Jenson Button was upbeat about Honda’s early form in Melbourne after he ended both Friday practice sessions 11th fastest. The Brackley-based squad’s latest RA108 challenger was regularly towards the bottom of the timesheets during pre-season, but the team believes it made a step forward at its private Jerez test last week. And although not wanting to predict the team’s likely spot in the pecking order come qualifying, Button was pleased with how the first day of the new season went.
“Today has been a good day for us,” he said.

Honda
16 Jenson Button 17 Rubens Barrichello
Testers: Alex Wurz, Mike Conway, Luca Filippi
Honda made much of the power of dreams and their Earthdreams programme when they launched their eco-friendly Formula One car last year, but it proved to be an utterly disastrous season that brought the team to their knees. Jenson Button did a fantastic job to maintain his momentum as, for yet another year, he saw his genuine aspirations of mounting a championship challenge crumble the moment the first race started.

Testing times suggest that the new RA108, at least in its current guise, is not going to turn that trick for him either. Insiders say his first comments on the new car were unprintable. At the launch in late January, there was much evidence of brave smiles for the cameras to disguise an ongoing crisis.

But… nobody in the real world doubts that the presence of new team principal Ross Brawn will have a huge influence on the team’s development in the medium term. His record at Benetton and Ferrari speaks volumes, and this major asset will surely lead the team from the wilderness. It will, however, take time.

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