Barrichello hopeful Honda can be in Q3

Barrichello, who has not scored any points since the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix, believes Honda have taken a step forward and is adamant the team are now very close to the point-scoring positions.

"We had a good improvement last week and obviously the first race was what it was: we would have finished in the points," Barrichello told a news conference ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

"In Malaysia we were far out and in Bahrain with a bit of luck in the first lap... We had pace but no straightline speed to overtake.

"We are very close to the points. Barcelona is open to that, the car is better.

"I don't know how much the others made an improvement because last week was difficult to read - people with less fuel, more fuel - but the car is definitely better so we made an improvement and hopefully that will put us in Q3 all the time."

Barrichello, set to become the most experienced driver in Formula One history, says he is still fired up and reckons there is still a lot he can give.

"I feel very motivated. You talk to the young guys they are fed up with F1 with too much to do, with PR and driving and so on, but my life is getting better and better.

"My first year with Honda I really did a lot of PR but I am focusing and putting energy on the car. Last week I did 140 laps around Barcelona which I thought it was phenomenal. I feel young on that side. I have many more years left."