Honda: 2006-2008 in pictures
6th December 2008, 12:07 by Keith Collantine 14 Comments »
Honda: 2006-2008 in pictures
Honda’s attempted return to Formula 1 racing as a full constructor lasted exactly 53 races.
In that time it ascended to the top step of the podium and then plunged to the back of the field once again. After two seasons in the doldrums many expected the team to get back on its feet in 2009, but now we may never know.
Here’s a look back at each Grand Prix Honda Racing entered in the last three years with drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jenson button: the highs, and then the lows.
-
- Bahrain 2006: Button passes Barrichello and finishes fourth
-
- Malaysia 2006: Third for Button behind the Renaults
-
- Australia 2006: Button starts on pole but engine detonates on final lap
-
- San Marino 2006: Barrichello starts third behind Button but doesn’t score
-
- Europe 2006: Button looks on as Barrichello out-qualifies and our-races him
-
- Spain 2006: Double points finish
-
- Monaco 2006: Barrichello borrows Tony Kanaan’s helmet and finishes fourth
-
- Britain 2006: Button manages a brief battle with Montoya before retiring
-
- Canada 2006: Button dons an England-themed helmet during the World Cup
-
- USA 2006: Anthony Davidson on testing duties
-
- France 2006: Two engines failures, two DNFs
-
- Germany 2006: Back on form, Button demotes Alonso to take fourth
-
- Hungary 2006: Their finest hour
-
- Turkey 2006: Special paint scheme for sponsor Petrol Ofisi
-
- Italy 2006: Button and Barrichello finish fifth and sixth
-
- China 2006: Another special livery for 555
-
- Japan 2006: Button fourth in Honda’s final race at its home track Suzuka
-
- Brazil 2006: Farewell to sponsors BAT, Button scores his final podium
-
- Australia 2007: New Earthdream paint job, pig-dog of a car
-
- Malaysia 2007: Mired in the midfield
-
- Bahrain 2007: Barrichello a lapped 13th, Button out on first lap
-
- Spain 2007: The RA107′s aerodynamic shortcomings are brutally exposed by the Catalunya track
-
- Monaco 2007: Somehow the drivers drag their cars into the top ten on the grid
-
- Canada 2007: Barrichello in discussion with Jock Clear
-
- USA 2007: Button unable to keep Super Aguris at bay
-
- France 2007: Earthdreams backers get their names on the car
-
- Britain 2007: Christian Klien subs for Jenson Button in practice
-
- Europe 2007: Designer Shuhei Nakamoto with Nick Fry, Button and Barrichello
-
- Hungary 2007: Barrichello sports thermal reactive helmet, car still lousy
-
- Turkey 2007: RA107s are 13th and 17th on demanding track
-
- Italy 2007: An inspired Button drags the car into eighth for its first point
-
- Belgium 2007: Battling with the Super Aguris once again
-
- Japan 2007: Points chance goes begging after Button loses wing
-
- China 2007: Opportunistic fifth for Button puts them ahead of Super Aguri in championship
-
- Brazil 2007: Barrichello briefly involved in title battle as Lewis Hamilton goes by
-
- Australia 2008: New car, new trousers, but no change in performance
-
- Malaysia 2008: Unloved RA108 gets little development as team focuses on 2009
-
- Bahrain 2008: Barrichello 11th but on lead lap at end
-
- Spain 2008: ‘Dumbo’ wings are ugly but they help Button to sixth
-
- Turkey 2008: Barrichello celebrates record 257th Grand Prix
-
- Monaco 2007: Barrichello grabs first points since 2006 in wet race
-
- Canada 2008: More points for Barrichello after battle with Heikki Kovalainen
-
- France 2008: Button is the only driver not to finish after a collision
-
- Britain 2008: First-class drive by Barrichello delivers an unlikely podium
-
- Germany 2008: Button lapped and last
-
- Hungary 2008: Button and Barrichello battle on first lap
-
- Europe 2008: Button heads Barrichello but both lapped
-
- Belgium 2008: Dust flies from the RA108′s plank though Eau Rouge
-
- Italy 2008: Neither driver can capitalise on rain for points
-
- Singapore 2008: Barrichello set for promising race before electrical failure
-
- Japan 2008: Barrichello wins race-long duel with Button… for 13th
-
- China 2008: Button 16th while Barrichello beats Williamses for 11th
-
- Brazil 2008: Honda’s last race, and probably Barrichello’s too
Images (C) Hondaracingf1.com
Chris Y said on 6th December 2008, 12:21
It seems Honda starts going down from the point they stop putting sponsors on their cars.
Oliver said on 6th December 2008, 12:49
They started going down from the point the appointed Nick Fry as head.
Chris Y said on 6th December 2008, 13:31
Oliver – Silly me, I totally forgot about that..
Adrian said on 6th December 2008, 18:06
For the last 2 years I’ve been wondering whether they wouldn’t have done better if they’d given up on the RA107 and RA108 and dug the race winning RA106 out and used that as a starting point…
I sincerely hope David Richards is successful in buying the team, cos if anyone can make them race winners again on a limited budget, it’s DR & Prodrive.
Loki said on 6th December 2008, 19:30
I never seen that Turkey 2006 Edition before, it looks fantastic!
Wasn’t the RA106 the chassis Super Aguri used? (and embaressed the Honda A-Team with?)
Good pics, RIP Honda.
Keith Collantine said on 6th December 2008, 21:35
Loki – Yep, I think it was only used by Davidson in practice though. And yes, the RA106 was what Super Aguri used in 2007. I often wondered why Honda didn’t just take the old chassis back…
Loki said on 7th December 2008, 2:43
Maybe it’s the Asian-oriental mentality of “face”. Going backwards is seen as a, somewhat, bad thing. By which means if your current car is a dog, you have to make it that (or make-believe) it is, and will be, better than your previous effort.
It bewildered me – if you sell your chassis to another team, and they are making leapbounds over you (say, overtaking a Mr Alonso in a McLaren), you have to question why bother with the new one when the old one is clearly superior. Mind you, nothing wrong with the B-teams showing up the A-teams … STR showing up Red Bull this season was simply a class act in its own. Everyone loves an underdog story
todd said on 7th December 2008, 3:07
ross brawn needs to take the lead here and drop nick fry when they take on a new owner.
MrPippy said on 7th December 2008, 4:01
Mechanically and aesthetically…sigh.
Milos said on 7th December 2008, 12:26
the fitting final picture would be that Button’s car on fire after Brazilian GP
Keith Collantine said on 7th December 2008, 12:30
Milos – I was looking at that picture in F1 Racing this morning and thought the same thing.
Milos said on 7th December 2008, 12:43
this one is not as good as in F1 Racing, but it tells the story too
gideon said on 7th December 2008, 14:27
Im so so so sad…
this is one of the most historical F1 engine.. honda
my tear drop when see those pic
Lady Snowcat said on 7th December 2008, 21:04
Nooooo….
You missed out the obvious….
The picture of the Honda on fire at the end of the last race in 2008 at Brazil…. which turns out to be their last ever race says all you need to know about burning hopes, dreams and money….