TOKYO, Oct 3 - Honda are hopeful of maintaining their current driver line-up
of Briton Jenson Button and Brazil's Rubens Barrichello for the 2007 Formula One
season.
"We are planning to stick with the same two drivers next year," Honda Racing
development president Yasuhiro Wada told a news conference on Tuesday ahead of
the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
"We don't plan any changes."
Wada also jokingly chided team boss Nick Fry for not being ambitious enough
about Honda's chances at their home race after Fry had said he hoped for a
podium finish at Suzuka.
"Jenson's victory in Hungary (in August) was obviously a highlight but apart
from that, the feeling is that we have started operating at full capacity," Wada
said.
"I think after Hungary we have to aim higher than a podium. We should be
looking to win races and hopefully we can start at Suzuka."
Honda are heading for a solid fourth-place finish in the constructors'
championship with two races left, although well behind leaders Renault's 179
points and Ferrari's 178.
SUZUKA IMPACT
However, Honda will be aiming to make an impact at the weekend after Suzuka
was dropped from the 2007 calendar in favour of Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway.
"It is the last race at Suzuka (until further notice) so we will have to pay
attention to every detail," said Barrichello, who won in Japan for Ferrari three
years ago.
"It will also depend very much on the weather. Just pray for us. I think
that's the most important."
Fry opted for the middle ground between Wada's ebullience and Barrichello's
hope for divine intervention.
"I think for a team at our level the absolute minimum expectation is for both
drivers to have points finishes," he said.
"We've achieved that in the last four races. I think the completion of our
new wind tunnel has helped us in the results."
He added: "The drivers have worked extremely well together and I think our
team will be extremely strong next season and beyond that."
