Friday Summary – Honda Avoided the Worst

Just over a week ago, the Honda team was still testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain, and now they are faced with all the teams present in this 2008 season. Fearing this confrontation, Honda managed to hold their ground by staying in the middle of the pack.

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are optimistic after a hard day of work to fine-tune certain aspects of the RA108 to meet the demands of the Albert Park circuit.

The ambient temperature was 37°C, with a peak of 48°C for the ground temperature, which allowed the RA108 to undergo its first test in extreme conditions. Test passed with flying colors. The two drivers finished the day in 11th and 14th positions.

Jenson Button – 11th and 11th

« It was a good day for us. We focused mainly on the tyres to try to get the best out of the car in these scorching conditions. Everything went well and I would say that the car is even more competitive than during the Jerez tests, which is encouraging. »

« We will know our true position compared to other teams by tomorrow at the latest, but for now, our priority is to focus on our own test elements and adapt to the setup we have determined. »

« Here in Melbourne, the circuit is very different from those you can find in Spain. We start from scratch in terms of car setup and have to get familiar with the Albert Park track. »

Rubens Barrichello – 15th and 14th

With this heat, the track gained grip throughout the day. The track was much more difficult in the morning session. I was much happier and relieved in the afternoon.

« It is still too early to say how we will perform in the qualifications. Friday is a true performance indicator for everyone but internally as each team determines its program with respect to fuel. Our goal is to establish ourselves in the middle of the grid and I think we are on the right track. »

Steve Clark – Race Director

The test sessions went as we had planned despite an uncertain track and unfavorable weather conditions. As usual, the free practice sessions of the first Grand Prix of the season saw a number of questions resurface, which did not arise during the winter.

« Our performance compared to our competitors has yet to be confirmed, but our aerodynamic upgrade for this race compared to two weeks ago seems to be delivering good results. »

« Tomorrow will be the real test. We are confident and aim not to make any mistakes. If that’s the case, we could place the car in the top half of the grid. »