Honda may rethink engine plans

Davidson suffered a spectacular engine blow-up early in the session, and it has heightened concerns about the reliability of the latest specification power unit.

Although the team believe that the failure may not be related specifically to the new engine, they will now decide during second free practice whether to keep the power units in Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello's car.

Davidson was using the latest specification engine, without the modifications made this week to overcome reliability issues the power-unit suffered in Monza team.

The British test driver's car will now be fitted with one of the modified versions of the engine for this afternoon's second free practice session.

The team will send him out at the start of practice and if there is another problem then they will consider reverting Button and Barrichello back to the older specification of engine.

Team boss Nick Fry said: "Our suspicion is that Davidson's problem was nothing to do with the latest engine, but could have been finger trouble.

"We will see how he goes at the start of the session. If he has another problem early on then we will have to think about what to do."

As neither of Honda's race drivers has left the pits so far, the team would be able to change the engines without suffering a penalty.

Should Davidson's car complete a number of laps without problem then Button and Barrichello will stick with the latest version of the engines.