The Australian Grand Prix will see the RA107 take to the track in its new 'earth' livery for the first time but, while the colour scheme might be new, the team - unlike the three before it on the entry - can at least count on continuity in the cockpit, as
Jenson Button and
Rubens Barrichello enter their second season together. Their experience may be vital in the opening few rounds as
Honda attempts to extract greater performance from its radical-looking car, which senior technical director Shuhei Nakamoto admits needs 'more improvements to take us to where we want to be'.
"Our race pace looks stronger than our qualifying pace at the moment," he said, "All in all, we must try to get the best out of our current package, whilst continuing to work hard on the development of new items for the test in Sepang after Melbourne."
Button and Barrichello are both keen to get the season underway after completing as many testing miles as their rivals, with the Briton aware that points could be won and lost depending on preparation.
"Melbourne is a very special place for me as the circuit where I made my F1 debut, but everything that you have been working on over the winter needs to come together for the first race," he said, "It's about choosing the right race strategy, making sure that the pit crew get everything right and having good mechanical reliability."
BMW Sauber – Nick Heidfeld (#9), Robert Kubica (#10):
If there has been a surprise in teh build-up to the new season, it has been the pace shown by the new BMW Sauber
F1.07, which has taken its turn at the top of the timesheets and given race fans hope of a different contender to take on teh establishment in 2007.
The team exceeded its own expectations in its debut season to finish fifth in the constructors' championship, and the stated aim for 2007 is to claim more podium finishes on merit and further reduce the gap between itself and the top teams, but could BMW Sauber be poised for more than that?
