“We really only started to add the 2007 aerodynamic components in Bahrain last week, and the effect was there for people to see. Jenson was third-fastest on two separate days which was good. I think our short runs – or qualifying pace – are reasonably good. The area in which we have still undoubtedly got more work to do is on the long-run pace; I would say we are at least half a second off the front-runners there.
“At the moment we are probably not getting the best out of it, but I'm quite confident the car is not only quicker today than last year's car, but also that it has the ability to be developed through the season.”
Looking at the campaign as a whole, Fry said he was convinced
Honda was poised to make a considerable step forward compared to last year – when it finished fourth in the constructors' championship with 86 points and three podiums – though he stressed the team was very much taking a long-term view in 2007.
“We will go to Melbourne hoping to come home with both cars in the points,” he said. “Realistically, from where we are at the moment I think we would be lucky to win there, but I absolutely believe the car has the potential during the course of the year.
“We have to consider this as a war, not just one battle. Melbourne is the first battle. We probably won't win that one, but we are not too perturbed about that. We have a car which we can continue to develop and there will be many opportunities for that. I'm confident this car is a winner.”
