Nakamoto to skip Canadian Grand Prix

Nakamoto's appointment earlier this week has come as part of a restructuring at the outfit aimed at turning around their disappointing first half to the campaign.

He has decided that his time will be better preparing for his new role, rather than helping the efforts in Montreal, and he is currently in Tokyo at his company's headquarters.

With technical director Geoff Willis now on gardening leave from the outfit, the Brackley-based team are without the man who led the design of their 2006 challenger and will need to sort out who heads up the process for 2007 - with the designs for next year's car already underway.

Nakamoto will begin that process and plot Honda Racing's bid to close down the gap to the front of the field.

Speaking at Silverstone earlier this month, Nakamoto admitted that pressure was mounting from their Japanese bosses to deliver results on the track.

"There is lots and lots of pressure," he said. "Of course they are not happy. In fact, they are very angry because of this year's results. We have needed to show them what we are planning to do."