Honda Motor Co. may have been too hasty in quitting Formula One, according to Bernie Ecclestone, who runs F1's commercial operations.

Facing slumping global sales, the carmaker sold its F1 operations for an undisclosed sum to former team principal Ross Brawn a month ago to save ¥20 billion a year.

While Honda counted just one victory from 53 races in three years, the Brawn team has won both Grands Prix this season through driver Jenson Button, including Sunday's rain-shortened Malaysian Grand Prix.

"They'd spent an awful lot of money, hadn't gotten anywhere and probably didn't realize the potential," Ecclestone said in Kuala Lumpur. "I'm sure if they had, they wouldn't have gone because all this would have been Honda otherwise."

Brawn isn't so sure. The Briton, who has engineered the transformation after Honda hired him 17 months ago, said the automaker had reasons beyond finance for dropping out.

Honda has forecast that its profit plunged 87 percent in the business year that ended last Tuesday to ¥80 billion as vehicle sales in the United States in February fell to their lowest level since December 1981.

"I'm sure they were very frustrated at having to withdraw," Brawn, 54, said. "I've had many notes from senior people at Honda, so they are frustrated because obviously the team has moved forward, but it was a necessity for their business."

Honda spokeswoman Tomoko Uchida declined comment.