LONDON, July 9 - The Honda Formula One team have another senior technical recruit on the way after a spate of signings in recent weeks to strengthen their aerodynamics department.

"We have employed someone who will assist Nakamoto-san," team boss Nick Fry told Reuters when asked at the weekend's British Grand Prix whether the team were looking to recruit a technical director.

Japanese Shuhei Nakamoto is Honda's senior technical director.

Fry said the new recruit was a recognisable name in Formula One but would not say who he was or give a starting date: "His contract would say Christmas but maybe we could do something before, I don't know."

Loic Bigois is the latest to join a team that has scored just one point in nine races. Fry said Honda had struck a deal with Williams for him to start work immediately on Monday as head of aerodynamics.

Honda confirmed last Friday that they had met McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and former Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney, two men named in a 'spy' controversy currently gripping the sport, last month.

The chances of either securing a job with the British-based team can be considered remote now, however.

"We have interviewed a large number of engineers, we've employed four or five engineers recently, and these were just two people who said they would like to work for our team," Fry said of the pair.

Media speculation has also linked Honda to Ross Brawn, the former Ferrari technical director who has been on sabbatical since October and has yet to reveal his plans.

The Briton is expected to return to Ferrari, possibly as team principal, if he decides to continue in Formula One however.