Fry: Changes part of long-term plan

Nick Fry admits Honda are feeling the pressure to provide Jenson Button with a winning car, but concedes his backroom reshuffle is likely to cause more headaches than it solves in the short-term.

Honda have ousted Geoff Willis as technical chief after his 2006 car failed to live up to pre-season expectations, a move which has seen him take time out on gardening leave.

Fry has installed Shuhei Nakamoto as the new head of Honda’s technical department but acknowledges that upheaval is likely to bring with it new difficulties as the strain builds on the team.

He said: “The pressure is clearly huge. This year has been disappointing, especially the last few races after such a promising pre-season and quite a good performance in first races.

“I think we are prepared for some disruption that these things tend to cause. Our aim is to minimise that but it would be silly not to anticipate that.

“We are doing this for the long-term good because we intend to be in Formula One for a long time.”

Nakamoto’s promotion gives the Brackley-based team a more direct link to their paymasters in Japan, who bought the outfit outright last winter.

Since Honda took full charge and renamed the team from BAR, only one podium finish has come their way, prompting Nakamoto’s elevation from engineering director.

But, although he has 23 years of experience with Honda behind him, he has little background in Formula One and no knowledge of how to design a winning car.

Fry is confident that will not prevent his other engineers from finding the winning formula but conceded it was a disadvantage.

“I think Nakamoto has a different skill set from Geoff and there are plusses and minuses,” he said.

“The major plus is his knowledge of operations in Japan and how to best utilise the huge skills there to the benefit of the team.

“On the other side clearly his Formula One knowledge is not as strong as Geoff’s was.

“But it is never a one-man job. We have a good line-up of engineers and it’s a good opportunity for them to step up to the mark.”

Fry outlined more widespread changes to link the Brackley factory closer to Honda’s engine base in Japan, a task he believes Nakamoto is perfect for.

He added: “The thing we are trying to get is a high level of integration between those who work in Japan and those in England.

“People have concentrated on Geoff and what will happen to him but it is part of a total restructuring.

“It’s not a short-term plan – it is one that needs time to bed down but it is aimed at improving our performance in the long run.”

Button’s team-mate Rubens Barrichello revealed he was shocked to learn of Willis’ demotion but placed his trust in Fry to do what it takes to finally deliver a winning car.

The former Ferrari driver said: “It came as big news to me. It was a shock to begin with but it’s down to the team, they have decided what is best and I am with the team.

“We need to keep our feet on the ground and do a lot work. This team deserves to win in the near future because of their work and I think the team thinks this is a good decision.”