Honda's retiring F1 boss Yasuhisa Arai says the time was right for his company to replace him with new F1 project leader Yusuke Hasegawa.
Hasegawa will take over Honda's F1 operations at the end of the month as part of a high-level management reshuffle at the Japanese car manufacturer. Arai will reach Honda's retirement age of 60 next year and has been moved to a new role as senior managing officer of R&D.
"It's not my decision, so the company will decide when and what timing because of course my retirement age gets closer year by year," he explained. "So the company decides the timing and that's a company decision.
"Maybe it's the best case because it's before the season, so we have to pass the baton to Mr Hasegawa, to a young man. During the season it's a very complicated time and could cause big trouble and confuse McLaren. I think it's good timing and the company decided well.
"I think it's the best time to finish and to pass the baton. I think it's good timing."
Speaking through a translator, Arai said the most important thing was the best possible continuation of the Honda F1 engine programme.
"It's not for personal glory, it's for the continuance of the task and I fulfilled my part of the task in the way that I thought was best. So I don't really see it as reaching the end. And we know that Mr Hasegawa is the best person to take the success forward. I have no doubts in that area."
Hasegawa has worked for Honda before in Formula One as part of the engine programme when the company supplied BAR. He started work on Tuesday at the second day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya and said he would not bring about radical change until he has a full understanding of the situation.
"I actually started today and I need to catch up the situation," Hasegawa said. "I am feeling a huge responsibility and pressure and also I feel very excited. Actually I was joining the Formula One project previously when we were BAR Honda. I have some experience in the project but obviously the technical areas are completely different from that age.
"We are respecting Arai-san's job very much and he has tried very hard to establish a new team and build up that team. Personally I feel high pressure and also from him I feel a huge responsibility.
"Actually Arai-san has already made the decisions for this year about the engine and at this moment I have to follow his plans. Maybe sooner or later I can put in some of my ideas, but at this moment I have to just follow through his plans for the next couple of months."