Barrichello: Honda and Renault on par

"Definitely McLaren made a jump and at the moment I think we are on a par with Renault," Barrichello told autosport.com during testing at Barcelona. "Some circuits they are better and some we are better, it depends on the track.

"The balance of the car is good, we are still trying out aero. It's almost final but I think I have a wing to try out. This car is very easy to drive and it is very quick, it is a good car.

"We made a big jump in the Bahrain test, it was one of the best things we have done," added Barrichello, refering to last week's test at Sakhir, home of the first race of the season in over two weeks time.

Honda and Renault have been the pace-setters during most of winter testing, with McLaren now looking very fast after having worked on solving their engine problems.

Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time of the year in testing at Barcelona yesterday, although Renault's Fernando Alonso went even faster this morning and even beat last year's pole position time in his V8-engined R26.

Barrichello's Honda team have also been close to the top of the times.

"We are very well prepared for this coming season, and Jenson [Button] was quite happy too. On the same tyres we were doing the same time, we are pretty well matched so it will be fun.

"We will be on top of the game," said the Brazilian. "Okay, sometimes we have bad days but then good days too."

Barrichello, who joined Honda after six seasons with the Ferrari team, believes he has made the right move.

"I think I have made the right change," he said. "We are going forward together and I am quite pleased about that. I have given them (the team) as much as they have given me.

"The team has definitely made an effort: who can have two cars ready at the launch? It is incredible.

"If there was one car there would have be been a delay until I get in the car, so the team has done very very well, so for the season we are prepared but the competition is definitely hotting up."