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Honda Formula 1 News

October 2004

Brazilian Grand Prix, October 24

BAR-Honda clinches second place in the Championship

The last race of the 2004 failed to deliver the result that BAR Honda expected, but sixth place for Takuma Sato was enough to confirm the teamÆs second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship, behind Ferrari.

Jenson ButtonÆs race was over early. After experiencing a brief electrical fire on the grid prior to the start he managed to leap two places to third by the end of the second lap, however the fire had done its damage and he was forced to retire on lap three.

Takuma Sato in the other BAR-Honda was always in contention, and despite running wide a couple of times on the slippery track he finished sixth, after earlier running as high as fourth.

The team has had a very strong 2004, with eleven podium finishes, and is looking forward to perfecting the 2005 car during winter testing as respond to the challenge of taking the fight to Ferrari.

Japanese Grand Prix, October 10

BAR-Honda on the podium again

It was a stressful day for the technicians and engineers at Suzuka, with qualifying and the race itself having to be held on the same day when SaturdayÆs action was cancelled due to the effects of a typhoon.

BAR-HondaÆs Jenson Button and Takuma Sato started fourth and fifth on the grid, and came home third and fourth behind the Schumacher brothers. With no opportunity to practice with a dry weather setup the team opted for different strategies for each driver, and ButtonÆs two-stop strategy proved to be more successful than the three-stop strategy chosen for Sato.

It was ButtonÆs tenth podium finish of the season, and BAR-Honda, with only one race to go, are virtually assured of reaching their main objective for the season û second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship ahead of Renault. Button cannot be beaten for third place in the DriversÆ Championship.

Chinese Grand Prix, September 26

Button second in Shanghai thriller

The spectacular new circuit at Shanghai lived up to expectations as the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix provided a thrilling spectacle in front of a huge crowd.

Starting third on the grid, Jenson Button lost two places at the start, then clawed his way back past Felipe MassaÆs Sauber and then the Renault of Fernando Alonso. Running a two-stop strategy, which meant he was carrying a heavier fuel load than his rivals for much of the time, Button drove superbly to move into second place when Kimi Raikonnen made his third pit stop. The final laps were thrilling as Button and Raikkonen closed in on leader Rubens Barrichello, Button eventually finishing just a second behind the Ferrari. It was ButtonÆs fourth second place finish of the season.

Takuma Sato, having required an engine change in practice, had to start in 19th place, ten spots down from where he qualified. Working his way up through the field he completely outclassed World Champion Michael Schumacher, who had started just behind him in last place due to his spin on his qualifying lap. While Schumacher had an incident-packed drive up to 12th place, a lap down, Sato finished an impressive sixth, scoring three valuable Championship points.

In the fight for second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship, BAR-Honda has edged further ahead of Renault as the teams move on to HondaÆs home circuit at Suzuka in two weeks time.

Italian Grand Prix, September 12

BAR-Honda bounces back at Monza

After the disappointment in Belgium, the BAR-Honda team made a great comeback in Italy, with only the all-conquering Ferraris standing between them and a 1-2 finish.

Demonstrating superb reliability and very effective race strategy, Jenson Button and Takuma Sato finished third and fourth, just seconds behind winner Rubens Barrichello. World Champion Michael Schumacher was second after a spectacular fight back following a spin on the first lap.

Button consolidated his third place in the DriversÆ Championship and with Renault again failing to score any points BAR-Honda have now moved into second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship with only three races to go.

Belgian Grand Prix, August 29

No points for BAR-Honda at Spa

It was the most incident-packed and exciting race of the season, but two of the incidents resulted in the elimination of both the BAR-Hondas from the race.

Jenson Button and Takuma Sato started from the unusually low positions of 12th and 15th, a result of stormy weather on Saturday which turned qualifying into a lottery. With standing water on some parts of the long circuit and dry lines on others, they lost speed when their wet weather tyres overheated.

Both BAR-Hondas were involved in first lap dramas. Jenson Button hit the rear of another car, whilst Takuma Sato spun into retirement after tangling with other cars. Button made a great recovery and even after making a pitstop to replace his nosecone he was up to fourth place by half-distance. His race was over on lap 29 though, when a rear tyre exploded, throwing him into Zsolt BaumgartnerÆs Minardi, then off the track.

Kimi Raikkonen won the race for McLaren ahead of the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher, but the good news for BAR-Honda was that neither of the Renaults finished in the points, meaning that BAR-Honda are still only eight points behind them for second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship.

Hungarian Grand Prix, August 15

Both BAR-Hondas finish in the points

After a superb qualifying effort which saw the BAR-Hondas occupying the second row of the grid behind the two Ferraris much was expected for the race itself, but in the circumstances the result was slightly disappointing.

As soon as the lights went out AlonsoÆs Renault and MontoyaÆs Williams came flying through the field to enter the first corner ahead of the BAR duo, then Takuma Sato went wide and lost a couple more places. At the end of the first lap SatoÆs third grid position had become eighth and Jenson Button had dropped from fourth to fifth.

On a circuit at which overtaking is next to impossible thatÆs where Button stayed, but Sato managed to get past two cars to finish sixth. Fifth and sixth places for BAR-Honda was enough to get them tantalisingly close to RenaultÆs second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship, but it was a race in which the start was of crucial importance to the final outcome.

German Grand prix, July 25

Button sets Hockenheim alight

Although Michael Schumacher scored yet another clinical victory at his home Grand Prix, it was the drive of Jenson Button in his BAR-Honda from 13th grid position to second place that kept the fans on the edges of their seats.

After having to change the engine during practice due to a valve problem, Button was always going to have to start the race ten places down from where he qualified. The fact that he set the third fastest qualifying time with a heavier fuel load than any of the other front-runners said a great deal about how good the BAR-Honda now is. The extra fuel enabled him to stay out longer than his main rivals on his first stint, and by the time he needed to make his first stop he was in the lead, emerging in fifth place behind Jean-Pablo Montoya.

Button continued his climb through the field, and the main excitement of the race was his furious battle with RenaultÆs Fernando Alonso for second place, with Button eventually squeezing past the Spaniard. He held the position until the end of the race, despite a loosening helmet strap which was forcing him to drive one-handed while holding his helmet with the other.

In the other BAR-Honda, Takuma Sato finished 8th after starting 9th on the grid. He lost several places at the start avoiding an incident at the first corner and suffered a 360 degree spin midway through the race.

Button drove the race of his career, and it might have been a very different result had he started from 3rd instead of 13th. It was a drive that certainly caught the interest of the establishment, and his first win is now being regarded as æwhenÆ rather than æifÆ.

British Grand Prix, July 11

Button Fourth at Silverstone

BAR-Honda’s Jenson Button finished a lonely fourth at Silverstone after starting third on the grid. Once again Michael Schumacher triumphed in a race determined by pit strategy, the Ferrari driver electing to take only two pit stops when most the others took three. Kimi Raikkonen was second after starting from pole position, demonstrating a remarkable resurgence in form by the McLaren team.

Takuma Sato in the other BAR-Honda started 8th and chose a different put strategy to Button, however this did not give him any advantage and he finished 11th in a race in which the BAR-Hondas struggled for grip.

French Grand Prix, July 4

Disappointing day for BAR-Honda

Fifth place for Jenson Button was all that BAR-Honda could salvage from a French Grand Prix in which more was expected.

Button started fourth beside Renault’s Jarno Trulli and maintained that position for most of the race, but he was slowed by a minor technical fault after his last pitstop and not only did he fail to leapfrog Trulli but a fast-closing Rubens Barrichello (who had started tenth in his Ferrari) just managed to beat him to the first corner. The result was that a possible third place became fifth in a car that was clearly capable of a much better result.

Takuma Sato in the other BAR-Honda started seventh, and his inability to improve on that in the early stages was indicitave that all was not right. This was confirmed after his engine lost power after his first pitstop then failed, the fourth time this has happened to Sato this season.

United States Grand Prix, June 20

Sato takes his first podium in brilliant drive

BAR-Honda’s Takuma Sato finished third in the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, but if luck had worked in his favour it could have been an even better result.

Starting third on the grid, Sato went into the first corner in fourth behind the two Ferraris and Renault’s Fernando Alonso, who made a scintillating start from ninth on the grid. Alonso made a spectacular exit a few laps later however, when his rear tyre exploded at 340 km/h.

When the pace car came out following Ralf Schumacher’s huge crash the leading Ferraris made their first pit stop, but the BAR team chose to stay out on the track. This proved to be the winning and losing of the race, as the BAR-Hondas had to pit under full race conditions, effectively costing them 30 seconds to the leaders.

Sato’s drive through the field after his pitstops was as exciting as it was clinical, and he survived a very scary moment when Toyota’s Olivier Panis tried to block him as he was overtaking him for fourth place. Sato clearly had the fastest car on the circuit, and was just 22 seconds behind winner Michael Schumacher at the finish.

Jenson Button didn’t have such a good day. Although his car was the equal of Sato’s, he was forced to retire at half distance with transmission trouble, his first retirement of the season.

BAR-Honda is now just eight points away from taking second place in the ConstructorsÆ Championship from Renault. The next race at RenaultÆs home track will be a thriller.

Canadian Grand Prix, June 13

Third pace for Button in Montreal

It was a weekend full of promise for BAR-Honda but it ended with just a third place for Jenson Button behind the two Ferraris after the disqualification of Ralf Schumacher from second.

Button qualified a brilliant second behind not Michael Schumacher but his brother Ralf. Takuma Sato was set to post a similar qualifying time but had a spectacular 360 degree spin on the last corner, giving him 17 th spot on the grid.

During the race Button started well, holding second position until about half distance, then he gradually fell back on a circuit which is notoriously hard on brakes. Despite his problems he did a great job keeping Juan-Pablo Montoya’s Williams behind him in the closing stages of the race.

Sato had an eventful race. Electing to drive the spare car, he started from the pitlane then narrowly avoided contact with several spinning cars at the first corner. Midway through the race he spun while braking for the hairpin and was very lucky to go between two other cars without hitting either of them. Despite these incidents he was up to 10 th place on lap 49 when once again engine trouble intervened.

Despite the slightly disappointing result Button and BAR-Honda consolidated their third places in the respective championships thanks to the retirement of both Renaults. Ralf Schumacher, Montoya in the second Williams, and both Toyotas were disqualified after post-race scrutineering when they were found to have illegal brake cooling ducts.

European Grand Prix, May 30

Button on the podium again

It was almost Takuma SatoÆs day at the Nurburgring, but in the end it was again Jenson Button who took the spoils for BAR-Honda.

Starting second, the highest-ever grid position for a Japanese driver, Sato held second place for most of the race and looked like the only driver able to split the dominant Ferraris. After his last pit stop however he rejoined behind FerrariÆs Rubens Barrichello. In attempting to pass Barrichello the cars touched and Sato had to pit for a new nosecone. Shortly afterwards, his engine curse struck again and his race was over.

Meanwhile, Button had steadily fought his way through the field, and whilst his car had been suffering a mysterious lack of grip throughout the weekend, he took a well-deserved third place.

The BAR-Hondas clearly demonstrated that they have the measure of every other car except the Ferraris, and Sato came very close to demonstrating that even Ferrari ought not to be too complacent.

Monaco Grand Prix, May 23

Button second in Monaco thriller

Starting from second on the grid alongside Renault's Jarno Trulli, Jenson Button in his BAR-Honda fell behind the other Renault of Fernando Alonso at the start. He then lost more time when he got stuck behind the Toyota of Cristiano DaMatta after his first pitstop on a circuit where it's almost impossible to pass, but it all turned for the better as the race progressed. First, Alonso was wiped out after a spectacular collision in the tunnel with Ralf Schumacher. Then, as the field circulated behind the pace car, Championship leader Michael Schumacher (who was leading the race at the time) performed a bizarre brake-warming manoever in the tunnel, causing Juan-Pablo Montoya to run into the back of him and push him into the wall.

This elevated Button back into second place, but he was still a long way behind Trulli. Driving probably the best race of his career, Button steadily pulled back the defecit, yet there was no way past unless the Renault driver made a mistake, and at the end of the race Button was just 0.4 seconds adrift.

Takuma Sato in the other BAR-Honda also had a memorable race, but for other reasons. Starting seventh, he made a blistering start, passing three cars then going into the first corner three abreast to tuck into fourth place behind Button. But his engine was already smoking and when it eventually expired a few laps later there was a huge cloud of smoke in which a number of sightless drivers had a series of accidents, including Giancarlo Fisichella who flipped upside down over the barriers. Fortunately he was unhurt.

Button remains third in the Drivers' Championship, with BAR-Honda a strong third amongst the constructors. With Schumacher's non-finish, the gap is closing between Ferrari, Renault and BAR-Honda, and the rest of the season promises to be very interesting.

Spanish Grand Prix, May 9

Both BAR-Honda drivers in the points at Barcelona

It was Takuma Sato who led the BAR-Honda lineup at the Spanish Grand Prix. After a superb qualifying lap which saw him start third on the grid (the highest ever for a Japanese driver), Sato finished fifth behind the two Ferraris and the two Renaults.

Jenson Button started the race in a lowly fourteenth place, after an uncharacteristic mistake saw him run wide and lose time on his qualifying lap. It was always going to be difficult for him to make up ground on a circuit so notoriously difficult to overtake on, yet he drove an attacking race which saw him take the last championship point for eighth place.

Button maintains his third place in the Drivers’ Championship behind Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, whilst BAR-Honda are third in the Constructors’ Championship behind Ferrari and Renault.

San Marino Grand Prix, April 25

Button gets second behind Schumacher

Jenson Button and BAR-Honda emerged from Imola as the driver and car combination most likely to challenge Michael Schumacher for the 2004 championship, with an impressive second place at Ferrari’s home circuit.

After stunning the field with pole position for the race, Button stormed out into the lead in the opening laps, while teammate Takuma Sato quickly improved to fourth from his seventh starting slot. Button’s first pitstop on lap eight was not a quick one however, and Schumacher took the lead after his stop on lap 11. Second place was a huge result for the BAR-Honda team however, and all the gossip in the pits was that the BAR-Honda is easily the second best car in the field – and the car is still improving.

Disappointingly, Sato’s engine failed towards the end of the race, depriving him of what would also have been a very good finishing position.

Bahrain Grand Prix, April 4

Another third for Button

The brand-new Bahrain circuit proved a happy hunting ground for BAR-Honda as Jenson Button and Takuma Sato proved that they could keep up with all but the Ferraris, finishing in third and fifth places respectively after an incident-packed race.

Starting from sixth on the grid Button initially lost ground, but a front wing adjustment at his first pit stop improved the handling of his car and he stormed up the field, taking fourth place from Renault’s Jarno Trulli at the third pit stop then inheriting third place as Jean-Pablo Montoya’s Williams slowed with hydraulic problems.

Sato started fifth, survived an early collision with Ralf Schumacher, but then had to pit out of sequence when he ran wide on a corner and damaged his front wing. He recovered ground later in the race and drove superbly to stay ahead of a fast-closing Fernando Alonso.

The BAR-Hondas proved to be as fast during certain stages of the race as anything else on the track. Button now lies third in the championship standings behind the two Ferrari drivers, and BAR-Honda is equal third in the championship with Williams.

Malaysian Grand Prix, March 21

Button on the podium at Sepang

Jenson Button scored his first ever podium position with a storming drive to third place in the Malaysian Grand Prix in his BAR-Honda. Starting from sixth on the grid he never lost sight of the leaders and finished less than 12 seconds behind Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari, with Juan-Pablo Montoya’s Williams sandwiched between them in second. Behind Button was the other Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello, a fact which provided huge encouragement for the progress the BAR-Honda team has made.

Button’s teammate Takuma Sato had to start from the back of the grid due to a spin on his qualifying lap, but he also demonstrated the speed of the BAR-Honda by climbing to 11th by the end of the first lap. With two laps to go he was in the points in eighth place when his engine failed.

Australian Grand Prix, March 7

Promising start to the season for BAR-Honda

BAR-Honda confirmed the speed that they had shown in winter testing with an excellent fourth place on the Melbourne grid for Jenson Button. His race pace however was slightly disappointing as the unseasonably low temperature on race day didn’t suit his tyres. Sixth place and three championship points were his reward for a determined drive, behind the Ferrari and Williams teams and one of the Renaults, but ahead of the sole remaining McLaren.

Takuma Sato in the other BAR finished just out of the points in ninth place.