After cool and changeable weather conditions in Melbourne, Lucky Strike Bďż˝Aďż˝R Honda is looking forward to returning to Malaysia - the location of the team's first podium position of the 2004 season.

The Sepang circuit features sweeping corners and fast, wide straights which in combination with the intense heat makes the race extremely demanding for both car and driver.

Bďż˝Aďż˝R Honda has been using this week to carry out further development work in Jerez, focussing on aerodynamic evaluation and tyre tests. Anthony Davidson and Enrique Bernoldi drove a Bďż˝Aďż˝R Honda 007 and '05 Concept car respectively for the three days in tests designed to improve performance in Malaysia and Bahrain.

Jenson Button on the Malaysian Grand Prix
"The Australian Grand Prix was disappointing, but it was great to finally get back to racing. After our success last season, the result in Australia clearly wasn't the way we wanted to start the season. We have a lot of work to do to get back up to where we need to be. There are some issues we need to address before Malaysia, but I am confident that we will have these solved and I am looking forward to the next race at Sepang."

Takuma Sato on the Malaysian Grand Prix
"Of course we were disappointed in Australia and we have a lot of work to do, but we hope that the very different characteristics of the Sepang circuit will suit our car more. The team has completed a three-day test in Europe this week, so hopefully what we have learned will help our performance in Malaysia. The circuit is a mixture of technical and dynamic high-speed corners, so I always enjoy driving there. Because of the heat and humidity it is also a very demanding circuit for a driver from a physical point of view, so we have to have a lot of stamina and do as much preparation training as we can before the race. It will be very tough, but I stay optimistic and will give 100% as always."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"At Melbourne our poor starting position, partly due to the unusual circumstances in qualifying combined with the new regulations, which make overtaking on the track or in the pit stops much harder, certainly hurt our race. But our outright speed was clearly not good enough.

We have had a useful test at Jerez this week where we have been able to investigate some of our performance concerns and we are more confident in our performance for Sepang. We believe that with higher track temperatures we will be more competitive and we will be looking to take advantage of our new engines for the race."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"We are looking forward to an improved showing in Malaysia after a productive test in Jerez."

2005 Malaysian Grand Prix - Main Page
2005 Malaysian Grand Prix - Team and Driver Preview Page

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