TOKYO, Feb 21, 2008 (AFP) - Honda´s British driver Jenson Button on Thursday predicted a better season following a disastrous last year for the under-achieving Formula One team.

The struggling outfit late last year brought in Ross Brawn, a 10-year veteran of Ferrari, as its new team principal to work alongside CEO Nick Fry.

Last year, Honda´s best performance was Button´s fifth place at the Chinese Grand Prix.

"I must say I´m very happy with the way things are going. We are making improvements at every test in many, many areas," Button told reporters in Tokyo ahead of the new season.

"For me, I´m happy also because the car is a great driveable car. It´s a car we can really build on, so going into 2008, I´m positive that we can have a good year.

"I´m looking forward to 2008 and also the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne," he said, referring to the season opener on March 16.

The 28-year-old Button, the 1998 English Formula Ford champion, posted his first Formula One career win at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, bringing Honda its first victory in 39 years.

But he struggled last season, collecting only six points to finish 15th overall in the final standings. His Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello failed to win a single point.

"We had a very tough season last year in Formula One," Honda Motor Co. president Takeo Fukui said. "But we have a new organisation with Ross Brawn and Nick Fry.

"We are going to make a team which is capable of winning a title."

Barrichello, who has nine wins since his Formula One debut in 1993, said Brawn brought the team something extra.

"The car, engineers and everyone are working very hard with Ross on leadership and now things are going to be a lot better," Barrichello said.

"I know we are going to have a much better year."