Zoom Brawn keen to praise Barrichello's record

Following the opening two practice sessions of the Turkish Grand Prix weekend, Ross Brawn (Honda), Norbert Haug (Mercedes), John Howett (Toyota) and Frank Williams (Williams) face the press at Istanbul Park.

Q: Ross, Rubens Barrichello is celebrating his 257th Grand Prix. You have worked with him quite a lot with Ferrari and now Honda. How much has he changed? Give us a little appraisal of his current state.
Ross BRAWN: He has not changed at all. But what is great, not only about the achievement of 257 races, is the fact that he is still as strong and as competitive for many more. When Riccardo Patrese reached the record he was retiring, but there are no signs of Rubens needing or wanting to retire in the future.

Q: Do you think he is still learning?
RB: I think every driver keeps learning as do the engineers, technicians and all the other people involved. There is always something to learn in F1.

Q: We saw Jenson Button in the points in Barcelona. Is that the product of new bits and pieces coming through but is it also perhaps a development of the Brawn effect?
RB: There is a good programme of development with the team and with the car. I think there is some benefit from the changes and the progress we have made with the car. From where we were with the car in winter testing I think we can be quite pleased where we are now. What I want to do in the future is start the winter testing with something a lot stronger than we had this past winter. On your second point I hope I have been able to give the team some more confidence in doing the right things. They are all capable of doing a very good job. I think sometimes it just helps to have a reference point with someone who has been fortunate enough to win races and championships and who can say ‘guys you are not that far off, let’s just work hard and focus on the important things and we can do it.’ That’s the thing I have tried to bring to the team.

Q: As well as that, how much has it been a case of putting the right people in the right places?
RB: There is always that in every team. Every successful team is a combination of a lot of very good people, all highly talented people and sometimes it is a question of helping them see each other’s needs as well as their own and getting the whole group to work together. You will only succeed as a group. You will not succeed any other way.