HONDA F1

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

"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."