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.

After weeks of speculation about their future following the collapse of a proposed takeover by the Magma Group, a last-minute rescue package by German automotive company Weigl Group was not good enough to keep them racing.

Team principal Aguri Suzuki is understood to have met with the Honda board in Japan on Tuesday, but the outcome of that meeting was that the team will no longer be racing.

This is very disappointing news.

The Leafield-based outfit have been fighting for survival since a proposed deal with the Magma Group fell through shortly after the Bahrain Grand Prix.

With their participation in last weekend’s race in Spain only possible due to Honda agreeing at the last-minute to bankroll them for the event, the outfit have been searching to find a fresh investment deal so they continue in the sport.

With Super Aguri’s deal with the Magma Group and Dubai International Capital (DIC) having collapsed recently, and little chance of them putting together a fresh offer, Aguri have been working hard on finding alternative investors.

Sources have told autosport.com that Weigl chief Franz Josef Weigl was at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix for talks with Super Aguri.

It is believed that he has been offered a deal to get involved in the outfit as long as he is willing to bankroll the team for the rest of the season, a figure believed to be around £6.5 million.

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.

Honda – which supplies Super Aguri with cars, engines and much of their funding – gave the go-ahead following meetings in Japan on Friday.

The team still need a buyer if they are to continue beyond this weekend’s race.

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.

It now looks likely to stave off collapse – in the short term at least – after confirming their cars were on the way to Spain for this weekend’s race as reported by Autosport.com.

The survival of the Japanese team remains in the balance after the breakdown of a planned rescue deal but Super Aguri’s co-owner believes they will be on the grid in Barcelona.

“I have heard that the cars being transported to Spain,” Fumio Akita told Reuters on Tuesday. “They’re on the way is the latest information I have.”

The team had already sent their spare parts truck last Friday.

Potential buyers Magma Group pulled out of their proposed takeover last week, putting Super Aguri’s future in serious threat.

Their continued participation this season may depend on backers Honda, although they may be reluctant to help, having only recently said that they would scale down their support.

The Leafield-based team are to be taken over by automotive consultancy firm the Magma Group, with a deal set to go through before the end of this month.

Although the agreement has helped secure the future of the outfit, following months of financial difficulties, sources have suggested that the completion of the contract will then likely result in an overhaul of the team structure.