HONDA F1

Jenson Button says he is focused on 2009 more than this season and has reconciled himself to settling for points rather than podiums for the rest of this year.

Although Honda has regained ground this season after its dismal 2007 campaign, it remains in the upper midfield.

However, with ex-Ferrari man Ross Brawn having joined as team principal late last winter, there is now much more optimism about Honda's long-term prospects even though it looks set to struggle in the short-term.

Button confirmed that he was thinking about Honda's brighter future more than this season's difficulties.

"We are not going to win or get a podium place, I know that,” Button told The Times newspaper.

"Things aren't as good as I would like them to be, but things are starting to pick up.

"Even before we started racing this year we were talking about 2009.

"Things will change.

"We have a goal.

"We now have a proper technical leader in Ross Brawn.”

The British star said he had been able to stay upbeat because even in Honda's darkest hours last year he was earning praise for his determined driving and his construction response to the team's slump.

"Last year, most of the reports about my season were positive," Button said.