Super Aguri may be missing from the grid when the Formula One season starts in Australia next month after falling into financial difficulty.

The Japanese team, which made their Formula One debut in 2006, are apparently still waiting for money owed to them by a key sponsor.

Aguri Suzuki, the team principal, has spent the last few days in Japan locked in talks with senior executives from Honda, who supply engines to Super Aguri, and potential investors in an attempt to secure its future.

Super Aguri's financial problems have restricted its testing programme this year, and it has yet to confirm the driver line-up for the new season.

After pulling out of last week's test in Barcelona and cancelling a planned launch, Super Aguri have also withdrawn from the final three-day pre-season test that began on Monday at the Circuit de Catalunya.

However, the team remain confident of being on the grid in Melbourne on March 16.

Aguri said: "As talks continue with Super Aguri F1, we have decided we will focus our attention on preparing for the first race in Australia as the freight leaves shortly. We have therefore decided not to test in Barcelona this week."