Sato pleased with qualifying effort

The Japanese squad started the season on the back foot after their future was not secured until just days before the season-opening race in Australia.

Despite that, Sato has avoided the final race of the grid for the second race in a row, after qualifying ahead of Force India's Adrian Sutil and his own teammate Anthony Davidson.

"I think that the team did a great job again, under the circumstances," said Sato. "We showed good speed in the morning as I did qualifying simulation and I was happy with the balance.

"During my first run in Qualifying the grip level was quite low and I had traffic, but then on the last run I hooked up everything I needed and I enjoyed the lap. I will certainly try to make a good race tomorrow."

Davidson, on the other hand, was not so pleased after finishing in last place.

"Another difficult qualifying session today for us," he said. "I think that we have improved slightly since the last race. My middle run this afternoon was good, but I struggled to find the right balance in the car for the last run."