Honda RA108

The car was unveiled at a test in Valencia on 23 January 2008, a week before the car's official launch, driven by Rubens Barrichello.^[6] The car was officially unveiled at the team's operational headquarters in Brackley, England.^[7]

For the 2008 season, the Honda F1 team named Ross Brawn as team principal and also announced a new deputy technical director in the form of former BMW Sauber chief designer Jörg Zander.

For the 2008 season, the team retained their drivers from the previous two seasons, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. Honda also recruited Alexander Wurz from Williams, although the veteran Austrian had announced his retirement from race driving in 2007, but Wurz could not turn down the prospect of working alongside Ross Brawn.^[8] Honda also confirmed that their young driver line up will include 2006 British Formula 3 Champion Mike Conway and Italian Luca Filippi.

The RA108 had been a constant mid to rear end car in 2008 testing with Jenson Button saying the car lacked "driveability" as the drivers and team adapted the RA108 to new rules.^[9] For the 2008 season, the FIA implemented rules that required all teams to use one gearbox for four races and a standard McLaren Electronic Systems ECU that prevents the use of driving aids such as traction control and engine braking. Ross Brawn had already said the team had a better chance for the 2009 Formula One season as the regulations for 2009 would be totally new.^[10]

Button commented on how positively the team developed the RA108.^[11] At their final week of testing at the Jerez Circuit in Spain, the team added new aerodynamics, with most of the wings being revised. Head of Race and Test Engineering, Steve Clark, believed the car was a clear step forward.^[12]

In the testing in Paul Ricard before the Monaco Grand Prix, a second revision of the "dumbo" wings on the nose, first introduced in the Spanish Grand Prix, was introduced.

• 
  Rubens Barrichello driving the RA108 during a test.
• 
  Front-left view of the car.
• 
  Jenson Button driving the RA108 at the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix.
• 
  Barrichello at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.
• 
  The RA108 without the "dumbo" wings at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.
• 
  Barrichello driving the RA108 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, showing the "elephant ear" nose winglets.
• 
  A close-up of the second revision "dumbo" wings, introduced in the Monaco Grand Prix.
• 
  The RA108 on display at Honda Collection Hall

(key)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2008	Honda Racing F1	Honda V8	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	ESP	TUR	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	EUR	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	CHN	BRA	14	9th
				Jenson Button	Ret	10	Ret	6	11	11	11	Ret	Ret	17	12	13	15	15	9	14	16	13
				Rubens Barrichello	DSQ	13	11	Ret	14	6	7	14	3	Ret	16	16	Ret	17	Ret	13	11	15

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honda RA108.

• Honda RA108 Overview
• RA108 technical specifications
• Launch story