Saturday – Honda does better than 19th and 20th place

Honda does not seem to find its footing on this Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Japanese team is lacking in testing and, as luck would have it, this morning Jenson Button did not complete any laps during free practice 3.

It is therefore logical that Barrichello and Button do not get past Q1, but among the five drivers eliminated, they are ahead with the 16th and 17th positions, respectively. Tomorrow’s race will allow them to better understand this track in the Belgian Ardennes.

Rubens Barrichello – 19th and 16th:

« We must be satisfied with what we achieved in qualifying today, especially considering the fact that during practice sessions we were often at the bottom of the table. It is unfortunate that the car is not more competitive. »

Jenson Button – 20th 17th:

« My first qualifying round was the first round of my day. Therefore, it is encouraging to beat a few competitors and be close to my teammate. Still, it was a disappointing session, and the overall assessment is even more mixed if we consider the car’s performance level and the situation since the beginning of the weekend. I will start from the clean side of the grid. Rain tomorrow would make the race more interesting. »

Steve Clark – Race Director:

« Following our rather mediocre tests yesterday, we had to make significant modifications to the cars overnight, both on the aerodynamics and the suspensions. Our Friday was unproductive, which is clearly the best way to enter a Grand Prix weekend. »

« This morning, Rubens Barrichello found beneficial points in these changes but Jenson Button had a mechanical problem. The cars were well balanced and it seemed unlikely that the drivers had enough resources to reach Q2. »

« For a few years now, there hasn’t been great anticipation regarding the safety car. Weather forecasts are predicting dry conditions tomorrow, but at Spa, there’s always a chance of an unexpected shower. We must be ready to take advantage if that happens. »