HONDA F1

Honda could have two new pilots in 2009

2008-06-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

Fry does not hide it rain tenders

None of the seats of the two pilots are insured Honda this season, as has warned the team leader Nick Fry. Both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are left without a contract at the end of the year, and Fry said that the team located in Brackley is becoming an attractive proposition for other talented drivers in the market.

"We have clear our ideas and our pilots know that," Fry told the online magazine GPWeek. " "Obviously, when you have a team leader and a technical guru Ross as a team, then we are much more attractive than before, and the change in regulations will give us a great opportunity for teams like us."

At the moment not walk shorts offerings," said Fry.

It is an open secret that this season at Honda will focus on adapting to new rules already working on the car since 2009.

Honda first diverts attention to 2009

2008-06-11T14:18:00.001-07:00

Honda are ready to turn their attention to their 2009 car after just seven races into the 2008 season.

The Brackley-based outfit have struggled to keep up with the midfield pack and are a disappointing eighth in the Constructors' Championship.

The team have already signed off the final current year developments and will now put all their design efforts into the car for next year.

"There are just two or three things we are doing with this year's car, so there will be a phased introduction of (new parts) that will start at Silverstone," team principal Ross Brawn was quoted by Autosport.

"It is just a question of making the bits now. The concept work has been done on these new areas and they are being detailed and manufactured at the moment."

Honda's F1 CEO Nick Fry says their poor performances this season left them with little option, but to focus on next year's car.

"What we need to be able to do to beat Ferrari and McLaren on a good day and it is clear we are not going to do that this year."

2008-06-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Nick Fry has denied reports that IndyCar race winner Danica Patrick is scheduled to test for Honda later this year.

According to reports in the Austrian media, Fry has agreed to test Patrick, who claimed her breakthrough Indy victory in Japan earlier this year, when the F1 season ends in November.

"We will put her into our car after the season at the latest and see how quick she is," Fry reportedly told Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

The Honda CEO, though, has denied ever saying this, stating that there are no plans in place to test Patrick.

"There has been no contact between us," he told Autosport.

"But if Danica did want to test one of our cars, we would be more than happy to speak to her about it."

Danica Patrick may after the season testing at Honda

2008-06-10T01:33:00.000-07:00

Danica Patrick may after the current Formula 1 season probably her first meters in an F1 car. HondaRacing director Nick Fry has the driver a test in an F1 car of Honda in the prospect. Probably in november this year may include them in a car from the Japanese team driving.

Fry says in Kronen Zeitung: "After the season we will give her the chance to enter a Formula 1 car to test and then we shall see how fast it is." Patrick won earlier this year as the first woman a race in the IRL IndyCar. The U.S. has its ambition to the king class of motorsports never to get under seating compartment.

More points for Rubens and Honda

2008-06-09T11:34:00.001-07:00

Rubens survives incident-filled race in Montreal to finish seventh; Jenson comes home 11th.

The Honda Racing F1 Team picked up two more World Championship points this afternoon when Rubens Barrichello finished seventh in a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix. Jenson Button, who started the 70-lap race from the pitlane, came home in 11th place.

Rubens drove a tenacious race from start-to-finish. After starting ninth, his track position was helped on lap 17 by the deployment of the safety car, which resulted in the front-runners pitting and then crashing into each other at the exit of the pitlane. Rubens stayed out and ran second to Nick Heidfeld, before leading the race for seven laps ahead of his only pitstop of the race on lap 36.

Once the race had settled down, Rubens was running fourth when battling with a lack of grip which caused him to run wide going into turn 4 on lap 59. This enabled Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli to squeeze through, dropping him to sixth. Rubens battled hard to defend his position in the remaining 11 laps and whilst Felipe Massa got by, he managed to keep Sebastian Vettel at bay to cross the line in seventh position.

“I’m pleased with the two points today,” said Rubens, “particularly as we thought our chances of a points finish were slim when we started the weekend. It was a very tough race and I have not been feeling well since yesterday due to a cold, which made it an even tougher physical challenge.

“Yesterday I didn’t know if I was going to be well enough to race, so all things considered we did a good job today and I'm pleased to keep up the points-scoring momentum from Monaco."

Jenson, meanwhile, faced an uphill struggle from the pitlane. He ended the opening lap in 20th place, before battling his way up to seventh position prior to making his final pitstop on lap 53. He rejoined in 11th place where he remained for the duration of the race.

"It was a very tough and ultimately disappointing race today,” commented Jenson. “It's always difficult starting from the back of the grid and we were using a set-up that we hadn't run previously this weekend. Things didn't quite go our way with the strategy and safety car which meant I was unable to make any progress up the field by the end of the race.”

Coming away from Canada, Team Principal Ross Brawn said: “We always knew this was going to be a tough race for us but we made the best of the opportunities and came away with more points. That is the approach we need to maintain. We are heading to Barcelona next week ahead of the French Grand Prix (22 June) in Magny-Cours, where the higher downforce characteristics of this track and potentially high temperatures will suit our car better.”

Mixed results for Honda

2008-06-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button have their qualification for the Grand Prix of Canada with varying results. Barrichello set a fine performance by the top ten to qualify. Jenson Button had another bad session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Barrichello: "I am very happy for the team and myself. After we scored the points in Monaco, this is obviously a great result and a super start of the weekend. In hot conditions, the circuit there quickly deteriorated. I absolutely had to the clean lines remain outside it was very smooth. I could use my good experience here today, took a few nice times. The ninth position is nice to start. Tomorrow is a beautiful race. "

Barrichello's teammate Button was again not for the display and was disappointed. Button: "I had a problem with my third gear and that meant the end of my qualification. It is generally so far a bad weekend. We need tomorrow but will see how the race will expire. I have all the opportunities that me forward intervene. "

Button started the race tomorrow from the nineteenth position, as Barrichello may start the ninth.

Q3 finaly

2008-06-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Rubens did a great job today. Tanks
Honda f1 fan

Grand Prix of Canada, Gilles Villeneuve Result of 2 free training

2008-06-06T12:41:00.001-07:00

	driver	team	time	difference	#
1.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:15.752		42
2.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:16.023	+0.271 +0,271	41
3.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:16.093	+0.341 +0,341	39
4.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:16.331	+0.579 +0,579	36
5.	F. Massa Bulk	Ferrari	1:16.413	+0.661 +0,661	27
6.	N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:16.589	+0.837 +0,837	43
7.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:16.604	+0.852 +0,852	39
8.	N. Rosberg	Williams	1:16.767	+1.015 +1,015	37
9.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:17.019	+1.267 +1,267	43
10.	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:17.068	+1.316 +1,316	46
11.	K. Nakajima	Williams	1:17.242	+1.490 +1,490	37
12.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:17.334	+1.582 +1,582	29
13.	R. Barrichello	Honda	1:17.462	+1.710 +1,710	39
14.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:17.508	+1.756 +1,756	39
15.	T. Glock	Toyota	1:17.549	+1.797 +1,797	31
16.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:17.559	+1.807 +1,807	38
17.	F. Alonso	Renault	1:17.644	+1.892 +1,892	30
18.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:17.813	+2.061 +2,061	37
19.	J. Button	Honda	1:17.842	+2.090 +2,090	39
20.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:18.076	+2.324 +2,324	17

Grand Prix of Canada, Gilles Villeneuve - free training 1

2008-06-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

	driver	team	time	difference	#
1.	F. Massa Bulk	Ferrari	1:17.553		14
2.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:17.809	+0.256 +0,256	12
3.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:18.133	+0.580 +0,580	10
4.	N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:18.182	+0.629 +0,629	13
5.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:18.292	+0.739 +0,739	12
6.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:18.303	+0.750 +0,750	8
7.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:18.712	+1.159 +1,159	11
8.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:18.809	+1.256 +1,256	12
9.	K. Nakajima	Williams	1:18.971	+1.418 +1,418	24
10.	F. Alonso	Renault	1:19.005	+1.452 +1,452	13
11.	N. Rosberg	Williams	1:19.093	+1.540 +1,540	20
12.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:19.228	+1.675 +1,675	21
13.	T. Glock	Toyota	1:19.346	+1.793 +1,793	28
14.	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:19.568	+2.015 +2,015	31
15.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:19.815	+2.262 +2,262	16
16.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:19.888	+2.335 +2,335	15
17.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:20.091	+2.538 +2,538	23
18.	R. Barrichello	Honda	1:20.173	+2.620 +2,620	17
19.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:20.541	+2.988 +2,988	16
20.	J. Button	Honda	1:21.542	+3.989 +3,989	17

Canada: A lap of the track with Alex Wurz

2008-06-04T04:02:00.000-07:00

Measuring 4.361 km, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve plays host to Formula One for the Annual Canadian Grand Prix, the seventh round of the season. The track is notorious for its punishing braking areas, with six slow-speed corners from which drivers drop their speed from over 250 km/h. Here to guide us on a lap of the track is former Williams racer and current Honda tester Alex Wurz, who raced to a podium here last year.

Alex Wurz, Honda (Test Driver):
“Montreal is a nice Grand Prix. It feels quite similar to Australia in that everyone likes going there and there is a great city nearby that offers good restaurants and a vibrant atmosphere. I made my F1 debut at this race in 1997, so I associate it with the moment when it all came together for me and I like going back to Canada as a result.

“Coming straight after Monaco, the cars feel strange to drive in low-downforce trim. They are always sliding around and you have to get your head around the fact that you rarely find a good balance. Tyre graining is also a big issue.

“You arrive at Turn 1 in sixth gear and it's one of those corners that invites you to brake too late. You want to use the lefthand kerb as much as possible and if you brake too late, the car becomes unstable and the kerb feels much worse than it actually is. This corner leads straight into a first-gear right-hander, which is very slippery early on in the weekend but improves as more rubber goes down.

“Turns 3 and 4 make up another chicane and as the track improves you can jump the chicanes and be very aggressive. You run very close to the right-hand barrier at the exit, before positioning the car on the left in preparation for the flat-out right-hander.

“The next chicane is quite bumpy under braking, but you can still brake very late and use the kerb on the left. You have to be careful not to unsettle the car because you need to be flat through the right-hander, which is followed by a long straight. Then you go under a bridge and you're into another chicane, which has only one turn-in point. It's very easy to miss the entry point here and every year we see drivers getting it wrong and going straight on.

“Next comes the hairpin. It is second or third gear, depending on your gear ratios, and it's very important to have good traction at the exit because the longest straight on the lap follows. You're flat-out for 15 seconds, before stamping on the brakes for the final chicane. You try to brake later and later into here, but you have to be careful because things can go wrong very quickly. A small mistake and you'll be in the 'wall of champions' before you know it.

“The two best overtaking points on the lap are into the hairpin and the last chicane, but it's not so easy due to the marbles off-line, especially late in the race.”

2008-06-01T03:20:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello hopes his sixth place in Monte Carlo will prove to be a turning point for himself and Honda.

As his team plunged into the midfield in 2007, Barrichello went a whole year without a points finish for the first time in his record-breaking career.

But the scoring drought ended when he made the most of the tricky conditions to come through from 15th on the grid to finish sixth in Monaco last weekend.

"It was very satisfying to score points in Monaco as the car had performed well over the weekend and we deserved a good result from the race," Barrichello said.

"I hope this will be the start of better things to come.

"This team has a lot of potential and it is important that we all maintain our focus, keep working hard and I am confident that the car will continue to improve over the season."

But team principal Ross Brawn sounded a note of caution for the forthcoming Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, where he believes Honda will be hard-pressed to match its Monaco achievements.

"We were pleased with the pace and performance of the RA108 around Monaco last week and it was encouraging to score further points, particularly with Rubens for the first time this season," Brawn said.

"However Canada is a completely different challenge and the downforce levels required are medium to low, the opposite of Monaco

"Although I am pleased with the progress that the team has made over the last few races, we have been lacking the speed necessary to really maximise long straights, so it will be up to us to get the most from the performance that we have available in the car.

"I am expecting a more challenging weekend than in Monaco."

Honda expect difficult time in Canada

2008-06-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

Honda team principal Ross Brawn has played down the team's chances of repeating their Monaco success in Canada this weekend.

The team are high on confidence after Rubens Barrichello scored his first Championship points of the season with his sixth-place finish in Monte Carlo.

However, Brawn believes the team will have a challenging weekend in Montreal due to their lack of top speed.

"However Canada is a completely different challenge and the downforce levels required are medium to low, the opposite of Monaco.

"I am expecting a more challenging weekend than in Monaco."

Button to contest another triathlon

2008-05-31T02:33:00.000-07:00

British F1 driver Jenson Button plans to take part in another triathlon.

The 28-year-old Honda racer, who regularly takes part in such events, finished a competitive 16th of the 250 triathletes - just eight minutes behind the winner - in the Sevenoaks Triathlon in England last month.

He won a similar event in Lanzarote over the winter.

Button's next triathlon outing, it has emerged, will be the tough Nokia Windsor Triathlon, which is regularly named 'event of the year' by the British Triathlon Association.

The event will take place on June 15 in Windsor Castle, Eton College and the River Thames, in the south east of England.

"I don't expect to be 16th at Windsor," Button told The Times. "My aim is to be in the top 10 per cent of the finishers. That will be difficult. It's pretty close stuff."

The veteran of more than 140 Grand Prix starts, and winner of one, revealed that he got into triathlon while training at his favourite off-season destination, Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, north of Africa.

"I go to Lanzarote to train at the Club La Santa, which is used by Olympic athletes because it's warm all year round.

They do mini-triathlons there, so I got into doing it," Button explained.

The Windsor triathlon, to feature some professional athletes, features a 42km cycle ride, a 500m river swim and a 10km circuit run.

"There's some stiff competition," Button continued, adding that Olympic rower James Cracknell will be among the 2000 starters.

"I wish I had more time for training because I'm flying a lot for the Grand Prix and that's quite tiring," he added.

Button insists he has thrown off his earlier image as a lazy Playboy and is now among the fittest drivers on the grid.

"Mark Webber takes it very seriously, too. He runs the Webber Challenge in Tasmania. I would love to do it."

Button focused on 2009 revival

2008-05-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

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.

"I'm lucky that I've got great people around me who can point out that it's not all bad.”

Button satisfied with Honda progress

2008-05-29T07:39:00.001-07:00

In a press interview this week, Jenson Button showed no signs of losing patience with Honda or wanting to switch to a rival team.

The interview follows reports at Monaco that negotiations had begun to extend the 28-year-old Briton's contract beyond 2008.

A British newspaper said at Monaco that there is a chance Button will quit the Japanese team 'to chase his dream of winning the drivers' world championship.'

But to the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, Button said he is feeling 'much better' about his seat at Brackley compared with one year ago.

"It's not so much about the results, which are not great yet," he said. "It's that the general feeling has improved. We are making progress at every race."

"The team was good in the first place but it has been strengthened with the right people," said Button, who was delighted with the appointment as Team Principal of Ross Brawn.

Button reiterated that, compared to the miserable situation in 2007, he now sees light at the end of the tunnel.

"I would not have wanted it to stay like last year. I said to (Honda CEO Takeo) Fukui-san that something had to change. I put on the pressure that we should get Ross on board, and the reaction showed me that my opinion is taken seriously."

"When it was official that Ross had signed, I don't think there was one person in the team who was not enthusiastic. Everyone thought: this is the turning point."

"Now I feel that it is worth it to wait."

Button said he is looking forward to next year.

"2009 is a special situation because the rules are changing so much - everyone is going to start from zero. That is our chance," he explained.

'Better than ever' Rubens isn't ready to quit

2008-05-29T07:38:00.001-07:00

Rubens Barrichello says he's not yet ready to quit F1, insisting that he's "driving better than at any other time."

Two weeks ago in Turkey the Brazilian became the most capped F1 driver in the history of the sport, clocking up his 257th race start.

One race later and Barrichello was back in the points for the first time in more than a year, finishing the Monaco GP in sixth place.

And even though his three points were some way off from the ten he would have scored if he's won the race, something he hasn't done since joining Honda, Barrichello reckons it was another step in the right direction for himself and the team.

"I miss winning races - in fact I miss it terribly. That's why I put so much effort into testing and getting things done. I just know that I am prepared whenever the car is ready," he told the official F1 website.

The Brazilian, though, denied that the lack of wins or that fact that he now holds the record for the most grand prix starts mean that this season could be his 'farewell tour'.

"The celebration and the cake and all the appreciation from the other teams has all been very nice - and I was definitely moved to witness all that - but I am still doing my job and Sunday's result has proved that. So why should I want to put all that behind me?"

"I am very motivated and with the joining of Ross Brawn, I definitely feel that we are undergoing a change for the better.

"For sure, the car is not that good yet for what I want to achieve, but right now I have the feeling that I am driving better than at any other time, so all I need is a quick car to perform. My mind still says yes to racing."

Barrichello's Honda deal expires at the end of this season.

2008-05-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

Mike Conway wants next year his debut in Formula 1 to make the team at Honda. The Englishman drive this year in GP2 and is already part of the training of the Japanese team. For 2009 he hopes the place of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello to be taken.

Conway: "Honda is a good place to start. The results started to come and next year they will still be much higher. "The Englishman is currently tenth in the GP2 championship with ten points. Conway has a Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell two former Formula 1 drivers will act as.

Honda Motor Company Supports Formula 1 team fully

2008-05-27T02:44:00.000-07:00

The team of Honda not represent a lack of financial resources as an excuse to argue the lack of successes. The Formula 1 team have the full support of autogigant Honda Motor Company.

Takeo Fukui, director of the Japanese car manufacturer and autosportliefhebber, said: "Our score in the Formula 1 is zero, we have achieved nothing. That gives me pain. If one trillion yen us to the summit would bring, I would immediately give. ” Our problems are not with money to solve. "
A trillion yen is roughly equivalent to six handred million euros.

Rubens finishes sixth in Monaco

2008-05-25T13:55:00.001-07:00

First points of the year for Rubens Barrichello in the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Honda Racing F1 Team added three points to its tally in the World Championship this afternoon, when Rubens Barrichello finished sixth in the Monaco Grand Prix. His team-mate Jenson Button came home in 11th place.

It was an eventful race from start-to-finish. Both Honda Racing F1 Team drivers made good starts, but Jenson’s hopes of a points finish were over before the end of the opening lap when he collided with Nick Heidfeld on the exit of the Swimming Pool. He pitted immediately to replace his front wing, but rejoined the race in 20th place.

Rubens, meanwhile, circulated in 11th place during the early laps. The Safety Car was then deployed on lap eight for the first time when David Coulthard and Sebastien Bourdais crashed at Massanet. The debris was cleared quickly and the race re-started only two laps later, and by lap 16 Rubens was up into the points.

As the race entered its middle section, Rubens was flying in his RA108. He set the fastest lap of the race on two consecutive laps and was up to sixth place by lap 51, having overtaken Jarno Trulli and Mark Webber. He made his only pitstop of the race on lap 54, when he fitted dry tyres and rejoined the race in eighth place.

The drama wasn’t over, however. The Safety Car was deployed for the second time on lap 61 following an accident involving Nico Rosberg, and soon after the re-start, two drivers – Kimi Raikkonen and Adrian Sutil – collided, which promoted Rubens to sixth place. The race was then stopped two laps shy of its scheduled 78 laps when it passed the two-hour time limit.

“It feels great to be back in the points today and I'm really happy for myself and for the team,” said Rubens. “We had a good race, however it was unfortunate that I was held up by Trulli for so long early on, otherwise it could have been even better. I'm glad to get the monkey off my back in terms of scoring points as it has been quite a wait, but I never lost the faith. We are capable of good points results and I hope this is the start of a stronger period for us. We just need to keep our heads down and keep pushing forward.”

Jenson’s race was a frustrating one for the Briton: “It was a messy race and I'm disappointed as we should have come away from here with some points given the pace of the car. However, Rubens had a good drive and stayed out of trouble to bring points home for the team, so well done to him."

“Today’s race was full of incident and attrition,” commented Ross Brawn, “with Rubens doing a splendid job to keep clear of all the trouble and drive a very disciplined race into sixth place. Jenson’s race had a setback when he collided with Heidfeld towards the end of the first lap, and as the race evolved, there was no opportunity for him to get back into the points despite showing great speed at times. It is satisfying to score points once again and our pace this weekend deserved it.”

The Honda Racing F1 Team now has a two-week break prior to the next race on the calendar, the Canadian Grand Prix on 8 June.

Rubens Barrichello

2008-05-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

"Our programme today was focused on the set-up of the car as the track improves a great deal here over the sessions. We completed a good part of our work as the car feels competitive this afternoon, so I am happy with what we achieved. As always, we don't really know where we stand in terms of the competition yet as everyone will have been running different set-up and fuel programmes.

"Monaco is always a very open race where it is important to have a good qualifying session. Based on our work today, I believe we can have a good weekend; so let's hope that this is the case. The weather will no doubt play a part on Saturday and Sunday as it looks like we will have some rain."

Despite the disappointment, Jenson was not dejected:

2008-05-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

“The car was well set-up for my final run in Q2, and the last sector is where we would have improved further, as we had a better front-end for the high-speed corners. Sadly the yellow flags prevented us from realising our full potential. We're not in the top ten and it's disappointing. That’s Monaco for you and what is important is that we know the car was quick enough to have improved."

Monaco: Hopeful of points on merit

2008-05-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

The Honda Racing F1 Team began its on-track preparations for the Monaco Grand Prix today as the Principality basked in perfect sunny conditions throughout the two free practice sessions. As is usually the case on the opening day at Monaco, the track only became representative during the afternoon session, once some rubber had been laid on the racing line.
As a result, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello completed a modest 26 laps each during the morning session, at the end of which Rubens was eighth fastest and Jenson 12th.

This afternoon, Jenson completed 45 laps during the second session, with a best time of 1:16.351s, which placed him eighth overall. Rubens completed 32 laps to end the day within 0.1s of his team-mate, placing him 10th.

Button optimistic of strong weekend

2008-05-23T03:37:00.001-07:00

Jenson Button is optimistic his Honda team will be competitive in Saturday's qualifying after a solid start in today's practice session.

"We had two good opening sessions and I had a reasonable balance right from the start, particularly on the harder tyre," said Button, who posted the eighth fastest time in the afternoon.

"This afternoon has really been about getting the long runs in, getting used to the balance and making some improvements.

"I'm confident that we will be in a good position for qualifying and also well prepared for any changes in the weather conditions," added the Briton.

Rubens Barrichello finished two places behind and the Brazilian was also feeling confident about Honda's form for the remaining part of the weekend.

"Our programme today was focused on the set-up of the car as the track improves a great deal here over the sessions," explained Barrichello. "We completed a good part of our work as the car feels competitive this afternoon, so I am happy with what we achieved.

"As always, we don't really know where we stand in terms of the competition yet as everyone will have been running different set-up and fuel programmes.

Monaco Thursday quotes: Honda

2008-05-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

Jenson Button - 8th: "It's always very exciting to be back in Monaco and out on track for the first day of running. We had two good opening sessions and I had a reasonable balance right from the start, particularly on the harder tyre. This afternoon has really been about getting the long runs in, getting used to the balance and making some improvements.

"We have a lot of useful information from the two sessions today, however as always there is still work to do. We are not quite where we would like to be yet, and as qualifying does not take place until Saturday, I have plenty of time to work with the engineers. I'm confident that we will be in a good position for qualifying and also well prepared for any changes in the weather conditions."

Rubens Barrichello - 10th: "Our programme today was focused on the set-up of the car as the track improves a great deal here over the sessions. We completed a good part of our work as the car feels competitive this afternoon, so I am happy with what we achieved. As always, we don't really know where we stand in terms of the competition yet as everyone will have been running different set-up and fuel programmes.

Steve Clark - Head of Race & Test Engineering: "This morning was spent conducting race preparation work, whilst the second session was dedicated to set-up work and evaluating the tyres for qualifying. Neither driver had a particularly good run on the option tyre, which is brand new for this race. This is not surprising for a Thursday here as the track grip will continue to improve considerably, so we still expect the option to be a good tyre for qualifying and the race.

"We had a good test at Paul Ricard last week and it appears that our relative performance is back to where we were at Barcelona. It is never wise to be over confident at Monaco as there are so many variables affecting the race outcome. From a performance point of view we are hopeful of getting into the points on merit.

"There is a chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday which at this track amounts to a big roll of the dice. We will be looking to take advantage of any opportunity to move further up the field."

Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo Result of 2 free training

2008-05-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

	driver	team	time	difference	# #
1.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:15.140		40
2.	N. Rosberg	Williams	1:15.533	+0.393 +0,393	39
3.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:15.572	+0.432 +0,432	42
4.	F. Massa Bulk	Ferrari	1:15.869	+0.729 +0,729	37
5.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:15.881	+0.741 +0,741	39
6.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:16.296	+1.156 +1,156	34
7.	F. Alonso	Renault	1:16.310	+1.170 +1,170	27
8.	J. Button	Honda	1:16.351	+1.211 +1,211	45
9.	K. Nakajima	Williams	1:16.372	+1.232 +1,232	40
10.	R. Barrichello	Honda	1:16.418	+1.278 +1,278	32
11.	N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:16.426	+1.286 +1,286	44
12.	T. Glock	Toyota	1:16.688	+1.548 +1,548	46
13.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:17.094	+1.954 +1,954	39
14.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:17.131	+1.991 +1,991	39
15.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:17.246	+2.106 +2,106	35
16.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:17.251	+2.111 +2,111	33
17.	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:17.379	+2.239 +2,239	28
18.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:17.581	+2.441 +2,441	38
19.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:18.176	+3.036 +3,036	31
20.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:18.225	+3.085 +3,085	38

Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo

2008-05-22T03:35:00.000-07:00

Result of free training 1

	driver	team		difference	#
1.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:15.948		26
2.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:16.216	+0.268 +0,268	27
3.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:16.248	+0.300 +0,300	28
4.	F. Massa	Ferrari	1:16.292	+0.344 +0,344	26
5.	N. Rosberg	Williams	1:16.653	+0.705 +0,705	27
6.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:16.834	+0.886 +0,886	23
7.	F. Alonso	Renault	1:17.498	+1.550 +1,550	25
8.	R. Barrichello	Honda	1:17.511	+1.563 +1,563	26
9.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:17.798	+1.850 +1,850	23
10.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:17.835	+1.887 +1,887	26
11.	T. Glock	Toyota	1:17.942	+1.994 +1,994	26
12.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:18.245	+2.297 +2,297	30
13.	N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:18.263	+2.315 +2,315	13
14.	K. Nakajima	Williams	1:18.274	+2.326 +2,326	28
15.	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:18.360	+2.412 +2,412	16
16.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:18.360	+2.412 +2,412	25
17.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:18.955	+3.007 +3,007	32
18.	J. Button	Honda	1:19.153	+3.205 +3,205	26
19.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:19.176	+3.228 +3,228	35
20.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	geen tijd no time		3

Jenson Button starts own airline

2008-05-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

Honda driver Jenson Button at Honda has two privet jets ordered to start his own charter to set up. That makes him the first European buyer of aircraft of the Japanese firm. The Englishman gets its newly ordered aircraft in 2012. At a privet jets Honda comes with a cost of about 3.6 million dollars.

Button: "We are very optimistic about the world of the privets jets and the great help of HondaJet in our first steps toward its own charter. I am particularly impressed by the technology used to fly efficiently, which is better for the environment. My personal experience with Honda and their dedication to reliability, quality and technological sophistication will be felt by a flight in a HondaJet. "

Rubens: experience counts at Monaco

2008-05-21T03:21:00.003-07:00

Rubens Barrichello looks ahead at his 16th Monaco Grand Prix.

“This will be my 16th Monaco Grand Prix so I know the circuit very well by now! Like everyone, Monaco is one of my favourite races and I have been successful here in the past, finishing on the podium four times. I particularly enjoying qualifying at Monaco, it’s one of the biggest challenges of the year to get it right and give yourself the best chance in the race.

“Experience does count around Monaco as the driver and your strategy can make the difference to the outcome of your race, it’s not purely about car performance. And of course, on the day, you have to keep the car out of the barriers and bring it safely home.”

And what are the technical challenges?

“The streets of Monaco are tight, twisty, bumpy and unforgiving. You can really feel the speed of the car when the barriers are so close to you, but despite this, Monaco is one of the lowest speed circuits that we will race on and presents a number of unique challenges. Good mechanical grip from the car is a fundamental requirement, coupled with as much downforce as possible.

“Low-speed handling is crucial as this is usually the slowest circuit on the calendar, although this year Singapore looks to be even slower. We will also be driving without the benefits of traction control for the first time in Monaco which I’m sure will be interesting. The new Bridgestone super soft tyre compound will be used for the first time over a race weekend, following its debut at the test.”

Don’t fear the barriers

2008-05-21T03:21:00.001-07:00

The key to a fast lap at Monaco is to remain confident in the face of daunting metal barriers, says Jenson.

“Monaco is a truly special race weekend. It’s completely different from any other venue on the calendar, although it will be interesting to see how the street circuits in Valencia and Singapore compare later this year. The whole lap at Monaco is just a non-stop challenge and you have to maintain absolute focus and concentration over every single one of the 78 laps of the race.

“The absolute key to a really quick lap is to not let the barriers intimidate you as this is a circuit that rewards precision. Having a good qualifying session and getting the best grid position possible is so important to a successful weekend. Passing is very difficult during the race, so you need to make a good start and do your overtaking off the line where possible.

“The Monaco Grand Prix means a great deal to me as it is one of my three homes races of the year, along with Silverstone and Japan. However, being a resident of Monaco is of no benefit over the race weekend as the principality is completely transformed! It’s unbelievably busy and getting around can be just impossible. My top tip would be to walk everywhere or use a scooter. What I love about Monaco is that it is a fantastic race for the fans who can get so close to the action and noise of Formula One.”

Brawn expects incidentrijke Grand Prix of Monaco

2008-05-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Honda team bos Ross Brawn thinks that the Grand Prix of Monaco next Sunday of a very chaotic manner. The drivers drive for the first time since a long time without traction control on the narrow street circuit. That goes according to Brawn problems: "Monaco is a track where the lack of traction control and engine braking will be felt."

He continues: "In Turkey we saw on Friday for the first time what impact a combination of a circuit with little grip and no tools can have. You see the car sometimes behave you know that traction control that had never allowed. I think that the loss of engine braking just such a major role in the slower lap.Also a factor that will play in Monaco. I am counting on many incidents coming weekend. "

The Monaco circuit

2008-05-19T15:03:00.001-07:00

A technical analysis ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

From a technical point of view, Monaco is not as much of an enigma as many people think. The track has been re-surfaced several times in recent years, which means the asphalt is not dissimilar to many permanent racetracks around the world, and from a set-up point of view, it is simply at one end of the aerodynamic and mechanical spectrum.

The cars run with maximum aerodynamic downforce throughout the weekend, which leaves the engineers and drivers to focus on maximising the mechanical grip generated by the cars. It is generally best not to change the car’s set-up too much during first practice on Thursday as the circuit only becomes representative in session two, once the surface has started to collect rubber.

With overtaking almost impossible at Monaco, gaining a good grid position is vital. For the engineers, finding their drivers a clear piece of track during qualifying, especially during Q1 when all 20 cars will be out, is as important as improving the car’s set-up.

Monaco GP set-up details

Full throttle: 60%
Brake wear: Medium – Hard
Downforce level: High – 10/10
Tyre compounds: Soft / Super Soft
Tyre usage: Medium
Average speed: 160kph (100mph)

Honda test driver situation!

2008-05-19T02:00:00.001-07:00

Interesting to see if Honda replace Wurz with Sato before end of the season as the folks in Japan are calling for. Many even calling for him to replace Rubens in second seat but know there's no chance of that happening! Honda in the past have backed down to their Japanese fans i.e. dedicating a lot of time and money into the Super Aguri team. Hope they don't Honda already wasted enough time and money in past on Sato, they should pick drivers on talent and not on nationality. I hope the Spanish GP is last we ever see of Sato he's not good enough for Honda. Would'nt mind Davidson coming back as test driver next year though as he did decent job last time round.

Jenson completes Paul Ricard running

2008-05-16T11:48:00.001-07:00

Testing report – day three

Location: Paul Ricard, France
Date: 16 May
Drivers: Jenson Button

The Honda Racing F1 Team today completed this week’s three-day test at the Paul Ricard circuit.

For the final day of the test, the track configuration was changed to a 5.255km Montreal style layout to facilitate preparations for the Canadian Grand Prix which takes place on 8 June.

With the RA108 in a low downforce set-up, Jenson began an aerodynamic evaluation in the morning session.

Unfortunately the predicted heavy rain showers hit the circuit around lunchtime and continued throughout the afternoon, curtailing any further serious running and limiting to Jenson to only 16 laps today.

TODAY’S LAP TIMES
NB: All timings are unofficial

1. J. Trulli (Toyota) 01:31.360
2. N. Piquet (Renault) 01:31.634
3. P. De La Rosa (McLaren) 01:32.143
4. S. Vettel (Toro Rosso) 01:32.480
5. F. Massa (Ferrari) 01:32.246
6. N. Heidfeld (BMW) 01:33.371
7. S. Buemi (Red Bull) 01:34.064
8. G. Fisichella (Force India) 01:34.071
9. J. Button (Honda) 01:36.501
10. A. Sutil (Force India) 01:43.877
11. N. Hulkenberg (Williams) 01:44.741

Honda on its way to Monte Carlo

2008-05-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Monaco preparations at Ricard will put Honda in good stead, expects Brawn.

Round six of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship takes the Honda Racing F1 Team to Monaco for the most prestigious motor race in the world. The annual dash through the Principality’s tortuous streets is a unique test of man and machine performed in front of the glamorous backdrop of the Monaco harbour.

The 3.340km (2.075mile) street track requires the cars to run with maximum aerodynamic downforce and the proximity of the barriers makes the 78-lap race one of the most mentally demanding for the drivers, despite the average lap speed of 160kph (100mph) being the one of the slowest of the year. This week’s Monaco preparations at the versatile Paul Ricard test venue will be invaluable this weekend, as Team Principal Ross Brawn points out:

“The first two days of the test programme took place on the short configuration of the Paul Ricard facility which resembles the high downforce and low speed characteristics of the Monaco street circuit. We used the test to evaluate our aerodynamic package for the Monaco weekend with some refinements to the developments that debuted at the Spanish Grand Prix.

“Driveability is very important around Monaco, with so many low speed corners where the driver has to have confidence in the set-up of the car to avoid losing time on exit, so we did a lot of work on this. We also ran the new Bridgestone super soft tyre compound and the indications from the test are that this tyre will perform well as the option tyre during the race weekend.”

Such is the Monaco Grand Prix’s profile and history that it retains many of the traditions from the inaugural race staged in 1929. The most idiosyncratic of these customs is the expansion of the race weekend to four days, with the on-track action starting a day earlier than usual, on Thursday.

Fry: "Formula 1 has no more private teams needed"

2008-05-16T02:39:00.001-07:00

Nick Fry has urged F1 to focus its attention of enticing car manufacturers to the sport, saying costs mean privateers struggle to survive.

The downfall and demise of Super Aguri prior to the Turkish GP weekend means that just ten teams remaining in this year's Championship, four of which are privateers: Williams, Force India, Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

However, the latter's position on the grid is in jeopardy after Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz announced that he was selling his share in the team.

Rule changes in 2010 mean that Red Bull, Toro Rosso's sister team, will no longer be able to provide Toro Rosso with custom cars and so Matechitz reckons there is no need to run two teams.

Should the sale not go ahead it could mean the F1 grid would drop to just nine teams, however, Fry believes the sport should focus on getting manufacturers to replace the out-going privateers and not bring in more independent outfits.

"The first question to answer is, 'Is F1 any place for a not-very-well funded privateer team?'" he told Autosport magazine.

"In this sport, there is a history of teams working at the margins that invariably fall off the bottom, and I think it will ever be so.

"The real mission for F1 is to attract a Volkswagen, an Audi or another big consumer business into the sport and not attempt to bring in more privateers, who may end up in the same position as teams like Arrows and Prost.

"Privateer teams enter on the basis that they can afford the first season - but invariably can't generate the revenue to continue into their second or third years.

"If you can't afford to compete, you shouldn't be here."

Testing report – day two - Jenson Button

2008-05-15T12:45:00.001-07:00

Jenson Button joined the Honda Racing F1 Team at the Paul Ricard circuit today for the second day of the test.

Taking over the wheel of the RA108, Jenson continued the aerodynamic evaluation which Alex Wurz began yesterday using the short configuration of the adaptable Paul Ricard facility, as preparations continued for the Monaco Grand Prix.

A lunchtime rain shower delayed the start of the afternoon session for a short time. Once the track had fully dried out, Jenson completed a comprehensive tyre evaluation running both types of the Bridgestone soft tyres which will be used around the street circuit in Monaco next weekend.

Jenson’s final lap tally was 155 laps as the team completed their preparation for the race. He will continue his running on the final day of the test tomorrow, when the track configuration will be changed to a low downforce Montreal style layout to allow the team to prepare for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Paul Ricard, France 15 may 2008

2008-05-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

1.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	F2008	1:05.381		62
2.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	MP4-23	1:05.471	+0.090 +0,090	89
3.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	F1.08	1:05.906	+0.525 +0,525	136
4.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	RB4	1:06.001	+0.620 +0,620	82
5.	J. Button	Honda	RA108	1:06.091	+0.710 +0,710	156
6.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	STR3	1:06.125	+0.744 +0,744	110
7.	J. Trulli	Toyota	TF108	1:06.205	+0.824 +0,824	120
8.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	R28	1:06.355	+0.974 +0,974	193
9.	K. Nakajima	Williams	FW30	1:07.080	+1.699 +1,699	129
10.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	VJM-01	1:07.104	+1.723 +1,723	66
11.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	VJM-01	1:07.123	+1.742 +1,742	64

Honda begins test at Paul Ricard Testing report – day one

2008-05-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

1.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	B	1'05''600		84
2.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	B	1'06''089	0'00''489	103
3.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber	B	1'06''177	0'00''577	124
4.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing	B	1'06''348	0'00''748	93
5.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso	B	1'06''372	0'00''772	91
6.	N. Rosberg	Williams	B	1'06''571	0'00''971	154
7.	A. Wurz	Honda	B	1'06''681	0'01''081	131
8.	T. Glock	Toyota	B	1'06''935	0'01''335	93
9.	V. Liuzzi	Force India F1	B	1'07''346	0'01''746	106
10.	L. di Grassi	Renault	B	1'07''430	0'01''830	146

2008-05-15T02:42:00.001-07:00

Continuing the high downforce theme Honda have developed endplates for the "dumbo wings" and also added small winglets to the inside edges of the front wing.The latter addition is a small gain, compared to adding a bridge wing which has been the standard approach this year, something Honda have yet to develop.

F1 aims for 110m Euro budget cap

2008-05-15T02:40:00.001-07:00

Formula One is aiming to establish a 110 million Euro budget cap by the 2011 season, this week's Autosport magazine reveals.

A budget cap is set to be introduced in the sport from the start of 2009, and FIA consultant Tony Purnell has written to all Formula One teams with the figures the governing body would like to be set as a starting point for future discussions.

The figures proposed are 175 million Euro for 2009, 140 million by 2010, and 110 million a year later.

The cap would not cover expenditure on engines, KERS systems, marketing costs or driver and team principal salaries.

The figures, however, have received mixed reactions from some team bosses.

"Next year's figures are workable, but Honda is a little concerned about the glide-path, which needs more discussion," Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry told Autosport.

"By pushing the number too low, we may not only attract marginal operations but also alienate those at the top who want to develop high technology."

Honda test with new variants nostrils

2008-05-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Today, the three test week at the Paul Ricard circuit began. The teams are preparing in France for the next two races in Monaco and Canada.

The nostrils of Honda have not yet been followed by other teams, but the Japanese team develops the 'elephant-wings' quiet. The RA108 is today already equipped with two new variants. Honda experimented with holes in the vertical part of the nostrils and appeared later in the lane with a vertical version with rainclouds to the end.

Honda plant some visible innovations for Monaco

2008-05-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Grand Prix of Monaco is upon us and the teams have everything from the closet to fetch as much as possible downforce at the close stratencircuit to generate. By Honda is not that different. The Japanese team wants in the principality revancheren for a disappointing race in Turkey. Honda intends to Monaco with a few new elements to be visible.

That unveiled teambaas Ross Brawn. "We have a test this week at the Paul Ricard circuit in order to prepare for the races in Monaco and Montreal. Then we get another test in Barcelona to our next aerodynamic update to confirm. We have some visually interesting new components for Monaco, where we met the most downforce so far will ride. According to our calculations we have only in Singapore later this year more downward pressure. Montreal is precisely the opposite, with many long straights and high top speed, "said the Englishman.

Honda has no hurry to extend contract Barrichello

2008-05-13T02:01:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello has been since last Sunday as the record number of Grand Prix starts, and he himself has the ambition for many years to continue. The Brazilian drove all 257 Formula 1 races and has set itself the target of at least 300 Grands Prix behind his name.

The question is whether he had the opportunity to time. His contract with Honda expires and negotiations to extend that have not yet begun. Honda Racing-director Nick Fry said: "Contract have not our priority at the moment. We have been working two and a half years together and we have the commitment of Rubens already been extended. ” It can easily be renewed again. "

Fry stressed that Barrichello friends no need to expect. The Brazilian must simply show that he still has enough speed. Fry: "At this moment, Rubens quickly enough to be part of our line-up. And if next year he still fast enough, then he can remain with us. .” As simple as that. "

Turkey: A pointless, frustrating day

2008-05-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Turkish Grand Prix ended in frustration for the Honda Racing F1 Team. Despite everyone’s best efforts to move Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello up the order, they came home pretty much where they’d started, in 11th and 14th places respectively.

In his record-breaking 257th GP start, Rubens got too much clutch slip away from the line, which allowed Jenson – who started one place further back in 13th – to pass him into Turn 1. However, no sooner had the race started than the Safety Car was deployed after a collision at the back of the field between Giancarlo Fisichella and Kazuki Nakajima.

The race re-started two laps later, with Jenson and Rubens running in 11th and 12th places after they’d both gained another position when Heikki Kovalainen pitted following a puncture. The Hondas then ran in formation until Rubens made his only pitstop of the race on lap 27, from which he rejoined in 14th position.

On the prime tyre Jenson climbed up to eighth place during this first pitstop window before making his only pitstop of the race on lap 31. He rejoined the race in 11th position, behind Jarno Trulli and ahead of Nelson Piquet, and it was at this stage of the race that the tide turned against him. He struggled for grip on the softer, option tyre – as he had during qualifying yesterday – and in the space of 500 metres he lost two positions at the end of lap 35 and the beginning of lap 36, first to Piquet and then to Kovalainen.

As more rubber went down on the asphalt, the handling of Jenson’s RA108 improved and he started to set competitive lap times. He set his fastest time of the race on the final lap, which was enough to hold off a late-race challenge from Kovalainen and secure 11th position.

"Although I managed to improve slightly on my start position, it was a disappointing race for us,” reflected Jenson. “The start was clean and I had a pretty good first lap, however our pace wasn't as good as we expected it to be during the race. I had a problem on my first stint with the front tyres, caused by the brakes overheating, which cost me a bit of time. We then changed our strategy to a one-stop which worked pretty well. Unfortunately the difference in fuel loads really tells here so it was difficult to hold back the quicker cars behind me who were two-stopping. We need to make some further improvements to the car before we are able to challenge for the points again."

Rubens had a lonely end to his race, coming home in 14th. "It was a frustrating race for us today,” he confirmed. “Unfortunately we did not have the pace to compete and overall I'm disappointed with the performance of the car. I suffered from understeer and traffic in my first stint so we stopped a little bit early to try and get me out into some space. From then on, it was an uneventful run to the end of the race. We have a lot of work to do over the next couple of tests to try to find some pace."

The Honda Racing F1 Team now heads to Paul Ricard for an intensive test session ahead of the next race on the calendar, the Monaco Grand Prix on 25 May. “We should have some visually interesting new parts for Monaco the highest downforce circuit so far,” says Team Principal Ross Brawn. “However, we do not expect Monaco to be the highest downforce track of the year - our calculations show that Singapore will require even more. Montreal is at the opposite end of the spectrum with the demand placed on very high straight line speed."

Honda has KERS-scoop

2008-05-11T02:47:00.000-07:00

Honda Racing is the first team that has driven with a version of KERS (Kinetic Engine Recovery System), a system for energy back to win. Most teams are still in development, now known that the system next year will be permitted in Formula 1. Brawn: "We have for the first time drove in a car. Not on a very high level, but we are up and running." Brawn would not go into the question of when that has been, but described it as "fairly recent."

Ross Brawn believes that KERS good for the sport and for the car manufacturers in Formula 1. "I understand that many people do not understand because of the contradiction of saving money and on the other side much money to spend on new systems. But to automobile manufacturers as Honda, the technique has become irrelevant, so it's a good investment. It is at this moment However, very difficult to find a good balance for the system. The development of the system is still in its early stages. "

Honda drivers dissatisfied due to lack of speed

2008-05-11T02:42:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello says that the Honda team is not as timely in Turkey as it had hoped to be. In the run-up to the weekend Ross Brawn said that the circuit would be the Honda, after the first three points for Jenson Button in Barcelona. Both drivers knew not to reach the top ten and Barrichello gives them the blame for a bad balance sheet.

Barrichello: "Everyone has gone deployed today, but we were not as strong as we had hoped. I had problems with the balance of the car so this is the best we could achieve today. I could not get it to display on a whole round. The first two sectors were good, but in the third I was just too slow. We have a need to step forward on a regular basis in Q3 to come. "

Jenson Button had problems with his tyres and realizes that since the thirteenth place, it would be difficult to score points. "I did my run in Q2 on the soft tyre, which proved to work well for everyone. When I am not, so I had to return to the hard band, which has a round about three-tenths slower. In that light is the thirteenth still not entirely bad. But scoring points will be difficult from that position. But I've always fun in racing and overtaking, so we shall see what it gets. "

Turkey: Team 'frustrated' in qualifying

2008-05-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Following a slightly frustrating qualifying session at Istanbul Park, the Honda Racing F1 Team will start tomorrow’s Turkish Grand Prix from the sixth and seventh rows of the grid. Rubens Barrichello will line up in 12th place and Jenson Button 13th, after the pair set lap times less than 0.1s apart.

The weather conditions were slightly warmer for qualifying than they have been thus far this weekend, which presented all of the teams with some balance issues. Rubens and Jenson completed two runs each during Q1 in an effort to hone the set-ups of their cars. Q1 ran smoothly for the team and in the dying moments Rubens set a best time of 1:27.355s, which placed him 12th on the timesheets and safely through to Q2. Jenson, meanwhile, was less than 0.1s slower than his team-mate, but two places further back.

Further set-up tweaks took place during the break between Q1 and Q2, with the result that Rubens and Jenson were able to improve on their lap times. They completed two flying laps each and both drivers set their fastest times on their second runs. Rubens’ best was a 1:27.219s, which placed him 12th and 0.4s shy of a place in Q3; Jenson’s fastest time was 1:27.298s, placing him just behind his team-mate and on the clean side of the grid for tomorrow’s 58-lap race.

"It was a good effort from everyone today,” said Rubens, “however, unfortunately we are not as fast as we thought we might be here in Turkey. It is a balance problem, rather than the tyres or grip levels, and I believe we achieved the best that we could today. I could not get the car to perform well over the whole lap. The first and second sector were good, but the third sector was not working for us. Realistically this is where the car is at the moment. We need another step to make us a regular qualifier into Q3."

"I have to be reasonably pleased with 13th as we were struggling to get the tyres working in qualifying today,” commented Jenson. “Q1 was not too bad and we completed both runs on the prime tyre. We switched to the option for my first run in Q2 as everyone seemed to be going quicker on that tyre but for some reason the option didn't work for me and I had no grip. So we went back to the prime which should be about three-tenths slower around here so 13th is not too bad. It's annoying that we can't get the option to work but our prime tyre pace is very good, particularly over longer runs.”

Both Honda Racing F1 Team drivers have finished in the points at Istanbul Park, so they will be looking to use that experience from previous years to make up positions in the race.

“Both Jenson and Rubens are happier with their cars in race trim,” confirmed Steve Clark, Head of Race & Test Engineering, “and neither has had an off-track excursion so far. If we can have a tidy race with a consistent pace then we may still make it into the points. That is certainly the outcome we will be striving for.”

For Rubens, the start will carry more significance than most as it sees him break Riccardo Patrese’s record of 256 grands prix.

SAT Qualifying 14:00 TURKISH GRAND PRIX

2008-05-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	2	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:25.994	1:26.192	1:27.617	16
2	23	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren-Mercedes	1:26.736	1:26.290	1:27.808	16
3	22	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes	1:26.192	1:26.477	1:27.923	15
4	1	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:26.457	1:26.050	1:27.936	17
5	4	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	1:26.761	1:26.129	1:28.390	17
6	10	Mark Webber	Red Bull-Renault	1:26.773	1:26.466	1:28.417	17
7	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:26.836	1:26.522	1:28.422	18
8	11	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:26.695	1:26.822	1:28.836	20
9	3	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:27.107	1:26.607	1:28.882	20
10	9	David Coulthard	Red Bull-Renault	1:26.939	1:26.520	1:29.959	16
11	7	Nico Rosberg	Williams-Toyota	1:27.367	1:27.012		13
12	17	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	1:27.355	1:27.219		13
13	16	Jenson Button	Honda	1:27.428	1:27.298		14
14	15	Sebastian Vettel	STR-Ferrari	1:27.442	1:27.412		15
15	12	Timo Glock	Toyota	1:26.614	1:27.806		15
16	8	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams-Toyota	1:27.547			9
17	6	Nelsinho Piquet	Renault	1:27.568			7
18	14	Sebastien Bourdais	STR-Ferrari	1:27.621			8
19	21	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India-Ferrari	1:27.807			10
20	20	Adrian Sutil	Force India-Ferrari	1:28.325			9

Q3 it is far for Honda today

2008-05-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

P12 for Rubens and P13 for Button.
I hope we can do betterin race tomorrow.
GO HONDA

SAT Practice 10:00 Results

2008-05-10T02:06:00.000-07:00

1º	10	Mark Webber	Red Bull	00:01'27''030
.2º	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	00:01'27''172	00:00'00''142
.3º	9	David Coulthard	Red Bull	00:01'27''193	00:00'00''163
.4º	7	Nico Rosberg	Williams	00:01'27''365	00:00'00''335
.5º	2	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	00:01'27''530	00:00'00''500
.6º	11	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	00:01'27''614	00:00'00''584
.7º	22	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	00:01'27''658	00:00'00''628
.8º	12	Timo Glock	Toyota	00:01'27''733	00:00'00''703
.9º	16	Jenson Button	Honda	00:01'27''766	00:00'00''736
.10º	6	Nelson Piquet Jr	Renault	00:01'27''781	00:00'00''751
.11º	1	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	00:01'27''837	00:00'00''807
.12º	23	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren	00:01'27''849	00:00'00''819
.13º	15	Sebastian Vettel	Toro Rosso	00:01'27''899	00:00'00''869
.14º	17	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	00:01'27''946	00:00'00''916
.15º	14	Sebastien Bourdais	Toro Rosso	00:01'27''948	00:00'00''918
.16º	4	Robert Kubica	BMW-Sauber	00:01'27''971	00:00'00''941
.17º	8	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams	00:01'28''301	00:00'01''271
.18º	21	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India	00:01'28''573	00:00'01''543
.19º	3	Nick Heidfeld	BMW-Sauber	00:01'28''655	00:00'01''625
.20º	20	Adrian Sutil	Force India	00:01'29''131	00:00'02''101

Result of 2 free training

2008-05-09T11:29:00.001-07:00

Grand Prix of Turkey, Istanbul Park

Result of 2 free training

	coureur driver	team team	tijd time	verschil difference	# #
1.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:27.543		30
2.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:27.579	+0.036 +0,036	31
3.	F. Massa Bulk	Ferrari	1:27.682	+0.139 +0,139	29
4.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:27.763	+0.220 +0,220	24
5.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:27.954	+0.411 +0,411	27
6.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:28.431	+0.888 +0,888	29
7.	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:28.619	+1.076 +1,076	29
8.	K. Nakajima	Williams	1:28.664	+1.121 +1,121	27
9.	F. Alonso	Renault	1:28.681	+1.138 +1,138	26
10.	N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:28.817	+1.274 +1,274	31
11.	J. Button	Honda	1:28.826	+1.283 +1,283	28
12.	T. Glock	Toyota	1:28.849	+1.306 +1,306	26
13.	N. Rosberg	Williams	1:28.907	+1.364 +1,364	29
14.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:29.008	+1.465 +1,465	35
15.	R. Barrichello	Honda	1:29.024	+1.481 +1,481	22
16.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:29.212	+1.669 +1,669	26
17.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:29.462	+1.919 +1,919	30
18.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:29.630	+2.087 +2,087	32
19.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:29.633	+2.090 +2,090	4
20.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:30.832	+3.289 +3,289	9

Result of free training 1

2008-05-09T11:28:00.001-07:00

Grand Prix of Turkey, Istanbul Park

Result of free training 1

	coureur driver	team team	tijd time	verschil difference	# #
1.	F. Massa	Ferrari	1:27.232		16
2.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:27.456	+0.224 +0,224	17
3.	L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:27.752	+0.520 +0,520	15
4.	F. Alonso	Renault	1:28.284	+1.052 +1,052	16
5.	J. Button	Honda	1:28.919	+1.687 +1,687	12
6.	K. Nakajima	Williams	1:29.002	+1.770 +1,770	19
7.	N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:29.024	+1.792 +1,792	21
8.	R. Barrichello	Honda	1:29.068	+1.836 +1,836	11
9.	N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:29.082	+1.850 +1,850	23
10.	T. Glock	Toyota	1:29.103	+1.871 +1,871	19
11.	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:29.329	+2.097 +2,097	24
12.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:29.330	+2.098 +2,098	7
13.	N. Rosberg	Williams	1:29.367	+2.135 +2,135	20
14.	A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:29.756	+2.524 +2,524	23
15.	G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:29.811	+2.579 +2,579	23
16.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:30.088	+2.856 +2,856	21
17.	D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:30.340	+3.108 +3,108	13
18.	S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:30.388	+3.156 +3,156	19
19.	S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:30.426	+3.194 +3,194	21
20.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:30.732	+3.500 +3,500	3

Solid start to Turkish weekend

2008-05-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

Cold weather and light rain greet the Honda Racing F1 Team on the opening day of practice at Istanbul Park.

Practice for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix kicked off under cloudy skies at Istanbul Park today. The air and track temperatures peaked at just 14 and 20 degrees respectively, making today’s running the coldest at a grand prix so far this year.

The Honda Racing F1 Team worked through a detailed set-up programme with both of its RA108s, honing the car’s aerodynamic package to the demands of the 5.338km (3.317-mile) track. They ran reliably throughout the two 1.5-hour sessions, providing Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello with a good baseline from which to progress throughout the remainder of the race weekend.

In session one, the cars finished comfortably inside the top 10. Jenson completed 12 laps en route to the fifth fastest time, while Rubens did 11 laps to end the session 0.1s slower than his team-mate in eighth place.

Some light rain over lunchtime resulted in damp conditions at the start of session two, but a dry line quickly appeared and the drivers were able to continue their preparations for qualifying and the race. Jenson completed 28 laps in this session and his best time of 1:28.826s placed him 11th overall, while Rubens finished 15th on the timesheets after doing 22 laps, with a best of 1:29.024s.

The drivers had opposite reports on how today’s sessions went, with Jenson saying Practice 2 was an improvement over Practice 1, and vice versa.

“We made a lot of changes to the car after this morning when I was struggling with a lack of grip on initial turn in which you really need around here,” said the Brit. “This afternoon was much better right from the start of the session. We tried a lot of different things on the set-up and I’m confident that we know which direction to take for the rest of the weekend.”

Rubens’ day went slightly differently: “The car was nicely balanced in the morning and we were pleased with our progress. However, we made a mechanical change over lunch which changed the balance. It was too big a change to go back in the time available so we have some work to do overnight to understand what has changed. We should be able to get the car back to how it felt this morning, then I believe we have a good chance of getting through to Q3 tomorrow.”

Rubens is hoping to mark his record-breaking 257th Grand Prix with a good result, but how big a deal is it for the veteran? “Well most importantly, when I’m in the car, it’s a normal weekend for me. It’s fantastic to have the celebrations here, with all my family and the team, but on the track nothing changes. When I began my career back in 1993, I never thought that I would break this record, but now it really means a great deal to me.”

The Honda Racing F1 Team’s drivers and engineers will now analyse the data gathered today in their efforts to improve further the set-ups of the RA108s, prior to tomorrow’s qualifying session.

Sato and Davidson's pictures at Honda

2008-05-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson are still only just out of work after their employer decided to stop Super Aguri, the two are already associated with a new boss. And for these two gentlemen is a familiar environment. Sato and Davidson were in view for a return to Honda.

The Japanese car manufacturer had especially for Sato Super Aguri was set up, but the accounts were ultimately too high. Sato for the Japanese market, however, essential for Honda and the company would find a way to the Japanese back into service. The 31-year-old driver, according to the rumours already at the next race in Monaco, the place of Rubens Barrichello role.

But not only Sato's return to Honda, his Super Aguri-ally Anthony Davidson was on the old nest can. The Englishman was in the past many years worked as a test driver for the Japanese team. As a reward if he were in 2007 go racing for Super Aguri. Honda already has a solid Alexander Wurz and test driver Luca Filippi and Mike Conway two young part-testers, but would be willing to Davidson retrieval.

Go Honda

2008-05-09T05:05:00.000-07:00

Go Honda!!
Jenson and Rubens in the top eight.
Very close between the two drivers. 1 tenth of a second i think.

Looking like a promising weekend and Rubens may score his first points in his 257th GP.

Turkey: Jenson faces the press in the Friday Five

2008-05-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Honda Racing F1's Jenson Button attended the Friday Five press conference today, talking about safety in the sport, Canadian restaurants, and getting involved in an odd attempt at a word association game. He also neatly sidestepped the inevitable question regarding Super Aguri.

Turkey: Wurz absent from Istanbul as Peugeot calls

2008-05-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Honda Racing F1's test and reserve driver, Alexander Wurz, will be absent from the Istanbul paddock this weekend. Instead of standing by for Honda, he'll be donning a Peugeot Sport race suit and driving the fearsome 908 HDi FAP at the 1,000km de Spa-Francorchamps.

Patrese sad to see record go

2008-05-07T08:33:00.001-07:00

As Rubens Barrichello prepares to become the most experienced Formula One driver in history, entering his 257th race on Sunday at the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul, the outgoing record holder, Riccardo Patrese, admits that he'd like to have kept hold of the record.

Special livery for Rubens Barrichello in Turkey

2008-05-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello drive the Grand Prix of Turkey with a special livery in honor of his record Grand Prix starts. The Brazilian starts Sunday 257ste to his Formula 1 race and that number will be expanded on his Honda back and his helmet.

Rubens Barrichello

2008-05-07T06:15:00.000-07:00

"The Istanbul Park track is fairly challenging from a drivers' point of view as it runs anti-clockwise which is unusual and the undulations are quite extreme which can make for an exciting lap. I have been impressed with the circuit since we started racing here in 2005. The lap itself has a nice flow, and most importantly, it's a good racing track with overtaking opportunities, which have led to some exciting races. The highlight for most drivers is the high-speed turn eight where the triple apex is really quick, blind and tough on your neck.

"Becoming the most experienced Formule One driver ever means a great deal to me. I've had a long career in Formule One and I have so many wonderful memories, but I don't feel any different today to the day when I started out on this journey in 1993. My first race, at Kyalami, seems like yesterday. I must thank my family and friends for their unwavering support through the years. I was lucky enough to start my career in F1 at a young age and I love racing as much as ever and, importantly, I still love Formula One. Whilst people will look back at my 16-year career in Turkey, I'm still looking forward and the next race is the one that matters the most."

Ross Brawn

2008-05-07T06:14:00.001-07:00

"Istanbul Park is a great race track which our drivers really enjoy. Although there is no opportunity to test before this race, we will have some small refinements to the car and aero package to suit the characteristics of this particular circuit. I am expecting the RA108 to perform slightly better around Istanbul Park than in Barcelona, where we suffered with ride quality over the bumpy surface, so I believe we can look forward to challenging for the top ten in qualifying and hopefully scoring points again.

"We were extremely pleased to pick up our first points of the season in Barcelona and it was just reward for the efforts that everyone has put in over the last few months. We took many positives from the race weekend, including the good performance of the new aero package and our strategy working well, with the execution of the pit stops being especially good. Of course, there are challenges to be overcome, however I am confident we have the right attitude and commitment to resolve these. There is tremendous potential in this team and our three points in Barcelona was the first step at the start of a very intense few months of racing."

Jenson Button

2008-05-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

"The Turkish Grand Prix is one of my favourite races on the calendar and I've had a couple of good results here in 2005 and 2006, finishing in the top five on both occasions. The track layout is excellent with the changes in elevation making it a tough but enjoyable circuit for the drivers. There are some really good overtaking opportunities at turn one and turn three, with a chance of passing into turns nine and twelve if you get it right.
"The Spanish Grand Prix was our first major upgrade to the RA108 and the new aero package definitely gave us a performance improvement over the weekend. It's good to know that we are improving the car step-by-step and I was able to develop a good understanding of the new developments. The car that we take to Turkey will be essentially the same package, therefore our focus will be getting onto Q3 and qualifying in the top ten. Turkey is a circuit that I have always been competitive at, and really enjoy driving, so I am hopeful that we will have a good race."

Turkey: Tremendous potential in this team

2008-05-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

Round five of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship takes the Honda Racing F1 Team to Istanbul for the Turkish Grand Prix. The 58-lap race takes place at the 5.338km (3.317mile) Istanbul Park circuit, which is one of only two anti-clockwise tracks on this year's calendar.

Rubens retire , Sato to honda?

2008-05-07T00:46:00.000-07:00

This will be the best option for Honda if we want score more points.rubens can't develop the car anymore. Sato's feedback is not worse than Rubens. Rubens is an oldschool driver.we haven't seen any good race from him for many years. but Sato has beaten many cars with a very slow car.
Very interesting,that is my thinking.

Super Aguri withdraw from F1

2008-05-06T13:13:00.001-07:00

Super Aguri F1
Participating in Formula One since the 2006 season, the Team, which scored its first championship points after only 22 races (Spanish Grand Prix, 2007) and finished ninth overall in the 2007 Constructors’ Championship, will cease all activities as of 6th May 2008.

Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal, Super Aguri F1 Team: “In order to realize my dream to become an owner of a Formula One Team, I applied for a grid position in the FIA Formula One World Championship in November 2005. Since then, I have participated in the championship for 2 years and 4 months as the Super Aguri F1 Team, but regretfully I must inform you that the team will be ceasing its racing activities as of today.

The team has competed against the many car manufacturer backed teams and has succeeded in obtaining the first points after only the 22nd race finishing in 9th place overall in the 2007 Constructors’ Championship. However, the breach of contract by the promised partner SS United Group Company Limited resulted in the loss of financial backing and immediately put the team into financial difficulties. Also, the change in direction of the environment surrounding the team, in terms of the use of customer chassis, has affected our ability to find partners.

Meanwhile, with the help of Honda, we have somehow managed to keep the team going, but we find it difficult to establish a way to continue the activities in the future within the environment surrounding F1 and as a result, I have concluded to withdraw from the Championship.

I would like to express my deepest thanks to Honda, Bridgestone, the sponsors, all the people who have given us advise during various situations over the past couple of years all the Team Staff who have kept their motivations high and always done their best, Anthony Davidson who has always pushed to the limit despite the very difficult conditions, Takuma Sato who has been with us from the very start and has always fought hard and led the team and lastly our fans from all over the world who have loyally supported the Super Aguri F1 Team."

2008-05-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Following Super Aguri F1's exit from the sport, thanks to a lack of funding stemming mainly from the defaulting of their major sponsor SS United, Hondo Motor Co Ltd have issued the following statement on the events, expressing their regret and thanking the team for their efforts.

The The Super Aguri F1 Team has been offering dreams to the Formule One fans as a Japanese Team. Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson have also contributed through their rich talent, persistent efforts and fighting spirit.

Honda has been supporting the Super Aguri F1 Team by supplying engines and financial support amongst others since its establishment in 2005. Especially since 2007, we have been deeply involved in discussions together with the team to find sponsors and partners.
At the beginning of the 2008 season, when the team started negotiations with the strong candidate MAGMA Group, Honda has actively cooperated by proposing many forms of support. Just when we thought the three groups have reached an agreement, we were told that MAGMA and their financial backers had decided not to pursue the deal.
Honda has continued to support the team as much as possible but Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal has come to Honda and expressed his decision to withdraw from Formula One as he is not capable of establishing a foundation for independent operation of the team.
The Super Aguri F1 Team’s withdrawal is indeed very disappointing for us but we understand that it was inevitable unless the team could find a way to stand alone by itself in the future.
We would like to express our thankfulness to the Super Aguri F1 Team and all the fans who have supported them for sharing the dreams and fighting together with Honda.

Suzuki: I have no interest in Nick Fry

2008-05-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

With Honda Motor Co ceasing financial support for Super Aguri F1, and Honda Racing F1's Nick Fry informing Formula One Management that Super Aguri won't be racing, the Leafield team has succumbed to the inevitable and pulled out of Formula One. The team will, therefore, be absent from the remaining races of 2008.

2008-05-04T03:29:00.000-07:00

Ross Brawn, team boos of Honda Racing, is confident that the team better for the day may come than in Barcelona. I In Spain, Honda with a number of updates, but the speed never really came from, despite the punting finish of Jenson Button.

Brawn: "Istanbul Park is a beautiful circuit and our drivers love to take up driving. While we do not have the opportunity here to test, we have some new things on the car specifically for this race. I expect that the RA108 here better than in Barcelona, where we had trouble with the bumpy asphalt. I think we can go for a top ten-qualification and hopefully some points. "

Honda drivers focus on Turkey

2008-05-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello discuss the Istanbul Park circuit, venue for next weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix.

Round five of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship takes the Honda Racing F1 Team to Istanbul for the Turkish GP. The 58-lap race, which takes place at the 5.338km (3.317mile) Istanbul Park circuit; one of only two anti-clockwise tracks on this year’s calendar. It’s a circuit that all drivers agree is both challenging and entertaining.

“The Turkish Grand Prix is one of my favourite races on the calendar,” says Jenson, “and I’ve had a couple of good results here in 2005 and 2006, finishing in the top five on both occasions. The track layout is excellent with the changes in elevation making it a tough but enjoyable circuit for the drivers. There are some really good overtaking opportunities at turn one and turn three, with a chance of passing into turns nine and twelve if you get it right.”

2008-04-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

This solution, debuted in Spain, is Honda's radical-looking interpretation of the nose winglets introduced by BMW Sauber to optimise the car's balance. They don't generate significant downforce, but instead help divert airflow horizontally, improving the quality of the airflow directed to the car's rear end and to its sidepod inlets. Honda, like BMW Sauber, have followed the common fashion this year of dramatically narrowing the lower section of the sidepods, reducing both the cross-sectional area of the inlets and the surface area of the radiators within. This reduction makes the effective channelling of airflow into the inlets even more crucial for effective cooling.

Great points haul considering..

2008-04-28T01:36:00.001-07:00

I think there was a lot of bad luck for Jenson early on.. no testing time with the new aero package resulted in poor qualifying performance, then he was stuck behind his team mate which pretty much precluded him from showing any pace (assuming of course that he had any), then he was unlucky with the safety car.. after that he got his two points by showing excellent pace (fifth fastest lap) and great pit lane service. That and the fact that half the grid auto-destructed which is a rare thing indeed in Barcelona.

Rubens had an okay, if uneventful race safe for the unlucky safety car phase.. before the front wing episode. I'm not sure what happened there. ITV said that Ruben's wing was damaged before he ran into Fisi; someone on the board suggests that it was the pit crew that let him out too early. I just don't know.

Fair on unfair, the end result is of course once again that Jens got the points and Rubens did not.. and the pressure on Rubens is increasing again.

Button predicts even stronger Honda for Turkey

2008-04-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

Honda driver Jenson Button believes that his putenfinish yeastraday in the GP of Spain is onlythe beginning of a long series of good results for Honda.The Englishman was sixth,but there was,according to its own figures,more seated.The second safety car period threw soot in the eating.Moreover,the RA108 not be well suited to the circuit in Barcelona.

Ross Brawn

2008-04-27T12:15:00.001-07:00

Team Principal Ross Brawn was delighted that the team now has its first points this season: “It is just reward after the tremendous efforts made by everyone. We have made a good step forward with the new upgrade package and today’s result reflects all the hard work that the team have put into developing the car since the start of the season.

“We are making good progress, which is encouraging for the rest of the season and for the future. I really feel that all elements of the team, chassis and engine are beginning to gel. We have a number of smaller developments to introduce over the next few races, to tailor the package to the varying characteristics of the forthcoming circuits, and at the same time we will be working hard on the development of our next substantial upgrade for Silverstone.”

First points of the year

2008-04-27T12:14:00.001-07:00

The Honda Racing F1 Team scored its first World Championship points of the season in today’s Spanish Grand Prix, when Jenson Button finished sixth. A tenacious drive from the Briton, plus some astute strategy calls from the pitwall, saw him climb through the field from 13th position on the grid.

Rubens to start the Spanish GP from 11th place, Jenson from 13th.

2008-04-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Honda Racing F1 Team will start Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix from just outside the top 10. Rubens Barrichello will lead the team’s challenge in 11th place, with Jenson Button starting just behind in 13th.

As was the case yesterday, the weather conditions at the Circuit de Catalunya were good. The ambient and track temperatures rose sharply during the morning, while the Honda Racing F1 Team was honing the set-ups of its RA108s during final practice, and with the ambient set at 24 degrees and the track temperature at 39 degrees, the team embarked on the qualifying session.

Ross Brawn

2008-04-24T13:30:00.002-07:00

"The team has made good progress at each race so far this season, gaining in confidence and performing better on each occasion. Our recent development push on the RA108 with a new aerodynamic package, suspension modifications and driveability improvements showed pleasing results during the four-day test this week. I expect these developments to add to our competitiveness and improve our points scoring potential at the Spanish Grand Prix and the races to follow."

Spain: Points scoring potential at Barcelona

2008-04-24T13:30:00.001-07:00

Round four of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship takes the Honda Racing F1 Team to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. The 66-lap race is held at the 4.655km (2.892mile) Circuit de Catalunya and marks the start of Formula One's European season.

Brawn predicts improved ‘points-scoring potential’ in Barcelona.

2008-04-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Honda Racing F1 Team completed a successful four-day test session at the track last week, where new mechanical and aerodynamic components were evaluated on the RA108 car, and the team enters the Spanish Grand Prix weekend hoping to challenge for a points finish.

Team Principal Ross Brawn is expecting a noticeable improvement this weekend: “Our recent development push on the RA108 with a new aerodynamic package, suspension modifications and driveability improvements showed pleasing results during the four-day test this week. I expect these developments to add to our competitiveness and improve our points scoring potential at the Spanish Grand Prix and the races to follow.”

“We saw a significant lap time improvement,” says Rubens Barrichello, “with the new upgrades which is very pleasing, but as ever, we need to wait until the race weekend to determine how this will impact our position on the grid. I’m confident that we have continued to make good progress.”

“The circuit here is very familiar,” adds Jenson Button, “so we will make the best use of our time on track to fine-tune the set-up of the car. We hope to be challenging for a top ten qualifying position again which would put us in position for a strong race.

Barrichello: Honda upgrade a definite improvement

2008-04-19T02:19:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello is optimistic Honda can break into the points at next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix following a successful test for the team’s new aerodynamic package in Barcelona this week.

Honda have yet to score in 2008, but after running almost 220 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday and Wednesday, Barrichello believes the Japanese team have taken a step forward with the latest developments to their RA108 machine.

Barrichello sets sentences contract whit Honda

2008-04-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

Honda driver Rubens Barrichello in no way intend to after this season his helmet to the willows hang.The experienced brasileno wants to be assured of a place on the grid 2009,preferably with his current employer.With the advent of Ross Brawn as teambos Barrichello expects that Honda a golden future.
The 35-year-old driver about his own future:"It is no secret that my contract at the end of the season comes to end.I would like to extend that,because I think Honda with Ross Brawn the coming years a significant role to play.2008 is definitely not my last season as a Formula 1 driver and I would like to continue as long until it really no longer can.And I have already said that I am the milestone of 300 Grands Prix wants to achieve,which I still have hope."

Rubens seeks 2009 Contract

2008-04-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Rubens has confirmed that he is looking for a drive next year. I personally think he should stay on. Brawn, Rubens, Jenson and Wurz should carry Honda into the next era in my opinion.

Steve Clark Head of Race & Test Engineering

2008-04-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

"This week saw the first in-season test of 2008 where we can only use a single car compared to the two car pre-season tests. The development of the RA108 is progressing well and we had many items on the test agenda. Our major development is an aerodynamic update kit which successfully delivered a lap time improvement, however we will not know until the Spanish Grand Prix whether this translates into a significant step forward versus our competitors. In addition to developing the current car, we have been working with Bridgestone on the 2009 tyres. Running here in warmer conditions, we had no issues with warming the tyres up without blankets, and it is a pleasure to run a racing car on slicks again. We are looking forward to the challenge of running the cars next year without tyre warmers and reduced downforce. It should be interesting."

Alex Wurz Test & Reserve Driver

2008-04-18T02:43:00.000-07:00

"It was good to be back in the car after closely following the progress that the team has made over the first three races of the season. My day was focused on set-up work with the 2008 car and running the slick tyres to evaluate the basic set-up and design requirements. In addition we continued our ongoing work on engine driveability with the new electronics system."

Jenson Button

2008-04-18T02:42:00.001-07:00

"It's unfortunate that my day in the car this week coincided with the bad weather that we have experienced today. I was only able to complete 42 laps, mostly on wet tyres, and could not really gather any information from those laps. Thankfully the team had three good days of testing earlier in the week so we are well prepared for the race weekend."

Rubens Barrichello

2008-04-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

"We had a very busy and successful test this week. On Wednesday, I had a good day evaluating the slick tyres and we were able to make some improvements to our set-up. It was nice to finish at the top of the timesheet, although it does not have too great a significance when only half of the field were running slicks. We ran our new aero upgrade for the first time and I'm encouraged by the performance. I felt a definite improvement, although the windy conditions made it difficult to quantify how much. We covered some good mileage and a lot of test items, particularly on Thursday when I completed 140 laps. Overall I have good reason to be positive for the Spanish Grand Prix and I hope that we can get into the points there."

New aero package helps Honda

2008-04-18T02:37:00.001-07:00

The Honda Racing F1 Team returned to the test track this week following the first three races of the 2008 Formula One season. With the majority of teams in action at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, this week’s four-day test has allowed Honda to prepare for the next race on the calendar, the Spanish Grand Prix, which takes place next weekend.

Barcelona Test - 17 April

2008-04-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

The rain is stopping from time to time but, with a wet track and no hot sun to dry it, the chances of any meaningful running this afternoon are looking bleak.

Of course, should things dry out we'll provide an update this afternoon. In the meantime, you'll have to wait until this evening for our full round up of lap times and a comprehensive review of the week's action.

The rain in Spain falls mainly in Barcelona

2008-04-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

It's been raining in Barcelona all day, and the Catalunya circuit stands quiet, meaning that testing is all but over for the week. Only Mark Webber has thus far ventured out for a timed lap, with a handful of drivers completing just one installation lap before returning to the comfort of the motorhome.

2008-04-17T10:47:00.001-07:00

Testing report - day four
Location: Barcelona, SpainDate: 17 April
Drivers: Jenson Button

The Honda Racing F1 Team today concluded its four-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
Jenson Button joined the team to take over the driving responsibilities in the Honda RA108 for the final day.
Unfortunately running was continuously interrupted by heavy rain showers which drenched the track, restricting Jenson to a single installation lap in the morning and only limited running on wet tyres for a further 41 laps in the afternoon session.

TODAY’S LAP TIMES
NB: All timings are unofficial

1. M. Webber (Red Bull) 01:21.953
2. H. Kovalainen (McLaren) 01:23.589
3. K. Raikkon (Ferrari) 01:23.619
4. R. Kubica (BMW) 01:24.715
5. J. Button (Honda) 01:24.873
6. K. Nakajima (Williams) 01:24.927
7. N. Piquet (Renault) 01:26.100
8. J. Trulli (Toyota) 01:32.150

Barcelona Test - 14/15/16/17 April

2008-04-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

Times at 15:35:

1.	M. Webber	Red Bull Racing	RB4	1:21.953		16	pit
2.	H. Kovalainen	McLaren	MP4-23	1:33.127	+11.174	17	pit
3.	J. Button	Honda	RA108	1:33.917	+11.964	16	pit
4.	R. Kubica	BMW Sauber	F1.08	1:34.873	+12.920	7	pit
5.	J. Trulli	Toyota	TF108	1:35.004	+13.051	10	pit
6.	N. Piquet Jr.	Renault	R28	1:35.076	+13.123	22	pit
7.	K. Nakajima	Williams	FW30	1:35.563	+13.610	19	pit
8.	K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	F2008	1:36.855	+14.902	7	pit

2008-04-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

The rain is stopping from time to time but, with a wet track and no hot sun to dry it, the chances of any meaningful running this afternoon are looking bleak.
Of course, should things dry out we'll provide an update this afternoon. In the meantime, you'll have to wait until this evening for our full round up of lap times and a comprehensive review of the week's action.

2008-04-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

According to livetiming on f1today.nl it has stopped raining but not much action, since the track is still wet. jenson only did an installation lap in the morning

Barcelona Test - 14/15/16/17 April

2008-04-17T04:16:00.000-07:00

The front wheel covers reappeared in the morning, as did the 'Dumbo ears' (or even 'penguin wings') on the nosecone. A number of more subtle changes have also been made to the bodywork, including the closing of a number of vents on the engine cover that will reduce drag, but at the expense of cooling ability.

The much discussed 'W-wing' spent some time attached to the rear of the car.
The afternoon saw Rubens running on slick tyres, while some teams elected to simulate 2009 aero restrictions, too.
The Brazilian completed an impressive 140 laps through the day, and now won't see the car again until the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. Jenson Buton takes over for today's final test session.

Barcelona Test - 14/15/16/17 April

2008-04-16T12:06:00.001-07:00

There is a chance that it might rain tomorrow so we are going to have to wait and see how much useful running is actually going to take place. So it was good to see Rubens put in 141 laps.

From the looks of things though the team is really considering the "ears" for next weekends race. Running with them for two days, wow.

Jenson Button will join the team in Barcelona tomorrow for the fourth and final day of the test.

TODAY’S LAP TIMES

2008-04-16T11:18:00.001-07:00

All timings are unofficial

1. F. Alonso (Renault) 01:18.483
2. M. Schumacher (Ferrari) 01:19.323
3. A. Sutil (Force India) 01:19.424
4. R. Kubica (BMW) 01:19.785
5. N. Rosberg (Williams) 01:19.841
6. R. Barrichello (Honda) 01:19.920
7. L. Hamilton (McLaren) 01:20.591
8. S. Bordais (Toro Rosso) 01:20.715
9. M. Webber (Red Bull) 01:20.849
10. J. Trulli (Toyota) 01:20.867

Rubens continues Barcelona test testing report - day three

2008-04-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello was in action for a second day at the wheel of the Honda RA108 today as the Honda Racing F1 Team continues its track testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Today’s programme saw Rubens continuing the aerodynamic and set-up evaluations which he began yesterday in preparation for the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix. Rubens spent the morning working on the new aero developments before completing a tyre evaluation in the afternoon using the 2009 specification Bridgestone slick tyres.

With the full test programme successfully completed, Rubens' final lap tally for the day was an impressive 140 laps around the demanding Barcelona circuit.

Jenson Button will join the team in Barcelona tomorrow for the fourth and final day of the test.

Barcelona Test - 14/15/16 April

2008-04-16T01:31:00.001-07:00

I've read on a German site that they were also evaluating a "revised front wing and barge boards".

Last year, we all bemoaned the fact that the tunnel did not work. What a difference a year makes.

Brawn says that Ferrari have nothing that can hold a candle to Honda's wind tunnel and Loic Bigois et al. are having a field day with it.. still the dumbo ears idea can't have been that bad if they are trying it again.

2008-04-15T10:15:00.001-07:00

Barcelona Test - 14/15/16 April

2008-04-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

1º	17	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	00:01'18''928
.2º	21	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India	00:01'19''721	00:00'00''793
.3º	2	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	00:01'20''283	00:00'01''355
.4º	9	David Coulthard	Red Bull	00:01'20''392	00:00'01''464
.5º	22	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	00:01'20''452	00:00'01''524
.6º	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	00:01'20''616	00:00'01''688
.7º	7	Nico Rosberg	Williams	00:01'20''800	00:00'01''872
.8º	12	Timo Glock	Toyota	00:01'20''870	00:00'01''942
.9º	3	Nick Heidfeld	BMW-Sauber	00:01'20''981	00:00'02''053

Barcelona Test - 14/15/16 April

2008-04-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

I've noticed that the W-wing has not reappeared today.

Here's some speculation: they are first testing each bit of kit on its own to get a baseline, but they are very much intended to work together.

Tomorrow or Thursday, they'll get all the bits screwed on together and that will be real test of what it can do.

The nose horns and the W-wing especially look like they form one unit. The nose horns appear to be channelling the airflow directly into the curved sections of the w-wing.

Another possibility is that the nose horns are designed to address the front suspension problems that see the RA108 bounce up and down when it rides the curbs. Ground-effect aero at the front all but disappears when the front wing "takes off" but the nose horns should not be affected as badly and could thus help keeping the bounce "lower".

All idle speculation.. but at least you can't say they aren't trying!