Technical upgrades boost Honda hopes for Imola

The Honda Racing F1 Team is looking forward to getting back on track this weekend as the Formula One European season gets underway in Imola.. After the first three flyaway races, the F1 teams return to Europe and the drivers look forward to the challenge of the more traditional circuits on the F1 calendar.

Since returning from Australia, the team has completed two important tests at Vallelunga and Barcelona. Covering over 3500kms in six intensive days, the team put some new aerodynamic parts through their paces and worked on the tyre warm-up issues, which compromised the race performance in Melbourne. As a result, the team is optimistic that it can start to realise more of the RA106's qualifying speed in the race situation.

Sporting Director, Gil de Ferran is confident that both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will be among those challenging for top honours. "Our team has traditionally gone very well in Imola, so it all looks good for us to get our championship challenge back on track," he confirms.

“Imola represents the start of the European season and the challenge of four races in just one month. Traditionally this is the weekend when many teams target the introduction of development upgrades to their cars, which can reshuffle the order of performance established at the first three flyaway races. With this in mind, we have not stood still since Australia and have evaluated many potential improvements to both the performance and reliability of the RA106 at our tests in Vallelunga and Barcelona.”

Honda is also introducing an engine upgrade for Imola which will be available to both drivers without penalty following Button’s last lap retirement in Melbourne. "The countermeasure for Jenson's engine problem in Melbourne worked to our satisfaction in Barcelona and we are introducing a more powerful spec for the start of the European season," reports Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director at Honda Racing Development.