Brawn - We'll take our time

Brawn: Careful consideration

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Honda team principal Ross Brawn has said the team will take their time in deciding who will partner Jenson Button next season.

Although the Englishman has yet to be confirmed for 2009, he is expected to be retained, with Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna vying with incumbent Rubens Barrichello for the other race seat.

The GP2 duo tested for Honda at Barcelona this week, with Senna a full second ahead of di Grassi when both took to the Circuit de Catalunya on Monday.

Tuesday's action saw di Grassi's best being half-a-second behind Button's, while on Wednesday Senna was three-tenths off his pace.

"We took the opportunity to evaluate the emerging talents of Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna," Brawn said.

"Both drivers spent one-and-a-half days in our car which has enabled the team to assess their performance and level of technical skill.

"Lucas and Bruno have both performed admirably over the course of the week and their evident enthusiasm and commitment has made them a pleasure to work with.

"We will now take some time to carefully consider our findings from this test before reaching any further conclusions."

Slick move

With 2009 seeing regulation changes governing aerodynamics, the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and the re-introduction of slick tyres, Brawn added that the latter move was particularly welcome.

"The first test of the winter in Barcelona has seen us commence our on-track preparations for 2009, a season which will see the most significant change in Formula One's technical regulations for many years," he added.

"We have been running two modified RA108 chassis with an aerodynamic package representative of the downforce levels required for next season.

"We have also conducted an intensive tyre programme with the Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres.

"Having been sensible in the use of our tyre allocation so far this year, we are in the best possible position to gain information about the new slicks ahead of the launch of our new car.

"Whilst the temperatures have been quite cool this week, which has affected the behaviour of the tyres, both the team and drivers are happy to see Formula One back on slicks."