Button drives new Honda in anger

[Plex]

Jenson Button finally had his first run in Honda�s new car at Barcelona in Spain.

After a suspected electrical failure put paid to the 27-year-old Briton�s programme after less than ten seconds of his debut in the car on Thursday, he did manage a monster 86 laps of the circuit this time.

And after setting the fastest lap of the day in 1:21.600, Button, the winner of last year's Hungarian Grand Prix, reflected on his day's work.

Button said: "It's been a very productive day which was really about running through all the simple things with the car such as basic set-up changes and getting the balance to my liking.

�We achieved that pretty early on which is positive and it enabled us to cover a good number of laps.

�It's a long way to go until the first race and there is a lot to do and many improvements to be made. So for one day in the car, it was productive, but it is just the beginning."

Button's car had been driven on Wednesday and Thursday by his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, with the Brazilian's best lap more than two seconds slower in less than ideal conditions.

The former Ferrari driver was however, delighted with the initial signs from the car.

Barrichello said: "It's been an exciting test for us this week and I'm glad to have had the chance to drive the new RA107 car.

�The whole team has done a great job and the car is already on the same pace as last year's car, despite not having all of its development parts yet.

�There is a lot of work to do to get us ready for the start of the season, but from my laps this week, I really enjoyed the feeling of the car and I am look forward to next week's test in Valencia to continue its development."

Also present in Barcelona was test driver Christian Klien, who continued to focus on tyre and suspension developments in an interim version of the 2006 car.

Eurosport