Takuma Sato says he has turned down offers from outside of Formula One following the collapse in May of the Super Aguri team. As well as his former team-mate at the defunct Japanese team, Anthony Davidson, 31-year-old Sato was a notable presence in the Silverstone paddock last weekend. The UK-resident, who contested approaching 100 Grand Prix with Jordan, BAR and Leafield-based Super Aguri, said he is trying to resurrect his F1 career. "There is nothing concrete yet," Sato - who last weekend raced supporters and media at a go-kart event - said, according to Switzerland's Motorsport Aktuell. "I am speaking with some teams," he added. "I turned down some offers for Le Mans and from the USA, because I see my future in the sport at the Grand Prix." i hope he gets a good drive, even if it's STR next season.
the car is being auctioned tomorrow-- I just posted a thread about it for those who may be interested.
What's he thinking? The only way he will get another F1 drive is to buy one. Come to think of it, isn't that how he gets all of his rides?
It seems you need to do some research. Sato got into F1 by dominating the British F3 championship and broke the record for the number of wins - his total of 16 overall victories in the 2000/01 seasons is still unbeaten today. On top of that, he took first place in the Marlboro Masters of F3 at Zandvoort and the International race supporting the British Grand Prix. If that wasnt enough he also won the Macau Grand Prix in November 2001, taking victory in both the preliminary qualifying event and the main race While at BAR he showed speed that was usually equal to Jenson Button and at times proved to be faster but was hampered by many engine and mechanical failures. The guy also knows how to make a pass unlike many on the grid. Also don't forget he didn't start racing until the age of 19. With today's field that seems to have been bottle fed in a go-kart that's really saying something about his inherent ability as a driver. He seems to get bashed by many Eurocentric people here on the board but, in my opinion Takuma Sato always deserved a seat in F1 on his own merits. He was also a lot of fun to watch race.
Agreed. Certainly not a Senna or Fangio but he gets unfairly pounded on by many in the racing community. Much like Hideki Mutoh in the IRL. Just because you're Japanese and have Honda support doesn't mean you can't drive.
I stand corrected. He only paid to drive for one season from a Japanese backer. But he had a reputation of crashing and breaking cars. I'm not sure where you got your Button comparison, but he rarely was able to pace Button, but did have a couple of great F1 drives and qualifying efforts. Button out pointed him by lop sided margins every year they were together, including a 51 point deficet in 2004 and a 37 point deficet in 2005. Honda dropped him altogether when the took over BAR. He did have moments of brilliance, the most memorible of which was his pass on a snoozing Alonzo.
That analogy is only appropriate if the cars are all equal. Since he was in a piece of junk car, it would be unrealistic to expect more than that. He really isn't as bad as many people joke that he is.
i'm actually rooting for Sato. when was the last he stupidly slammed his car into someone else? i think he passed that stage and matured into a much better, determined driver. he's performance at the Spanish GP this year, holding a much faster car for a few laps shows he's determination.
