Having said, prior to the start of the 2005 season, that if his team didn't take its maiden victory, the season could be considered a failure, one might have thought that Nick Fry would have learned his lesson.

Apparently not.

Speaking at today's launch of the Honda RA106, Fry claimed that the team's driver line-up is the best in F1.

"I'd say this is the best driver line-up in our team's history," he told reporters at Barcelona, "indeed, I think it's also the best team of drivers on the grid.

"You can debate the merits of any one individual but I think our three put together is the best team," he added, referring to race drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, and test driver Anthony Davidson.

"Rubens has been exactly what we expected," said Fry, referring to the Brazilian who joins Honda after six years alongside Michael Schumacher at Ferrari. "He's technically very strong, he knows exactly what he wants and he has a way of doing things which is polite but firm. He's working very well with both Jenson and Anthony and indeed the rest of the team. I think his maturity and his depth of experience is going to be a huge asset."