BAR not getting complacent

The team's hopes are expected to be boosted by an upgraded 'Suzuka Special' Honda engine as well as developments to the car's aerodynamics, as it bids to celebrate its 100th Grand Prix in fine style. Local interest will also be at fever pitch thanks to Takuma Sato and its Japanese engine partner.

But technical director Geoff Willis is maintaining a cautious approach to the job in hand, although if the team outscores Renault by eight points in Japan it will secure the place as the second best team to Ferrari this season.

Willis said: "Despite our nine point advantage over Renault, second place is certainly not yet guaranteed, so we will be ensuring that we take minimum risks in Suzuka to maintain and, we hope, extend our lead.

"Despite our confidence in the car's performance, we expect both the Ferraris and the McLarens to be very strong here as well. Our target, as always, will be to get good points finishes from both cars and possibly a podium place. However, we must keep our primary objective in focus - to leave Suzuka with our lead over Renault extended."

Team boss David Richards added: "We are certainly not out of the woods yet and we have a tough battle on our hands in the last two grands prix.

"We will be pulling out all the stops to deliver another solid performance next weekend and, whilst Takuma will rightly enjoy the adulation of his enormous fan base, I have no doubt that both he and Jenson will be very focused on the task in hand."

BAR's 100th grand prix comes after the team's strong China result helped it break the 100-points barrier for the first time in its history. As a sign of the progress that the outfit has made since last year, 12 months ago it headed to the Japanese Grand Prix with just 18 points.