Arai: I did the best I could

In the aftermath of the announcement by Honda that Formula 1 chief Yasuhisa Arai was shifted within the company, to the position of senior managing director of R&D, he spoke to media during the second day of testing in Barcelona.

Arai dispelled suggestions he was axed due to Honda's woeful return to the sport with McLaren, "I was given a task and I was able to fulfill it. I was put in place to do a specific role and I did the best I could."

"Whether or not I was able to achieve the results everyone was expecting is different. Because it is a big task, the results were difficult but personally because it was so difficult and it was the start of a large project, I am pleased to have been part of it."

As for losing face for not delivering to expectations, Arai was adamant, "It is not for personal glory. It is a long continuance of the task. I fulfilled my part of the task and I fulfilled it in a way that I feel is the best I could do. I don't see it as reaching the end."

Honda have appointed Yusuke Hasegawa as Executive Chief Engineer and Head of F1 Project, and Arai approves, "I know Hasegawa-san is the best man to take over the project, I have no doubts in that."

Meanwhile the soon to be boss of Honda's F1 effort admitted, "I need to catch up the situation. I feel a huge responsibility and pressure but I also feel very excited.

"I have some experience in F1, but obviously the regulations are completely different so it's still a learning process," added Hasegawa.