Brawn - Honda's focus on car

"I don't think the drivers are the problem," says team principal

Last updated: 14th July 2008

ross brawn honda team principal may 2008

Brawn: decent car needed

Related links

Teams

Drivers

Also see

According to Ross Brawn, Honda are in no hurry to decide their 2009 driver line-up, opting instead to focus their attention on producing a more competitive car.

Although the Japanese manufacturer have shown signs of promise since Brawn took over as team principal at the start of the season, Honda still have much work to do if they are to punch their weight.

After nine races the team are lying eighth in the Constructors' Championship, at the back end of a close battle for fourth place that sees five teams separated by just 11 points.

Nevertheless, Brawn, who has always said that Honda are competing this season with one eye on 2009 when the introduction of major rule changes will give under-performing teams the chance to start again in terms of car design, has hinted that drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will be retained.

"We are in discussions, and it will evolve during the summer," Brawn told Autosport. "Our priority is clearly to get a better car for next year. So things are moving along but there is no desperate rush.

"I think we have got two very good drivers, so the first thing we have got to do is get a decent car. When we get a good car that will give our drivers the opportunity to show what they can do, and we can take stock then.

"I don't think the drivers are the problem."

Vote of confidence

The Englishman specifically gave 36-year-old Barrichello a vote of confidence in the wake of rumours that double World Champion Fernando Alonso could sign on as Button's 2009 team-mate.

"He's possibly better," Brawn said of Barrichello, with whom he worked at Ferrari alongside Michael Schumacher between 2000 and 2005.

"Out of the shadow of Michael he has recognised the greater scope that Michael brought to the job. Michael was exceptional and any driver racing in the same team as Michael had a massive challenge.

"I think Rubens did a great job of coping with that, but he doesn't have to cope with it any more and it's really opened things up for him a lot more. He is possibly a better driver than when I was at Ferrari."