March 21 - 23, 2003

Race Notes

Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda's Jenson Button opened the team's 2003 points account with a hard-fought 7th place finish in today's Malaysian Grand Prix. He drove a committed race from start to finish, fending off pressure from Jarno Trulli's Renault and the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher before being forced to yield in the final lap when progressive oversteer made his car too much of a handful. Jacques Villeneuve was unable to start the race due to an electrical problem which damaged his gearbox at the start of the parade lap.

Jacques Villeneuve:
"A big disappointment as we concentrated all weekend on the race set- up and fuel strategy. We didn't look too good in qualifying but we were confident for the race. We couldn't show it though because of an electrical problem from the start. Bad luck, but that's life."

Jenson Button:
"It was a very tiring race and the car was so difficult to drive. We were a lot slower than the Renault today and when the car is that hard to handle it's very difficult to stay in front. I had very low grip, not just on the rear but also on the front, and the oversteer got progressively worse towards the end; it just destroyed the tyres. I held off Jarno for as long as I could, then on the last corner I braked where I normally would and the rear just locked up. I went straight on and Michael was able to get through. It's very disappointing because I was fighting hard to hold on to 5th. We got some points though and that's the main thing so I'm optimistic for Brazil."

David Richards, Team Principal:
"A weekend of mixed emotions; clearly very disappointing for Jacques because I'm sure his race strategy would have led to a very solid result, but on the other hand the team can take encouragement from the overall performance of both cars. Jenson battled with the balance of his car throughout the race and was unfortunate to drop a couple of places on the last lap. But then again, we have a couple of points in the bag and a car that is clearly improving with every race."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director:
"A good result for the team in getting our first points of the season in a very tough race. Jenson put in a determined drive despite struggling with a difficult car. It was however very disappointing that Jacques was unable to start the race. Just before his car left the garage we had an electrical problem and then, at the start of the parade lap, the problem returned and damaged the gearbox so he was unable to make it off the grid. Although we've had excellent reliability for most of the weekend, we have struggled to get the best out of the car and tyres in these hot conditions. However, we go to Brazil optimistic that we can realise more of our potential."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development:
"What a frustrating day! I think Jenson did a very good job battling in the high temperatures right to the end and I'm very pleased that we have scored our first points of the year. I'm also encouraged for the future by the race pace we showed today. As always, it is a very tough race on the engine and I'm glad it made it to the end. This was obviously not a good day for Jacques but we're looking ahead to Brazil now where we know we can do better."

BAR

Race Results

Saturday Qualifying Notes

Jacques Villeneuve:
"We've improved the car a lot during the weekend and the balance was quite good for qualifying but I made an error in the hairpin and lost some time. Too bad, because the car was a lot better today. I'm a little less worried than I was yesterday but I'm starting from the 6th row of the grid which isn't going to help but I'm confident for tomorrow having concentrated on race set-up and strategy."

Jenson Button:
"It's nice to be inside the top 10 but I didn't think the lap was going to be as quick as it was; I was a little bit disappointed with it at the end. The first sector seemed good to me then I made a mistake in each of the last two sectors. I think the time I gained under braking led me to make those mistakes so I guess I was just pushing too hard. This is roughly where we'd expected to be after a difficult morning in which we veered between oversteer and too much understeer before it started to come together. I think we're running a good fuel load for tomorrow so I'm optimistic."

David Richards, Team Principal
"A top 10 performance was possible for both drivers but the middle of the grid is so tight that a couple of mistakes can make a big difference. Nonetheless, we are still well-placed for our strategy tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"The target for a Saturday afternoon is to qualify to your strategy; to get exactly where you should be for your fuel load. The drivers are reasonably happy with where they've finished the session although both made mistakes and feel there was more in the car today. When all the strategies unfold tomorrow we'll see exactly what the relative performance is."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"We've had an encouraging day overall, but I don't think 9th and 12th is a true reflection of our pace. Both drivers did a good job and their performance today fits in with our race strategy. I'm optimistic - it's a very close grid and one way or another the weather is going to play a big part tomorrow."

Warm-Up Times

Saturday Practice Times

Friday Qualifying Notes

Jacques Villeneuve:
"The differential wasn't working properly this morning so we weren't really sure what the car balance was at the end of practice. We changed the car set-up and brakes for qualy so it was a little bit of an unknown. The car itself was quite quick, not as competitive as Melbourne though. I was trying hard and made a mistake in the last two corners and paid the price by having a slow lap."

Jenson Button:
"The balance has changed quite a lot since this morning when I was struggling with too much understeer. I had a lot more oversteer this afternoon. We did some set-up changes to help the oversteer but it just seems to have got worse again. Maybe it's the circuit but it was quite snappy everywhere under braking. Considering the way the car was, I don't think the lap was too bad really. There's a lot to be gained which is positive and I'm sure we'll see an improvement tomorrow."

David Richards, Team Principal
"We did a lot of good work this morning but the qualifying set-up gave far too much oversteer and neither driver was able to get the best out of the car. I'm very confident that the engineers will be able to address the balance issue overnight and the good news is there's still a lot of performance to come from the car."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"We had a reasonably productive morning. Everything went to plan on both cars and we achieved the longer runs, set-up work and tyre comparison that we needed. This afternoon, we didn't get the best out of either car and both drivers have been complaining about oversteer, but we should be able to overcome any issues and enjoy a positive day tomorrow. We're reasonably happy with what we have achieved today though."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development:
"Both drivers had a good session this morning and I'd hoped for better results this afternoon, but 9th and 15th isn't too bad. Our engines were in good shape throughout both sessions so I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow - when it really counts."

Friday Practice Times

BAR Race Preview

Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda made a promising start to the new Formula One season in Australia two weeks ago. Although impressive performances throughout the practice and qualifying sessions were somewhat overshadowed on race day, the team took away many positives from Melbourne, not least that B*A*R were one of only four teams to get both cars to the chequered flag at the first Grand Prix of the season.

The team are upbeat and determined as they head to Malaysia this week for the 5th Formula One Grand Prix at the impressive and challenging Sepang circuit. B*A*R have finished in the points once before in Kuala Lumpur with Jacques Villeneuve's 5th place in 2000 being the team's best result here. Jenson Button drove arguably the best race of his career here last year, only to be deprived of his first podium position on the final lap when his car developed a rear-suspension problem.

Third driver Takuma Sato flew to Jerez in Spain last week from stand- by duty in Melbourne where he undertook a three-day test programme alongside McLaren, Williams and Toyota. The team put the latest aerodynamic developments through their paces in preparation for Malaysia, together with a Bridgestone tyre programme and some distance work with the latest specification of the Honda engine. Takuma's best lap time was the fastest set by any driver over the course of the test.

In the meantime, race drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button have both undertaken rigorous training programmes since Melbourne, in preparation for the intense Malaysian heat and humidity.

Jacques Villeneuve 
"After Australia I returned to Switzerland to continue my intensive training regime with Erwin. The best way to prepare for any race and the season in general is to train. As with every year, I will be traveling to Malaysia early to acclimatise. It's best to spend time there before the race weekend."

"Our race in Australia was a disappointment. We were quite competitive throughout the weekend, but due to the lack of laps it didn't allow us to do our homework properly in preparation for the race, particularly where our tyres were concerned. So we were unable to carry our competitiveness through to the race and fight for a podium finish."

"I don't think that you can really judge how effective the new regulations were in the race in Australia. Qualifying was definitely exciting on both days, but the weather conditions made the race, which affected tyre choices. I think we will have to wait until Malaysia to see the full effect of the regulations."

"The Sepang circuit is a fun track. There are a few bits that I don't like that much, such as turn 2 and the very tight hairpin. It's a very long lap and the race is very difficult mainly because of the heat. Hopefully our radio problems will be fixed by Malaysia, as this was one of our problems in Australia. Radio communication is very important and will be a major factor in our next race. The car is competitive, however we will have to wait and see what the next race weekend brings."

Jenson Button
"Almost everything about the Australian Grand Prix was very encouraging to me. We demonstrated good pace in qualifying and proved that we can be competitive this season, which is very exciting. Aside from a disappointing race outcome, both cars finished in Melbourne so it shows how much we have improved our reliability following winter testing."

"After Melbourne, I spent a week in Port Douglas in Northern Queensland acclimatising to the heat and humidity expected in Malaysia this weekend. It's pretty tough on everyone, especially the mechanics and the drivers, but I'm really looking forward to this race. It's normally the race where the teams start to get their reliability in order and you really see how quick the competition is. Australia gave us a reasonable indication but the weather was a major factor."

"Sepang is a circuit that I've always enjoyed racing on. It's very different to most Formula One circuits because it has a lot of straights and it's very wide. An F1 car looks pretty miniature; it looks like a Scalextric car on the circuit. It's good fun to drive and I've always seemed to go well there. If we can stay reliable and harness the potential we demonstrated in Melbourne, I'd like to think we can look forward to our first points of the season this weekend."

David Richards, Team Principal
"A disappointing race result in Melbourne two weeks ago overshadowed what was actually a very positive Grand Prix debut for the B*A*R Honda 005. We were delighted with our qualifying performances and they were a very satisfying representation of our overall pace. We are also encouraged that both drivers completed a race distance with no mechanical reliability issues whatsoever."

"All in all, we have a competitive car and we're in very good shape for a positive season ahead. On an equally optimistic note, Formula One in general is looking good after one of the most entertaining Grand Prix we've seen for a long time."

"We have every reason to feel positive for the next race in Malaysia. Takuma Sato completed some further development work with Honda's latest specification engine in testing last week and this should deliver an extra performance boost for the weekend and contribute to what I'm sure will be a more positive race result for B*A*R."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"We were very pleased with the performance of the car in Australia and although we were confident in our work it was still rewarding to have both cars finish the race. This is an excellent reflection on the team who have worked so hard not just during pre-season testing but also through the whole design and build programme. Aside from our radio communication problems and failure to make our strategy fit the events of the race, we adapted well to the discipline of the new format race weekend."

"We go into Malaysia knowing that we have a competitive car and two very determined drivers so we can only continue to improve for the next race and beyond."