Honda will test an unofficial ‘B’ car in Jerez next week, ahead of its expected debut in the French grand prix.
The Japanese squad has had a dire start to the 2007 season and hopes the heavily revised RA107 is a significant step forward in order to rebuild for next year.
Jenson Button in Indianapolis confirmed his participation in the test, but expressed some disappointment that there will not be any competitive teams there to compare with.
But “we should know very quickly whether we’ve made a big enough difference,” he said on Friday, adding that Super Aguri will run as well.
Button also denied that he is jealous of the success that rookie and countryman Lewis Hamilton is enjoying in 2007.
“I am not p-ssed off at him because he’s winning,” he insisted.
“Lewis is in a great car. I am not. There is no comparison.”
1964 world champion John Surtees, meanwhile, warned Hamilton to remain more “focused” than Button is if he wants to continue his charge for the F1 title.
“Lewis is a lot more focused (than Button) on getting the job done,” he told the Sun.
“Whether Jenson was advised badly or had bad people around him, I don’t know. But he is somewhat the architect of his own misfortune.”
