Brawn says Honda to keep Button and Barrichello

By Alan Baldwin

HOCKENHEIM, Germany (Reuters) - Formula One's most experienced driver Rubens Barrichello can look forward to another season with Honda after team boss Ross Brawn said on Friday there would be no change to the line-up for 2009.

Asked whether the team would keep the same drivers -- Barrichello and Britain's Jenson Button -- Brawn replied simply 'Yes' in an interview with the Formula One website (www.formula1.com).

However there was no immediate official confirmation from the team.

Barrichello, who has made a record 261 grand prix starts, said it was news to him while Honda F1 chief executive Nick Fry could not confirm a decision had been taken.

"I haven't signed anything," said the Brazilian after the first day of practice at the German Grand Prix. "Of course I want to stay for next year, I think it's going to be one of the best places to have for next year."

Button's response was: "I can't comment on that -- yet", but he said he also hoped to stay.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we kept the same drivers for next year, because they have both done a good job and are both doing a similar job and we haven't yet been able to give them the car that both deserve," said Fry.

Honda have expressed an interest in Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso, should he want to leave Renault without there being a vacancy at Ferrari, but Fry ruled out any short-term deal.

"I don't think it's sensible to hire anybody for a year, regardless of who they are. I don't think it's anything specific to Fernando but in my view it's too short a period to be able to integrate a driver and get full benefit," he said.

Fry said Barrichello, who finished a surprise third in the wet at this month's British Grand Prix, had been performing well since the arrival of his former Ferrari technical director Brawn.

"It's really noticeable how his disposition has changed," he said. "Looking from the outside, Ross coming on board has helped Rubens, he's someone he's very familiar with."

After the elation of Silverstone, Barrichello came back to reality with only the 14th fastest time in Friday afternoon's practice session.

Asked whether he hoped for another wet weekend, he grimaced. "I'm praying for snow, to be honest," he said. "If it's dry, it's going to be a difficult weekend."

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, Editing by Clare Fallon)