Honda Racing F1 Team was a Formula One (F1) team run by Japanese car manufacturer Honda, from 1964 to 1968 and from 2006 to 2008. Honda's involvement in F1 began with the 1964 season; their withdrawal in 1968 was precipitated by the death of Honda driver Jo Schlesser during the 1968 French Grand Prix. They returned in 1983 as an engine supplier, a role that ended in 1992. They returned again in 2000, providing engines for British American Racing (BAR), and by the end of 2005 BAR had been bought out and Honda Racing was re-established. It was announced on December 5, 2008 that Honda would be exiting Formula One with immediate effect due to the current economic crisis and were looking to sell the team. On February 27 2009 it was announced that the team had been secured with a management buy-out led by team principal Ross Brawn, and raced successfully as Brawn GP in 2009 before being bought by Mercedes and turned to Mercedes Grand Prix for the 2010 onward.