Ross Brawn is clearly the big news. As technical director at Ferrari for ten years, he steered the team to six consecutive constructors championships. Current Honda driver Rubens Barrichello was with the Italian team for six years during that time, and knows the man well.

"I am delighted that Ross is coming to the team," says Barrichello. "He will bring not just experience but also enormous determination. Just like me when I came to the team, he will be able to take a fresh approach with new people. It was my great pleasure to work with Ross in the past and we shared many special moments, including in 2000 when I won my first race. I look forward to hearing him on my radio again!"

Nick Fry, the teams Chief Executive Officer, retains his position for a fourth year, but is moved to a more commercial role, reflecting his talents in that area.

President of Honda Racing Development and board member of Honda Racing F1, Yasuhiro Wada, retains his position in the team, but also moves from HRD to become General Manager at Honda's Motorsports Division, his role being taken over by Hiroshi Abe, previously Technical Director at HRD.

The oft criticised Shuhei Nakamoto becomes the Deputy Managing Director (Technical), relinquishing his Senior Technical Director role, an appointment that saw the exit of Geoff Willis in 2006.

One of Honda's highlights, Otmar Szafnauer, last year switched from being VP at HRD to Director of Strategic and Business Planning at Honda Racing F1, and remains in that position for 2008.

Belgian engineer Jacky Eeckelaert, who joined the Brackley squad from Sauber in 2006 as Chief Engineer (Advanced Research Programmes) is promoted to Director of Advanced Research.

Ron Meadows, previously Race Team Manager, took over the position of Sporting Director last year, vacated by the exiting Gil de Ferran.

The previous Chief Race Engineer, Craig Wilson, moved up a little last year, taking on the role of Chief Engineer (Vehicle Engineering) for the team, a position he retains for 2008, while Senior Race Engineers Jock Clear and Andrew Shovlin remain, partnered up to Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button respectively.

A newcomer to the team, Loic Bigois joins as Head of Aerodynamics following stints in similar roles at Williams, Minardi and Sauber, while Steve Clark joined from McLaren late last year as Head of Race and Test Engineering.

Paul Field, the Composite Production Manager, has left the team. It's widely recognised that Honda Racing F1 have the best carbon shop in the business, and the loss of a skilled man such as Field will be felt, as will the loss of Operations Manager Gary Savage. Previously responsible for composite team, Savage was in charge of the ill-fated Bonneville 400 project, and will leave a significant hole in Honda's structure.

Chief Aerodynamicist Mariano Alperin-Bruvera also departed, replacing the Honda bound Jorg Zander at BMW-Sauber. Alperin-Bruvera will be teaming up with Willem Toet who had previously left Honda in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.

Fundamentally, that's the face of the new Honda Racing F1 team for 2008. While some of the losses are regrettable, the new structure appears solid, staffed by talented people and supported with some superb resources, the equal of pretty much anything in the sport.

"The changes we have made over the past few months are exactly what is needed to move us forward," explains Jenson Button. "The next few years at Honda are going to be very exciting indeed."