Brawn was necessary for Honda … according to Barrichello

Rubens Barrichello believes that Ross Brawn is exactly what Honda Racing needed to achieve solid results in Formula 1.

Brawn, a British national, worked with Barrichello at Ferrari and has now joined the Honda team as a director. The goal is simple: try to bounce back after a particularly disastrous 2007.

The Brazilian who won nine Grand Prix races under Brawn’s guidance admitted that he was looking forward to his arrival.

« I feel very good. I had the honor of working with Ross a few years ago and I think Honda needed someone like him. He will be a fantastic team captain, » said Barrichello during a press conference in Tokyo.

« I like everything about him, not only his organization but also the way he works. I am therefore eager to see how things will develop this year. »

Although Brawn considers his position at Honda to be worlds apart from the one he held at Ferrari, Barrichello believes that his position will be roughly the same.

« I don’t think so, » stated the former Ferrari driver when asked if Brawn’s work would be different at Honda.

« It’s simply the team name that has changed. It’s the best for organizing a team and getting the maximum from each of us. »

« Before, Honda had great capabilities and we had the right people working with us, but we needed a leader, someone to control the entire Honda team. So I think we recruited the right person and Ross is in the right place. »

« The role of team principal or technical director, Ross plays it fantastically well, » he concluded.