Schumacher: Brawn will need time at Honda

Brawn, on sabbatical this year, will join the Japanese squad as team principal after a decade as Ferrari's technical director.

The Briton, who will start working at Honda at the end of this month, was the the master strategist who helped Schumacher win his titles at the Benetton and Ferrari teams.

The German driver reckons, however, that Brawn is joining Honda too late to have an influence in the team at the start of next season.

"It is true that Ross is 'super brain', as we call it in Germany, but it would be unlikely to be able to turn around the team in such a short time at the beginning of the next season," Schumacher told reporters at the Barcelona circuit.

"It is highly unlikely even with Ross. For sure he is no doubt a super brain, and sure he is the right person to take, but I am sure it takes time.

"I am sure he will push a lot and he will be able to move things forward quite quickly."

Honda had a torrid 2007 season, scoring just six points on their way to eighth place in the constructors' championship.