Saturday Recap – Honda remains powerless at the edge of the Top 10
Honda Racing enjoyed a positive first qualifying session at Albert Park. Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button were only 0.2 seconds off the top 10 threshold. They will start tomorrow's race in 11th and 13th positions, respectively.
Q2 was interrupted by a red flag, which forced the two Honda Racing drivers to abandon their first stint during this session. When the session resumed five minutes later, the drivers immediately headed for the track.
Button ends his qualifying session in 13th place, while Rubens improves his time by 0.2 seconds and will start tomorrow’s race from 11th position.
Rubens Barrichello – 16th and 10th (Qualified 12th):
I am really satisfied with our position in today’s qualifications. Everyone, both at the factory and here, has done an excellent job. It’s very tight in the midfield. If we look a little closer at our position during pre-season testing compared to today, we can see clear progress that has been made after long-term work. The car has recorded good results; the situation is satisfying.
« Of course, I am a little disappointed to have missed out on Q3, but on the other hand, we can choose our own strategy taking into account the weather conditions so that it works as well as it can. This day represents a good start to the season for us, now we have to focus on tomorrow’s race. »
Jenson Button – 7th and 12th (Qualified: 13th)
I lost two tenths at turn 9 and the last turn because I was off the racing line. It’s very frustrating because I’m accelerating but the result isn’t there. However, Rubens will be two places ahead of me on the starting grid, we’re very close to the Top 10. I’m eager to see how our performance will impact our the race tomorrow.
« Temperatures were slightly lower than on Friday and the wind had died down, resulting in better grip on the track. The track, moreover, remained fairly constant today. »
Steve Clark – Race Director:
« The first session went well without any particular incident. In Q2, the red flag caused by Webber compromised the chances of our two drivers on their first stint. There was, in the end, just enough time to complete one last quick lap. The team dealt with this small twist by adapting as best as they could. Technically, we did not experience any problems today. »
« Tomorrow’s weather forecast predicts very hot conditions again. It will be a challenge for all the drivers, both for the reliability of the cars and for the tires. It’s in this spirit of competition that there could be opportunities for points for us. »
