Rubens Barrichello believes the upgrades Honda introduced in last week's Paul Ricard test could make the troubled car half a second per lap faster.
Honda has had a disastrous start to 2007 and has yet to score a point, but after trying the new sidepods and other parts at Ricard, Barrichello is feeling optimistic.
"The team was able to change the car sidepods in record time," he wrote in his website column.
"This is the car's first upgrade and it was programmed to be used for the first time in Canada.
"The car had a half of a second improvement and it is more stable during the braking.
"And do you know what the best thing is? We are going to use it in Monaco."
Barrichello's 10th place in the Spanish Grand Prix was Honda's best result so far this year, and although he was frustrated to drop back from eighth in the final part of the race, he felt the team had shown good progress in Barcelona.
"The car had improved mainly in the high speed curves, which made it more stable, not oversteering as it usually does," he said.
Despite his optimism about the new package, Barrichello admitted that Honda still had a long way to go.
"In order to win, we will have to improve a second and a half, but one thing is for sure: the team is working day and night to improve and so am I," he said.
SOURCE: itv-f1
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