BAR and Honda Have High Hopes for Sato

BAR's Takuma Sato is sure to become the first Japanese driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix and he can do it this season, his Honda bosses believe.

"I think so, he's got the potential to do it," said Honda Racing Development vice-president Otmar Szafnauer after Sato celebrated third place and the first podium of his career at Sunday's US Grand Prix. It was the first podium appearance by a Japanese in 14 years and only the second in Formula One history.

"The package is there," said Szafnauer. "He's proven that he's quick enough to do it and he's got the potential. And it could happen this year - hopefully it will."

Sato has already qualified on the front row and led a race this season, both firsts for a Japanese, but has had several collisions with other drivers and suffered undiagnosed engine problems in the last three races.

That all ended on Sunday. "He drove a great race," said Szafnauer."Hopefully this will dispel some of the speculation that Taku's driving style is what causes our engine failures because it is not and that showed today.

"He fought very hard and he had to fight to get through the field and drove very hard and the engine survived. And this is one of the tracks that are difficult for the engine because we have about 21 seconds of open throttle on the main straight.

"It's a historic moment in Japan and having Taku on the podium is brilliant and I think that will help him gain confidence as well."

Impeccable Race

Team boss David Richards was delighted at his driver's evident progress. "It's been a long time in coming but well deserved. He drove an impeccable race, he drove faultlessly and we made some mistakes on our strategy but understandable mistakes," he said.

"I see the speed, the talent and the intelligence there. I've always said that drivers are made up of three elements - talent, the work ethic and the intellect to apply them and he has all three. He's a great guy.

"We're calming him down, explaining to him he's got plenty of time and that he's got the pace of the car - wait, don't challenge straightaway, wait until you can overtake properly," added Richards. "He's learning fast. You have to remember he's been racing for only six years. He will improve faster than anyone else in this pitlane."

BAR remain third overall in the Constructors' Championship, but they narrowed the gap with second placed Renault while also pulling further away from Williams.

"We have always had two great drivers and if we can have two drivers in the points regularly I think the other teams had better look out," said Richards.

"But let's be realistic, we are still a young team with a lot to learn, we're still making mistakes but getting success is a series of small steps, not giant leaps.

"I set a goal to be better than fourth (in the Championship). If we do that, I will be very happy."