It appears as if Honda will go to any lengths to ensure that British driver Jenson Button stays with the BAR team when his current contract expires with reports that the Japanese engine giants are prepared to spend up to 150 million pounds, 50 million more than they currently spend, in their quest to make him a Formula One world champion by the end of 2006.
Reports in the People this weekend explain that part of that overall total includes an added investment of almost 27 million on a new state of the art wind tunnel to help improve the car’s aerodynamics and close the gap to current champions at Ferrari, the main issue that left them sitting in second place this season.
"A bigger wind tunnel facility will have one major effect - the cars will go faster!" Nigel MacCarthy, head of the team’s current wind tunnel told the People. Work has already begun on the new tunnel near the team’s Brackley based headquarters and it is expected to be up and running in time to perfect their 2006 contender.
This added commitment, and the removal of current team boss Dave Richards, are all part of the plan to give the driver a fresh start and help convince him not to move to Williams at the end of next season.
"With Richards going and the development of the new wind tunnel, this will give Jenson the chance of a new start and can only improve his chances of becoming world champion,” an insider told the publication. "During Button's relationship with Richards at BAR, the couple hardly spoke, and Jenson's decision to move to Williams caused even more friction. Honda obviously want to be champs with Button in the car and that's why they felt a change at the top was needed."
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