful recruit for the US team. It would help that Rubens is a close friend of team member Tony Kanaan. The two have in the past worn one another’s helmet designs in races and are also partners in the Instituto Barrichello Kanaan, a charity organisation. They are very close.

Barrichello will this weekend equal Riccardo Patrese’s record as the F1 driver with the longest career. It is safe to say that his chances of continuing in F1 in the longer term are slim. Going to America makes a lot of sense. With the support of Honda such a deal is possible.

However the rumours about Andretti switching to Formula 1 do not add up for a number of reasons. The 21-year-old has tested for the Honda F1 team twice in the past, but according to our sources he has not made a huge impression. He has won only one IRL race – at Sears Point back in 2006 – and while he has come close on other occasions, he has yet to establish himself as a star who might be able to translate US success on to the international scene.

Discussions between Super Aguri and investors are continuing as they bid to put together a deal to secure their future after the collapse of a proposed bid being put together by Magma Group.

Although Magma remain in talks with potential backers Dubai International Capital (DIC) to try and reach a fresh settlement, there has not yet been any agreement on the matter.

And although Super Aguri are present at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, it is understood that the team will only be allowed to take part in the event if a deal is put in place tonight.

The team’s 2008 challenger has failed to impress in its current configuration, and the team are hoping that aerodynamic and mechanical updates that will be run for the first time in their private test next week will help matters.

Rubens Barrichello felt that the RA108 was too inconsistent in its handling at the moment to make any firm prediction about its pace.

“We are finding that the performance of the car is quite varied as I had a different reaction from the car over the two days so we have some set-up work to complete,” said the Brazilian.

“It is too early to make a final comment on performance as we have our new aero update kit to evaluate next week.”

The car will be tested at Valencia for the rest of this week, prior to its official launch at the team’s Brackley factory next Tuesday.