Honda: Progress slow

Honda: Showing signs of improvement

We have got completely different tyres next year, and we have got an excellent tyre group - but how well we will be able to predict what sort of car we need for the tyres is a difficult challenge.

Ross Brawn
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Ross Brawn has written off Honda's chances of mounting a title challenge next season, saying a lot still needs to be done before the team is in a position to do so.

Brawn took over as Honda's team boss at the end of last season and has already begun making changes that are intended to put the team on the road to championship success.

Already a difference has been seen on the track, because even though Honda have yet to score a point this season, both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have already proved that the RA108 is more competitive than last year's car.

But whether next year's car will be able to win the world title for Honda, Brawn says that's unlikely.

Realist

"I don't think so, to be frank," he said when asked by Autosport if Honda could be a championship contender for 2009.

"There are a lot of things that the top teams are doing because they have the structure to do those things. They have the structure to understand what needs to be done.

"When you take a new set of regulations and a new challenge, you have all the tools in place to understand what you need to do and what you need to create.

"We have got completely different tyres next year, and we have got an excellent tyre group - but how well we will be able to predict what sort of car we need for the tyres is a difficult challenge.

"And the top teams are top teams for a reason. So there are things like that we have to take into account."