27/05/2007
NEWS STORY
The Honda Racing F1 Team's Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button finished today's Monaco Grand Prix in 10th and 11th positions.
Rubens made the most of the first corner mêlée at Ste Devote to gain two places, easing his way into seventh place from ninth for the opening stint of the race. On a heavier fuel load, Button lost out at turn one and dropped a place to 11th. After the first round of pitstops, the two Honda Racing F1 Team drivers ran nose-to-tail, and the gap between them was rarely more than a second for the next 40 laps. Rubens crossed the line 1.1 secs ahead of Jenson.
Rubens Barrichello: "I'm disappointed with 10th because I thought we had a shot at the points today but the opportunities did not materialise. After my first pitstop I was held up by Wurz and that was that really. I was a little bit faster than him and if I could have got past then there was a chance to close the gap and get closer to the points, but there was no possibility to overtake. Overall I think we have had a slightly better weekend and we just have to keep pushing now and continue to move in the right direction. I hope for better things in Canada."
Jenson Button: "A difficult race today. I was stuck in traffic in all three stints and never got a clear run, so I couldn't make the most of the strategy. After yesterday's qualifying it is disappointing but we have to take some encouragement from the signs of improvement we saw here earlier in the weekend, keep our heads down and focus on what we are doing to move us forward."
Jacky Eeckelaert, Engineering Director: "After achieving 9th and 10th in qualifying yesterday we hoped for a points finish today. Rubens got a good start, making up some places over the first few corners, and then both drivers held their positions reasonably well over the first pit stops. However, our race pace was not fast enough for us to finish in the points. We have clearly made a step in the right direction and we are now knocking on the door of the points placings. Despite no testing before the two North American races, we will have some improvements with which to try to close the gap to the teams directly in front of us."
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