Honda Team Principal Ross Brawn is confident that his team will retain its current line up for 2009, keeping Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello together for a fourth season.

In an interview with Formula1.com, when asked if Button and Barrichello would be retained, the Englishman said "yes", though he opted not to elaborate.

While many believed that Barrichello, who earlier this year became the most experienced driver in the history of the sport, was coming to the end of his time in F1, the Brazilian appears to be enjoying a Riccardo Patrese style India Summer in his career, culminating with his splendid podium result at Silverstone.

Jenson Button remains convinced that while Honda has struggled this season - though nowhere near as badly as it did in 2007 - the fruits of Ross Brawn's arrival will pay off in 2009, the Englishman claiming that the Japanese team will make a major leap forward.

According to Reuters, Honda F1 chief executive Nick Fry, though unwilling to confirm the team's 2009 line-up, appears, like Brawn, to feel that continuity might be the best policy.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we kept the same drivers for next year, because they have both done a good job and are both doing a similar job and we haven't yet been able to give them the car that both deserve," he said.