Some critical of Honda status quo

Some critical of Honda status quo

Some sections of the media reacted critically to Thursday's news that Honda will field an unchanged race lineup in 2008.

Germany's Sport Bild headlined that the Japanese squad have chosen to "continue to count on ineffective drivers", notwithstanding the ten grand prix wins between them.

Brackley based Honda, however, has had an appalling 2007 with the dreadful RA107 single seater so far, collecting just one point from the first half of the season despite pre-season boasts about a likely championship dig.

After the 2008 driver announcement at the Nurburgring, Australia's Fox Sports noted: "Z-grade Honda retains 'B' men".

The publication is probably referring to the fact that Brazilian Barrichello, 35, played second fiddle to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher for years before switching to Honda, where he has failed to score a point in 2007.

Briton Button, meanwhile, only won at the rain-affected Hungarian grand prix last year after 113 career attempts.

The news outlet AHN Media Corp. said the pair were being retained "despite poor performances".

But Honda team principal Nick Fry insists that the pair have turned in an "exceptional" performance this year in a difficult situation.

"If there are young drivers out there looking at how to act under these kind of circumstances, then both Jenson and Rubens have been a case study in how to work," he told reporters.

"I would say it has been a first-class performance from both of them, and that is why we have gone for continuity for next year."

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