Fry says 2009 still the priority for Honda

Honda Racing's CEO Nick Fry says the Japanese squad are still committed to switching their focus to 2009 early despite a podium at the British Grand Prix improving their chances of a better position in the championship.

The team have made it clear that their priority is to return to the sharp end of the field in 2009, with this season seen as a transition following the arrival of Ross Brawn.

Rubens Barrichello finished in third place at the British Grand Prix for Honda's first podium of the season.

The result allowed the team to move to within 11 points of fourth place in the standings with half the season remaining.

And although Fry admits Honda will not give up on 2008, he insists their main objective is to focus on next season.

"We haven't changed our strategy," said Fry. "We had a three-stage improvement, this is the first one and the next two races there are improvements, so after that we will do something for Monza.

"I really don't think we will change our plan. The plan is really designing the car Ross wants for next year, and this year is about getting everything as Ross wants it in the way the team operates. This is a great fillip for everyone but our strategy remains the same.

"Unless we get very lucky again, on pure pace it is not likely or possible that we will beat Ferrari or McLaren this year but with the rules changes and KERS then next year is our big opportunity and we have to make the most of it.

"I hope we can pull up a few more places in the championship," he added. "We haven't given up on this year, I don't think we aren't going to do anything.

"We will try as hard as we can and we know that there are a few people we like to beat, but we cannot take our eye off the ball, and the ball is 2009."

Fry also praised Barrichello for his performance at the Silverstone race, where the Brazilian made the right decisions about his tyre choice to storm through the field and score his first podium since 2005.

"Rubens made two superb calls," said Fry. "The first stop he came in earlier than anticipated and that was his call, and then the call for the extreme wets was him and it was perfectly timed.

"We had a fuel rig problem that meant he was delayed in the pits so possibly we could have done better, but today was a day for thanking god for what we've got on the basis that everyone has got a hard luck story here.

"Rubens drove superbly, the pit crew did a great job and it's a great reward for the team. It is easy to say to a team that we are putting all the effort into next year so the rate of development this year is not what we could do theoretically but it is a great fillip and credit to everyone in the team for what we have achieved."

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