Jenson Button -- facing a season on the side-lines after Honda pulled the plug -- has urged the team's employees to stay positive.

The British driver visted the team's headquarters in Brackley today after Honda quit the sport as part of a wider cost cutting drive.

Honda hung out the "for sale" sign on Thursday evening, after hopes of a big spending sponsor for the team came to nothing.

Button, who is expected to be one of the team's major "assets" in any sale, said: "We need to stay positive and as one team because if we are not, no one will be interested in taking over."

Honda's decison has sent shockwaves through the sport with many team managers wondering who will be the next manufacturer to pull out.

Toyota, BMW, Renault and Ferrari all run their own teams. Mercedes has a major share-holding in McLaren.

Some pundits are now wondering if, after years of chasing major manufactuers, the sport's governing body the FIA will go back to a championship made up of privateer teams.

* Don't miss tomorrow's Northern Echo for an exclusive interview with FIA boss Max Mosley.