Honda preview the Australian GP

Monday 10th March 2008

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are hoping for a change of fortune this season starting with the Australian GP.

Jenson Button
Q: What are your thoughts on the RA108 as you head into the first race?
JB: "It's a very driveable car, which gives us a good basis to build on. It still lacks a bit of speed, but we've made improvements at every test in many areas and I'm confident that this level of development can continue throughout the year."

Q: What have you been doing to prepare for the start of the new season?
JB: "Like all of the drivers, I've been busy with testing the new car and there's no substitute for that kind of training. But I've also been working on my fitness away from the track and I'm fitter now than ever before. I've got a new physio, Mike Collier, and we've done three training camps together in Lanzarote."

Rubens Barrichello
Q: What are your realistic expectations for the opening rounds?
RB: "The mid-field is going to be very close this year, so we could see an interesting battle. It's almost impossible to say where we'll end up in Melbourne because the lap times will be close. So it's a case of wait and see."

Q: Do you like driving without traction control?
RB: "I feel like a boy with a new toy! Having driven without TC for many years in the '90s, it didn't take me long to adjust. It will throw up new challenges, particularly when it's wet, but they are challenges that I'm looking forward to."

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
Q: How does it feel to be commencing your first season with the Honda Racing F1 Team?
RBr: "I'm looking forward to it! We have a very talented group of people in the team, whose collective expertise is good enough to succeed in Formula One and I have every faith that we will. For now though we must continue to take it one step at a time and our first goal is to improve the RA108 at every race."

Q: How has pre-season testing gone?
RBr: "We've made steady progress with the RA108 since its launch at the end of January. Practically all of the aerodynamic and mechanical parts have been updated and when we ran our Melbourne-spec package for the first time last week, we saw some positive changes to the performance of the car. We now have to see what that improvement equates to on the race track and relative to the competition."