Honda promise no knee-jerk reactions

The Japanese car manufacturer's key problem is in delivering pace in races that is a match for their qualifying form. Jenson Button has qualified in the top three at every race so far this season, but has scored just one podium finish.

And although Wada, who is president of Honda Racing Development, has admitted that the team are not where they expected to be pre-season, he insists there will be neither a knee-jerk reaction to their situation or a quick fix.

"Of course this (start to the season) is totally out of our expectations, but we need to find out where we are, that is the starting point," he said. "Clearly we know where we have to be, and one-by-one we have to fix things.

"We had the tyre issue in Australia and we didn't have the temperature issue here (at Imola). So one-by-one we are killing the bugs and I think we are getting there.

"It is not overnight that everything will happen. We have to do it one-by-one. Each race, each test and each week we have to define where we are and where we need to go. It is not simple just to push one button and find a good position."

And although Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds said at the weekend that he would have lost his job if he had made some of the mistakes that Honda have made this year, Wada says he has full faith in the capabilities of his team's senior staff, including team boss Nick Fry and technical director Geoff Willis.

"Nick is new to this field, I am new to this field, and the whole Honda team is relatively new as a current team - but I don't think that is the issue," said Wada.

"I have no doubts (about the team's senior figures). I think everyone understands the situation. Jenson is very motivated, Geoff Willis is very motivated and we clearly showed some progress here, so everyone understands what we need to do to improve."

When asked whether there was mounting pressure on himself, Fry and Willis from Honda in Japan to deliver, Wada said: "For sure. Yeah, we are here for winning.

"But we are not giving up. It is only the fourth race of the season, so there is plenty of time to do something."