Honda on recruitment drive for key staff

"There hasn't been any discussion that I can comment on specifically," Fry told autosport.com. "We don't need a large number of additional people. But in certain areas, we're not as strong as we might be, and we're working on improving that.

"To get the people of quality that we need is not a short-term exercise. Anyone worth their salt is on a three-month or a six-month or an even longer contract than that.

"We've been talking to a number of people for some time, and hopefully in the next month or two we'll be able to say something about what's going on. But obviously, been able to announce something and have people sitting at their desks are slightly different timescales."

While Agathangelou remains theoretically available, nothwithstanding a gardening leave clause in his RBR contract, Fry also admitted that Honda were looking to poach key staff from some rival teams.

Ferrari's John Iley and Nigel Stepney have been among the names linked to a possible Honda switch.

"I can't comment on which teams they might come from, but one thing I will say is that there are two things I have been very impressed with," Fry said.

"Despite the fact that our situation in the early part of this year wasn't acceptable, to us or anyone else, through motorsport there does appear to be a genuine belief in Honda.

"The company has got such a rich heritage in all types of motorsport, and is so dedicated to motorsport, that the vast majority of people who are experienced in Formula One, who know what to look for, believe that Honda do have the wherewithal to succeed.

"So we're starting from a good, strong basic position of belief in Honda, which is good. And secondly, those people who look at what we've tried to do with the team over the last four years understand that it's putting in place building blocks."

Fry understands that having the right resources is part of the solution to luring staff from their current positions to Honda.

"First you need good owners to secure the future. Second, you need to give the guys the tools to do the job. And that not just wind tunnels, that's machine tools, and testing equipment, and we've put that in place.

"All these things, to a certain extent, obviously go in parallel. However, there is a certain amount of sequencing to it, and unless you've got the tools to do the job, the good people are not willing to come and join youbecause they know they won't have the tools to succeed.

"So we're now at the stage where we've got to supplement ourselves technically in a number of small areas, and it's as simple as that. It's putting together a big jigsaw puzzle, and this is the next step.

"I don't think anyone should read into this that this is a recruitment of dozens of senior people. It's just supplementing what we've got with two, three, four, five, somewhere in that region, of capable people. And that's what we're endeavouring to do at the moment."