2007 BRAZILIAN GP: RACE
Interlagos, 21 October
The Formula One season finale ended in disappointment for the Honda Racing F1
Team in Brazil today. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello drove determined
races before they were both forced to retire with engine failure.
The 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix took place in scorching temperatures at the
Interlagos circuit. The air temperature of 37°C created tough conditions for
the drivers, whilst the track temperature reached a 61°C high, making tyre
durability an issue.
Rubens and Jenson lined up in 11th and 16th positions on the grid and made good
starts, however Rubens was handed a drive-through penalty for jumping the
start. He took the penalty on lap eight whilst lying in 10th place, and
rejoined in 17th position. He did well to battle back to 11th place on his home
circuit but he was forced to retire on lap 41.
Jenson made up two places at the start and was running in 10th place when his
engine lost power on lap 22 and he was forced to pull over.
The team will now take a brief break from the track before the challenge of
2008 begins in earnest with the start of its winter development programme.
Every resource at the team’s disposal will now be focused on next year’s World
Championship campaign, which begins in only four months’ time.
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
“A disappointing end to a very hard season for us. Our position wasn’t looking
too bad before I came in to make my second stop but unfortunately there was an
engine problem and that ended my race early. I would like to say thank you to
the whole team for the effort they have put in this year. It was been a very
difficult experience but the team has done a lot of growing together and we
will work very hard over the winter to improve our situation for next year."
JENSON BUTTON
“Not a great end to the season for us. We had a problem with the engine
overheating in the very high temperatures. We have to look forward now, put the
experience of this year behind us and focus on 2008. I would like to thank the
whole team for the commitment that they have shown this year. It hasn’t been
easy for anyone but we have stuck together as a team and worked so hard to take
something from every race. I would also like to say a special thank you to my
physio Phil Young who has been with me at every race for seven years and is now
moving to a new life in Australia."
JACKY EECKELAERT - Engineering Director
“First of all congratulations to the new World Champion! Unfortunately our race
was less successful. With our race strategy both drivers might have been in
points contention today. Despite the fact that the car balance was a little too
much on the understeer side, the lap times were competitive for both Rubens and
Jenson. Unfortunately both retired early in the race with engine failure before
we were able to capitalise on the strategy.”