Friday 18 July at 21:00 : Rubens Barrichello on Friday insisted he has not yet signed a contract to remain at the Honda team in 2009.

Team principal Ross Brawn at Hockenheim answered "yes" when he was asked if the Brazilian veteran, and his current teammate Jenson Button, are going to stay with the Japanese squad next year.

"I haven't signed anything," Barrichello, 36, clarified to reporters.

"Of course I want to stay for next year, I think it's going to be one of the best places to have for next year," he added.

Button also said he wants to stay at Honda but insisted he has no comment to make "yet".

Team chief executive Nick Fry explained: "I wouldn't be surprised if we kept the same drivers for next year, because they have both done a good job and are both doing a similar job and we haven't yet been able to give them the car they both deserve."

He played down suggestions Honda is holding out to make a play for Fernando Alonso, even if the Spaniard may only be available for a single season.

"I don't think it's sensible to hire anybody for a year, regardless of who they are," Fry said.