Jenson Button is convinced that with Ross Brawn now on-board as team principal and the passion and drive to succeed burning stronger than ever before,
Honda will be genuine contenders for the
Formula 1 World Championship within the next two years.
The Briton is heading into his sixth season with the Japanese squad in 2008, and following a desultory 2007 that yielded just six points and a lowly 15th place in the drivers' standings – a far cry from the top six final positions and 13 podium finishes he had achieved in 2004 and 2006 – he says Brawn's arrival has re-invigorated the team and been like a breath of fresh air.
“When Ross first walked into the team there was the biggest applause I've ever heard,” Button affirmed. “Even just his presence was a big boost, and will I think make everyone work that little bit harder. He's settled into the team very quickly; the way the team works has changed a lot since Ross has been here, and when it comes to racing and strategy I think we will all feel more confident now.
“After such a tough season, to find out we were having someone of his calibre join the team was such a relief. I was chuffed to bits. There was a lot of work to be done [last year], and we couldn't really do that during the season. We have some very good ideas within the team; the problem before was we wouldn't know which one to take. Having Ross on-board now gives us the strength to be able to do that.
“His knowledge, technical expertise and direction are all second-to-none. Ross has the experience of working in top teams, and he knows how to build a top team too from when he was at Benetton in the early-to-mid 90s. I personally feel he needs a free rein, and I respect Honda for giving him that. There's nothing holding him back.
“Admittedly he's not going to turn the team around on his own, but at the moment everyone is positive and doing a great job. Everything is working very well and the atmosphere is very positive. I know some other teams don't have that, and it makes such a difference.”
