Jordan Steps in to Defend Sato

Team boss Eddie Jordan has defended his driver Takuma Sato after the young Japanese continued with his problematic first season in Formula One.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that the race stewards had decided Sato's best qualifying time would be deleted after he left the Interlagos pit lane under a red light.

The Japanese rookie's grid position will now be allocated according to his second-fastest lap. The sanction continued Sato's incident-filled season since he made his Grand Prix debut in Australia earlier this month.

In Melbourne he crashed in practice and failed to qualify in a session that started dry but turned wet when he was finally able to get on course. He was later allowed to race due to exceptional circumstances.

In Malaysia, his race was wrecked when he collided with Italian teammate Giancarlo Fisichella. Both continued and finished but with no chance of points. But Jordan has defended the Japanese driver, saying that the team should be tolerant with him.

"For sure he's made mistakes, we've made mistakes," said Jordan in a news conference in which he heaped praise on Sato. "I think he is a first rate young driver. I think he will be a good asset to Asia and particularly to Japan and he will make certain mistakes in the future.

"What we need to do is to be tolerant, but nevertheless be supportive and critical as well so he doesn't make the same mistake twice. I don't think he will do what he did in Malaysia again in a hurry but he was extremely apologetic, very magnanimous and a very sporting young man.

"When people are really honest with themselves and inside the team, then it is your obligation to support them because they are of the calibre that will bring you success in the long term."