I should know better than take info from Autosport without checking it.

Honda should keep Barrichello as he is currently performing better than Button (I know Honda’s contractually bound to keep Button, hence why he’s not in danger) and both Senna and di Grassi would probably benefit from another year in GP2. There’s always 2010 to pick one or the other up (or purchase from Toro Rosso should that prove necessary).

The real factor I think will be the competitiveness of the 2009 Honda F1 car. If it is half-good, he will stay for another season or two. If it is as bas as the last 2 years, I think 2009 will be his last season.

Honda claim to have an advantage with their KERS system abd whether that is real or imagined may not matter when it comes to saving Rubens’s career. THe KERS systems are significantly heavier than Max’s theoretical (fanciful) figures released at the announcement of KERS. Given that the rear tyres are deliberately under-specced the teams need to be able to move ballast forward to move the centre of gravity forward. This also allows them to move the centre of aerodynamic pressure forward.

Rubens is the heaviest of the current drivers and therefore his car has less moveable ballast. Add in 60kg of KERS and you have to take of 60kg of ballast which is a higher percentage of Barrichello’s ballast than anyone else’s.

It seems odd that after bringing in rules on minimum cockpit entry size etc to prevent bigger drivers being descriminated against Max may have killed their careers or at least dampened their effectiveness with his supposedly green technology.

If Honda genuinely believe they have an advantage with their KERS system it does not make sense put a heavy driver in th car to compromise the effectiveness of that advantage.

a) the feeling Honda will have about their new car. if they feel the car is good, they may not feel they meed Barrichello. If they feel the car is **** they may think twice about letting the xperienced guy go. they have the luxury of time on their side. Barrichello has nowhere else in F1 to go (OK, perhaps Toro Rosso) so they can pretty much wait till the very last moment to confirm their 2009 drivers.

b) the new blood – Honda does need some fresh blood, they haven’t had any for … for how long ? let’s say since Sato replaced Villeneuve all those years back. as the team is starting from zero again they may well go for a rookie. if at least one of the young Brazilians does not disappoint during testing Barrichello may be in trouble.

c) sponsorship – with the global economy the way it is Honda would probably like to start getting bigger chunk of their budget from sponsors. the new sponsors may have their preferences and some say. but with the biggest new arrival being Petrobras and all 3 potential drivers being Brazilian that may not play that big a role, unless of course it is Senna name they are after.

But when it comes to mentioning fresh blood, how about Mr Nick Fry ? How much good has he achieved during his time with the team ?

I can’t forget that Barrichello scored more points than Button this year. To me, Barrichello isn’t washed up, not just yet.

Ultimately, I don’t think he will retire until he has to, and that will be when Honda don’t require his services anymore.

Is this Button fearing the competitiveness of Di Grassi or Senna, or just Jenson doing what he feels is right for the team?