By Honda Racing F1
March 21 2008

Round two of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship takes the Honda Racing F1 Team to Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysian Grand Prix. The 56-lap race is staged at the Sepang International Circuit and comes just one week after the season-opening grand prix in Australia.

This year’s event is the 10th Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, the circuit being the first F1 track to be designed from scratch by German architect Hermann Tilke. It was built on a 260-hectare swamp and the challenge of its long, demanding corners has been made harder over the years by an increasing number of bumps in the asphalt.

The cars average 210kph (130mph) around the 5.54km (3.44-mile) lap, and the sweltering humidity and scorching heat make the Malaysian Grand Prix a tough test of man and machine.

Ross Brawn
Team Principal
Honda Racing F1

"Whilst the [Australian GP] result was disappointing, we have to look at the positives. Qualifying confirmed that we are in the midfield and a very strong race drive from Rubens showed that we have the potential to fight for points. It was pleasing to see that the aerodynamic upgrade from Jerez worked as expected and I think we have a good basis for the first three races until we can introduce the next development step for Spain.

"I think we can have a similarly strong weekend to the one we experienced in Melbourne. We have shown that we have a car with which to target the points and two drivers who are very determined to achieve that."

Jenson Button
Race Driver #16
Honda Racing F1

"I’m looking forward to Malaysia. Obviously I didn’t get to compete in Australia because I had an accident at turn one, but I’m very positive for the next one. We made a lot of improvements with the car during the weekend and I’m hoping for the same improvement over the next race. It’s very competitive in the midfield and we have to get the best out of the car at every stage. If we can do that we can get a good result in the race.

"It’s tough racing in the temperature but that isn’t the real problem, it’s the humidity. It’s one thing taking in hot air but quite another taking in hot and damp air. It’s pretty tough to breath and it can get quite claustrophic in the helmet. You just have to make sure you’re prepared and we will be!"

Rubens Barrichello
Race Driver #17
Honda Racing F1

"We knew we had made a step forward at our final pre-season test in Jerez. What we didn’t know was where we were in relation to the other teams. I’m encouraged by the start we have made to the season and for this I have to thank everyone in Japan and the UK for all the hard work that has gone into the car over the past few weeks in particular. I think we are going to have a positive season.

"The most important factor is to have a good aerodynamic balance, which is something we have obviously been able to improve for the start of the season. Hopefully this will benefit us again in Malaysia."