Button pleased with early testing

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Jenson Button, driving for the newly formed Brawn GP team, ended the first of four days of testing fourth fastest after an encouraging day in Barcelona.

Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello have retained their places for this season in the new Mercedes-powered car.

But he finished fourth behind the BMW Sauber of Nick Heidfeld, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Toyota's Jarno Trulli.

"I am so happy the team is on the grid and that's the most important thing for me," said Button.

Button, who has taken a big pay cut to stay in Formula One, spent the morning at the top of the timesheets.

He added: "Whatever people have said about drivers in the past, and me personally, I'm here to race.

"I love racing, this is the best place to be doing it and you've got to make a lot of sacrifices.

"But I'm not the only one, we all do, especially at this difficult time. We all have to make sacrifices."

Owner Ross Brawn said he hopes the team make a "respectable" start to the season in Australia on 29 March.

And the early signs from the Circuit de Catalunya, home of the Spanish Grand Prix, were promising.

Button's fastest lap for Honda in last year's Spanish Grand Prix was 1:22.353 but he recorded an unofficial time of 1:21.140 in the Brawn car, running without branding in its new black, white and yellow colour scheme, on his first full day driving since 19 November. Button's time was 0.8secs slower than Heidfeld's best.

Honda Racing decided to withdraw from F1 in early December as a result of the global financial crisis, but ex-team principal and former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn confirmed last Friday that he had taken over the team.

McLaren's partners Mercedes have replaced Honda as the engine provider, with the new V8 unit believed to be providing around 60 horsepower more than the one used by Button last year, and they are hoping for a big step up in performance.

In 2008, Honda had a miserable season with Button scoring just three points from 18 races.

But after Honda announced their departure Brawn said the new car was considered a potential race winner.

And 29-year-old Button admitted that racing for the newly formed team had given him a huge lift and a different perspective on his career.

"I wouldn't say in the last few years it all went a bit stale but, when something happens like that (Honda pulling out), it's like 'Wow!' and it does become a fresh start," said Button.

"Getting into a Formula One car now, I feel like a kid again. It's so exciting.

"It feels like 2000 again (the year he started out in F1) but with nine years of experience, so it's the perfect position to be in.

"I have the experience but I have the hunger to achieve and I'm not the only person that feels like that within the team.

"It's all of us, especially after having produced a car I think is competitive and very different to the last two cars.

"We all do feel like kids again and you can see that within the team, the smiles on people's faces, and that was before we drove the car today.

"There's a great atmosphere and it's brought everyone that much closer together, and it's a great thing to be a part of."

Ex-Honda team closes on F1 return

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The former Honda team plans to test at Silverstone and Barcelona in the next fortnight, raising hopes it will start the new Formula One season next month.

Honda pulled out of F1 in December as a result of the global financial crisis, leaving the British-based outfit to search desperately for a buyer.

BBC Sport understands the team will not test in Jerez next week but will have a "shake-down" test at Silverstone.

The outfit then hope to make the full team test in Barcelona on 9 March.

Team members have been told a deal is close and to prepare to race in 2009, with the new season getting under way at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 29 March.

It is unclear who the new owners would be, but speculation has focused on a buy-out led by the current management of chief executive Nick Fry and team principal Ross Brawn.

A senior source at the former Honda team, which is based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, told "We're carrying on as if we're going to Melbourne."

The source likened the situation to "being in the final stages of buying a house when the contracts are agreed and signed and it's with the lawyers".

The source added that Brawn had told employees that "everything's positive - it's all going ahead". No decision had yet been made on a driver line-up, but BBC Sport has learned that Englishman Jenson Button will definitely race for the team if it gets the official go-ahead.

The second seat is understood to be between two Brazilians - veteran Rubens Barrichello, Button's team-mate since 2006, and novice Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton.

The car will be fitted with a Mercedes engine.

"There's no way we'd go to any test without an engine deal," the source said. "If we're going to Jerez, it means it's a done deal."

It is unclear whether any official announcement would be made before the test.

Even if the team make it to the final pre-season test in Barcelona in mid-March, they still face an uphill struggle to be competitive at the start of the season.

At the time of Honda's withdrawal, Brawn expressed his belief that the car could run in the top three in 2009, despite the team's poor form in the last two years.

But the recent uncertainty will have affected development effort, and they have lost running time to their rivals, most of whom have completed at least two full four-day tests already.

Honda struggle to find F1 buyer

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Honda has revealed it currently has no serious buyers to take over its Formula One team.

The company announced last year that it was pulling out of the sport, blaming the global economic crisis.

The deadline for an agreement to buy the team is believed to be this week, one month before the 2009 season's first race in Melbourne.

"There are various offers for the team but we haven't seen any serious buyer," Honda president Takeo Fukui said.

"We find the sale process difficult."

It is thought the team are up for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to run the outfit for the new campaign.

A management buyout, led by current chief executive Nick Fry and team boss Ross Brawn, has been mooted for some time.

On Saturday, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson told the BBC that he would be interested in becoming involved in Formula One, but refused to confirm he was in talks with Honda.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told the News of the World that team bosses had turned down his offer to help with a management buy-out.

"I tried to help with the management buy-out," he was quoted as saying.

"It was a very good offer. It gave them complete protection but they wanted to do things on their own.

"They should have taken what I offered. It was a very good offer for everybody concerned.

"Now all we can do is hope and pray."

Branson keen on Honda - F1 boss

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Tycoon Richard Branson would "love" to take over the Honda Formula One team, Bernie Ecclestone has said.

Honda have confirmed Branson's Virgin Group is one of several potential buyers of their F1 outfit.

The British-based team was put up for sale in December after Honda announced they would quit the sport as both a constructor and engine supplier.

"I've spoken to Richard's people about it. He would love to do it," said F1 supremo Ecclestone.

The Japanese carmakers hope a deal can be done in time for the start of the 2009 season in Australia on 29 March.

It is thought the team are up for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to run the outfit for the new campaign.

Honda have said they are negotiating with several buyers and hope a deal can be done in time for the start of the new season on 29 March.

Speaking about the prospect of Virgin being involved with F1, Ecclestone said: "I'd like it very much. It would be super. We're working to try to make it happen."

The team are very short on time to put a deal together to enable them to compete this season.

They are planning to use Mercedes engines, but the German company has set a deadline by which the team have to prove they have the finances in place to pay for the power-plants.

BBC Sport understands that deadline expires in a matter of days.

Honda announced they were pulling out of F1 because of the effects of the global economic crisis.

Since then the leading contender was rumoured to be a planned management buyout led by the team's current chief executive Nick Fry, principal Ross Brawn and three other senior Honda Racing executives.

Honda are prepared to provide some funding to go towards a racing budget for 2009 as this would be cheaper than paying off the contracts of the team's 700 employees.

Branson has been involved with F1 in a minor capacity - his Virgin Mobile company sponsored the Jordan team in 2002.

Virgin Atlantic Japan have also been personal sponsors of Honda-backed Japanese driver Takuma Sato for the past four years.

But a source close to Branson told BBC Sport that the entrepreneur had in the past been reluctant to get involved with F1, because he saw the sport as a "big black hole for money".

Should a buyout be put together, it would be a major boost for the career of English driver Jenson Button as well as the jobs of the team's 700 employees.

Button has no other options for a place in F1 this coming season.

Honda first competed in F1 in 1964 and has clocked up three Grand Prix wins as a full works team.

Its engines have also been behind dozens of victories by stars such as world champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

Coulthard fears for Button future

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Jenson Button's Formula One career may be over unless current team Honda find a new owner, former driver David Coulthard has warned.

With every other team having confirmed their line-up, Button's only chance of a drive in 2009 looks to be with Honda, who were put up for sale in December.

"You cannot say 100%, but it would be very difficult to imagine where he goes from there.

"It is a fickle business," said Coulthard, who retired last year.

Coulthard believes his 29-year-old fellow Briton cannot afford to sit out a season if Honda do not make the grid.

"The way the sport is now, there are so many young drivers coming through and there are so many opportunities for teams to pick up these guys," he added.

Honda announced they were pulling out of Formula One in December, blaming the global economic crisis.

The team remain hopeful of a rescue bid, but with the season beginning in Melbourne on 29 March, time is running out.

Coulthard, speaking at the launch of Red Bull's new car in Spain, warned that even if the team are bought out, Button could still experience a hugely frustrating season at the back of the grid.

"Honda, off the back of a bad season, suddenly when they realise they are up for sale start talking that this (their 2009 car) is a winning design and it's a great opportunity for anyone to buy this winning design," Coulthard said.

"I don't think it is a given that it will suddenly be a winning design.

"You would like to imagine that it would be better than what they were given last year but I think the team at the back of the grid potentially could be Honda.

"Whereas going into previous years with Honda he was all full of hope and expectation that this could be the year that Honda will step up, he has to take a different view now.

"He has to now consider himself as driving for a mid-grid, privateer team.

"Whether they can deliver to his expectations or not is more difficult to judge going into this season and presumably longer term he has to be looking to try to make a step up to a manufacturer team."

Honda 'optimistic' on race future

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Honda's Formula One team have played down talk of an end-of-month deadline for their survival and insist they are preparing for the new season.

The Japanese team maintain they are hopeful of being ready for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March.

"Don't focus too much on speculation regarding time frames and deadlines," said a team spokeswoman.

"Work on our race car is progressing well. We're optimistic but may not be able to say more for some time."

Honda shocked Formula One last month when it announced it was pulling out of the sport because of the global economic downturn that has ravaged the carmaker's sales and slashed profits.

The fate of the team has become the big question hanging over Formula One, with the clock ticking towards the first race in Melbourne on 29 March and the possibility of there being only nine teams, with 18 drivers on the starting grid.

But rumours within F1 suggest a deal may already have been struck to sell the team and allow it to race this season, and that it is awaiting final sign-off from the Honda board in Japan.

Although the team have had talks with Ferrari about a customer engine supply, BBC Sport understands they would not be using the Italian manufacturer's engines.

Mercedes is said by some sources to be the most likely engine supplier.

Chief executive Nick Fry said this month that Honda had narrowed their options down to a shortlist of about 12 serious purchasers for the team.

McLaren's partners Mercedes has said it is willing to provide engines to whoever buys the team.

However Honda team principal Ross Brawn has recognised that it will take six weeks' work to modify the car to accommodate a different engine.

Billionaire Slim denies Honda bid

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Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has denied he is in talks about a rescue bid for the Honda Formula One team.

Slim, who owns telecommunications firm Telmex and a racing team, was reported to be one of four interested parties.

But a statement said: "The Telmex Team can confirm that Carlos Slim Helu has not bought the Honda F1 team nor is holding any negotiations to do so.

"Therefore all information related to this subject has no basis and is completely false."

After the Honda motor company pulled out of F1 earlier this month, blaming the world economic crisis, the team are trying to find a buyer to continue in the sport.

Bruno Senna, the nephew of former triple Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna, is sponsored by Embratel, part of Slim's Telmex group.

Italian reports suggested Senna would be paired with Britain's Jenson Button for 2009, leaving Button's 2008 team-mate Rubens Barrichello, of Brazil, without a drive for the new season.

But Honda team principal Ross Brawn backed up Slim's denial. "We would love it if it were true but it's pure speculation from various members of the media," Brawn told the Daily Telegraph.

"It's just been one of those rumours which has developed a life of its own."

However, Brawn insisted talks are progressing with other parties and revealed the team could stay in business through to the season opener in Melbourne at the end of March.

"There has been a huge amount of interest," he added. "It's now got to the stage where we need to filter out the serious from the not so serious.

"We're all hopeful that something will happen and we're anxious to turn up the wick again in the new year.

"We haven't really lost anything yet as it has still only been a few weeks. Everything is in place although we have had to turn down various programmes.

"We have enough funding to get us through to Melbourne and we still have a competitive package."

A deadline of January has been set to find an investor to fund a team that was costing £300m a year to run for Honda.

If no buyer is found, Honda's decision to quit will leave F1 with just 18 cars on the grid next season.

Honda's F1 team endured a deeply disappointing 2008 season on the track, earning just 14 points to leave them the lowest of the nine points-scoring teams.

Button was ranked 18th in the drivers' standings, contributing only three points. Only four drivers, each without a point to their name, ranked below him.

Barrichello earned Honda's remaining 11 points - more than half of them from a third place in the wet British Grand Prix.

The 2009 Formula One season begins on 29 March in Australia.

Button shocked by Honda decision

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Honda driver Jenson Button said he was "as shocked as everyone else" at news of the team's demise.

The Northamptonshire-based Formula One team are looking for new owners after the Japanese manufacturers decided to quit the sport for financial reasons.

"The first couple of hours were the most painful but then I thought what's the point of being down?" he said.

"We need to stay positive in ourselves and as one team because if we're not, who'll be interested in taking over?"

Team chief executive Nick Fry told the BBC he has had three approaches already from potential new owners.

However a January deadline has been set to find an investor and staff at the team's Brackley headquarters have been told to expect redundancy letters before Christmas.

"I found out the same as everyone did on the team, so it's just as much a shock for me as for everyone else," Button added.

"It's not going to change so we've just got to try and be positive. I spoke to (team boss) Ross Brawn and a few other people, and there are positives.

"It's either going to make us stronger or break us - if it doesn't kill us it'll make us stronger."

Others may follow Honda - Mosley

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Motorsport boss Max Mosley has warned that there is a "serious danger" another car manufacturer could follow Honda out of Formula One.

Mosley, president of governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said Honda's exit was "very sad but it's not entirely a surprise".

Mosley said it was imperative the sport cut its soaring costs - with top teams spending about £300m a year.

Mosley derided the team's cost-cutting proposals as "fiddling about".

The Formula One Teams Association (Fota) met on Thursday to discuss its own proposals and said they had agreed to "substantial cost-cutting for 2009 and 2010, and additional initiatives to improve the show".

Fota also agreed a "new, low-cost engine will be introduced in 2011".

The organisation said it would submit these proposals to the FIA, but Mosley said on Friday that they did not go anywhere near far enough

He described Honda's decision to quit F1 and try to sell its team as a "very significant warning".

"If the teams don't notice now what's happened, you have to abandon all hope for them," he added.

"The teams who met are all subsidiaries of these big companies and they could get a fax in the morning saying: 'We're stopping this, which is effectively what happened with Honda.

"So if they don't wake up to it now, they'll probably get a nasty shock in the future.

"But our job is to take action to make sure that won't happen. That's why we've sent out a letter to the teams this morning setting out or plans to get the costs right down."

F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone played down Mosley's claims that the sport's future was at stake.

"F1 is in no bigger crisis than any other company in the world at the moment but the world won't stop, that's for sure," he said.

Mosley said no changes could be made to the rules for 2009, but that he would make dramatic changes for 2010.

He says the FIA can supply a standard engine and gearbox to teams through a central supplier for 5m Euro (£4.3m) a year, as well as a standardisation of some chassis parts.

Teams would be able to design their own version of that engine, or continue with their current designs restricted to ensure they had no advantage.

"The danger with these big companies is they may follow Honda, so if we make it possible for them to compete very inexpensively, by their standards, then the situation is much safer," he stated.

"The objective has to be to enable a team to say to manufacturer: 'We can actually get by without a subsidy.'

"If we can achieve that, then I think we will keep the manufacturers in.

"If we can't, then when they're looking to cut costs - which all of them are now because car sales have collapsed - then they will start to look at F1 and say do we really need this, and come to the same conclusion as Honda."

Honda boss upbeat over team sale

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Honda Racing boss Nick Fry says three potential buyers for the Formula One team have emerged since the Japanese company said they were pulling out.

Honda revealed on Friday that they were quitting for financial reasons.

"In the last 12 hours we've had three serious people come and suggest they'd like to buy the team," he told the BBC.

"We're one of the best-funded teams and have the best assets and resources in the pit lane - we'll be quite a desirable asset for somebody."

Despite a sizeable budget, Honda have struggled in recent years, their sole victory of the modern era coming at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006.

But Honda's investment in the project means the team - based in Brackley, Northamptonshire - is a rare opportunity for anyone looking to enter F1 to buy a state-of-the-art facility at a knock-down price.

BBC sports news correspondent Adam Parsons says the team is for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to operate it in 2009.

They have spent much of 2008 working on their 2009 model car, designed under the leadership of Ross Brawn, the man who masterminded seven world titles for Michael Schumacher.

Brawn said: "Honda are keen to preserve the team. It's a fantastic opportunity for someone to step into what will be one of the most competitive teams in F1 next year.

"Fortunately it gives us time to react. If it had happened closer to the season it would have been much more difficult."

Brawn said he was sure the team would have lots of approaches from prospective buyers but that the difficulty would come in working out which ones were serious.

Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan, who will be a pundit on the BBC's F1 coverage next year, said: "Every couple of decades some real jewel in the crown comes along that you could say, 'wow if I had the money this is absolutely the deal for me'.

"This is one of those occasions. You have the best facilities. You have two outstanding drivers who both know how to win, you have Ross Brawn who has won seven world titles with Michael Schumacher.

"Having listened to what Ross Brawn said earlier, I feel he has a good indication that there are some private buyers there."

Although Fry admitted better race results would have helped their situation, he insisted they were victims of the wider world financial crisis.

"All motor companies have been struck very hard by falling sales," he said.

"Clearly, more success on the track would have been nice but it's a bigger picture issue and this year we've been developing a car for next year.

"We're very hopeful, as are most commentators, that we'll take a big step up. It's a big opportunity for somebody.

"We have 700 people working for the team. It's business as usual - we have to go through the usual three month consultation period with staff to decide the future of the company and during that period we're hoping we'll find a buyer."

Fry insisted that Englishman Jenson Button, rated as one of the finest drivers in F1, was still under contract.

"Jenson Button has a contract with team for next year," Fry said.

"If we can find new owners we hope he can continue with the rest of them.

"He's been very much an integral part for years, he's a big asset which hopefully will make the team even more attractive, the second driver position is undecided."

Global crisis ends Honda F1 era

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Honda is pulling out of Formula One, blaming the world economic crisis for plans to sell its team.

Sources told BBC Sport the team were "optimistic" they would continue, but an investor had not yet been found.

The decision leaves Englishman Jenson Button and 2009 team-mate Rubens Barrichello without drives, with only a few mid-ranking seats still available.

Honda, which spent more than £300m a year on F1, said it would also no longer supply the sport with engines.

A deadline of January has been set to find a buyer but workers at Honda's Brackley base have been told to expect redundancy letters before Christmas.

"Honda Motor Co. has come to the conclusion that we will withdraw from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season for participation," said Honda president Takeo Fukui at an emotional press conference.

"This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry... and the sudden contraction of the world economies," he added.

"Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties in the economics around the globe continue to mount."

According to the Reuters news agency, team bosses Ross Brawn and Nick Fry told a meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association: "They have a month to find a buyer, otherwise they are closing the team."

If no buyer is found, Honda's decision will leave F1 with just 18 cars on the grid next season.

Honda said next year's Japanese Grand Prix at its Suzuka circuit would go ahead as planned.

Honda appointed Brawn, the man who masterminded seven world titles for Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari, as their team principal prior to the start of the 2008 season.

His arrival was seen as the signal for the start of a concerted push for success by the company after several seasons as also-rans.

The company returned to F1 as a team owner and car builder in 2005, having spent five years as an engine supplier to the British American Racing team.

But they have struggled to make an impact at the top levels of the sport.

Their sole victory of the modern era came with Button's win at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006.

But they have been uncompetitive in the last two seasons.

Honda's decision could also spell the end of Barrichello's 16-year F1 career.

The 36-year-old winner of nine Grands Prix was competing with his novice compatriot Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton Senna, for a seat at Honda in 2009.

Honda recently cut road vehicle production as a response to the global economic crisis - the company's sales in its key US market were down 30% last month.

F1 is a notoriously expensive sport in which to compete, and teams have spent recent months in intensive discussions over cost-cutting measures.

Max Mosley, president of world motorsport governing body the FIA, recently urged teams to find ways to reduce costs.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mosley described Honda's withdrawal as a significant warning to the rest of the teams to start cutting costs dramatically.

Mosley wants to make drastic changes for the 2010 season - including making a standard engine and gearbox available to all teams at a projected cost of 5m Euro (£4.4m) per team.

The idea is opposed by the road-car constructors still in F1, who are proposing a new engine formula of their own.

Considered a major player within F1, Honda bankrolled more than 800 staff at the team's Northamptonshire base and had one of the largest budgets in the sport.

"I am told that for £1 you can now buy the Honda F1 team," said BBC sports news correspondent Adam Parsons

Barrichello wins Brazilian karting contest

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Honda’s Rubens Barrichello proved he still has what it takes to win, after clinching victory at the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champions on Sunday. The annual contest, which sees top international drivers compete against each other, was held at the Ingeles kart track in Florianopolis, Brazil.

Barrichello, who is yet to secure a drive for the 2009 season, won the first race ahead of compatriot Lucas di Grassi, while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa took victory in the second race. Barrichello’s aggregate total of 36 points, however, proved enough to take home the winner’s trophy.

Di Grassi finished second in the standings, ahead of Massa, whilst seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, who won the event last year, finished in eighth. Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer, Force India’s third driver Vitantonio Luizzi and former Jaguar and Prost driver Luciano Burti were also in action.

Honda coy over Senna & Di Grassi

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Honda will take their time before deciding whether one of Bruno Senna or Lucas Di Grassi will drive for them in Formula One next season.

At the end of three days of winter testing in Barcelona, Honda boss Ross Brawn said: "We will take some time to carefully consider our findings."

Senna completed 107 laps on Wednesday and was faster than Di Grassi, who did 110 laps of the circuit on Tuesday.

"Whether what I did is good enough is for the team to decide," said Senna.

Senna had his first full day in a Formula One car and the nephew of F1 great Ayrton added: "It has been a really good day and I'm very pleased.

"But for me personally, for my first time in a Formula One car, I have to be happy with what I achieved today.

"The Honda team are very professional and I am proud to have spent the time with them during this very special week for me."

Germany's Sebastian Vettel was fastest in Barcelona for the second successive day for Red Bull Racing, the team he has joined from stablemate Toro Rosso, with a best of 1:19.295.

Senna's quickest lap was one minute, 21.676 seconds, while Honda lead driver Jenson Button was fifth fastest of the 12 on the circuit on Wednesday with a best of 1:21.387. Di Grassi's fastest lap on Tuesday was 1:22.283.

Button's contract with Honda expires at the end of the year, though he looks likely to remain, but Senna and Di Grassi are vying for the spot occupied by Rubens Barrichello, who also hopes to stay.

Brawn added that both Senna and fellow Brazilian Di Grassi had been "a pleasure to work with".

"Both drivers spent one and a half days in our car which has enabled the team to assess their performance and level of technical skill.

"Lucas and Bruno have both performed admirably over the course of the week."

Di Grassi took part in the testing for Honda after being overlooked by Renault, who have stuck with drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009

The 24-year-old has raced in GP2, which has provided several drivers for F1 since its incarnation in 2005, for the last three seasons, finishing second in 2007 and third this year.

Senna finished runner-up to Italian Giorgio Pantano in the GP2 feeder series.

Honda had a dismal 2008 season, with Button picking up just three points from 18 races.

The testing is to help develop the 2009 car and Button worked through a series of aerodynamic and suspension evaluations.

"It's nice to be back in a car that I enjoy driving," said Button.

"Taking a lot of the downforce off and running on slick tyres suits my driving style a lot more than grooved tyres.

"I've had a fun couple of days and it's been very useful as we have tested many things which should help us with the new car.

"It's been a positive start to 2009 already and I'm very pleased."

F1's rules are changing for the 2009 season, with the sport reverting to slick tyres and adopting heavily revised aerodynamics to try and create more overtaking.

Brawn added that Honda had been running two modified RA108 chassis during the testing and had conducted an intensive programme with the Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres.

Honda to test Di Grassi in Spain

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Honda will give Renault's third driver Lucas Di Grassi the chance to test for them in Barcelona later this month.

The 24-year-old Brazilian will join the team for their first winter test at the Circuit de Catalunya on 17 November.

Honda plan to name their 2009 drivers before Christmas with both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello out of contract at the end of the year.

As well as Di Grassi, the team will also give Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton, a test in Barcelona.

The team will run this season's RA108 car in Barcelona for three days as they begin their build-up to next season.

Di Grassi will take part in the test after being overlooked by Renault, who have stuck with drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009.

"This is a very well-deserved opportunity for Lucas to prove his potential," said Honda team principal Ross Brawn.

"After such an impressive performance in GP2 this season and during his testing responsibilities with Renault, we look forward to seeing Lucas in action and will take a keen interest in how he performs."

Di Grassi has raced in GP2, which has provided several drivers for F1 since its incarnation in 2005, for the last three seasons, finishing second in 2007 and third this season.

The Brazilian has also been part of Renault's development programme since 2004 and was the team's third driver in 2008 but is now keen to take the next step in his career.

"The next two weeks will be a very important stage in my development," said the 24-year-old.

"I will be spending a lot of time at the Honda factory before the test to speak with the engineers and learn as much as possible in advance of the test.

"I am very excited to have the opportunity of testing with Honda in Barcelona and look forward to proving myself to the team."

Honda are expected to keep faith with British driver Button next season despite another difficult campaign for the 28-year-old.

Button collected just three points whilst team-mate Barrichello claimed eight in a season marred by a lack of pace and reliability.

Barrichello has spoken of his desire to stay with Honda but the Brazilian is out of contract at the end of the year and at 36 is the oldest active driver in F1.

Button still has a future - Honda

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Honda insist they still have faith in Jenson Button despite another disappointing Formula One campaign.

The Briton, who is out of contract at the end of the year, collected just three points in 2008 and has won just one Grand Prix in more than 150 races.

But Honda chief executive Nick Fry told BBC Sport's Olly Foster: "Jenson is an immensely talented driver.

"I am absolutely convinced that if we, at Honda, give him the car that can do the job he can compete with Lewis."

Honda have already announced they plan to give Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton Senna, the chance to test one of their cars in Barcelona at the end of the month.

"I'm sure he will do a great job," said Fry. "He's a prospective candidate."

Fry also revealed that another, as yet, unnamed driver will also get a runout as they look to finalise their driver line-up for 2009.

"We are not hurrying to choose our drivers for next year," added Fry. "We can afford to wait until possibly just before Christmas."

Button is not the only Honda driver out of contract at the end of the year. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who picked up just 11 points in 2008, could also be looking for another drive for 2009 and beyond.

"It is Formula One, everyone is under pressure to retain their position," said Fry.

"The drivers are no different from any other person in the team. They've got to deliver the results and the best people will get the race seats."

But Fry, who revealed Honda had been keen on luring former world champion Fernando Alonso from Renault, admitted both Button and Barrichello were hampered by an uncompetitive car.

"We deliberately had a strategy of not doing much to this year's car, investing all our resources in next year," he said.

"As a result we knew we were going to get worse during the course of the year. That's exactly what happened. The car was weak."

With former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn now in the Honda camp, Fry said he was confident there would be a revival in 2009.

"He has invested all this year making sure we have the best possible year next year," said Fry.

"We've really gone for it inside the company in terms of deploying resources for next year.

"Motivation in the team has been huge because they can see what's happening for next year. I'm sure you are going to see us take a big step forward next year."

Honda

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The appointment of former Ferrari technical chief Ross Brawn as team boss augurs a brighter future for Honda after several poor years.

But Brawn still has a lot of work to do get his new team back to where they believe they belong.

The ambition this year was to return Honda to the position they were in two years ago - regular points scorers.

But the car is another disappointment, and the team admit that their main focus is on righting things for 2009

Nationality: Japanese
Drivers:
Rubens Barrichello (Brz)
Jenson Button (GB)
Engine: Honda V8
Tyres: Bridgestone
Team principal: Ross Brawn
F1 history: 1963-8; 2006-
2007 position: 8th
Drivers' titles: 0
Constructors' titles: 0