Pollock Says Sato Move Will Not Affect Engine Deal

Japanese driver Takuma Sato's move to Jordan should not affect BAR's supply of Honda engines, BAR boss Craig Pollock has said.

"I think Honda would be very stupid just looking at a driver and choosing the team that they want to go with in the future if they're going to go down to one team," he told a news conference at the Japanese Grand Prix. "But they haven't even said that they want to go down to one team.

"We have a contract until the end of next year with Honda, as I believe does Eddie (Jordan), and I'm sure they will choose it on other merits."

Japanese racer Sato, 24, was BAR's test driver this season but joined Jordan -- who use similar Honda engines to BAR - on Wednesday as that team's replacement for French veteran Jean Alesi. Pollock revealed that the British Formula Three champion had bought himself out of his BAR contract and hinted that BAR could yet appoint a Japanese driver of their own.

"There are two other extremely good Japanese drivers out there, both won Formula Three championships," he said, referring to Ryo Fukuda and Toshihiro Keneishi. "So if it was just a driver, there are other options."

Personal Space

Sato was present at Suzuka for a news conference at Jordan on Friday, with the team boss urging the media to allow the driver personal space next year.

"Please give the guy a chance to breathe because its not easy at the moment, we've all seen how difficult a time young drivers can have," he said. "But I think he's probably as good or as better prepared than most. He's lived on his own, he knows what its like to trek around Europe learning a new language, both professionally and technically.

"You'll be surprised how well he is able to talk to the engineers. He has honed himself into a very positive professional package."

Jordan added that his team had been keeping an eye on Sato throughout his time at BAR and had carefully studied his test times.

"He's been outstandingly quick in the BAR test programme which we've monitored very carefully, what fuel he's had, what tyres he's had and during what time of the day he was doing the times," he said. "So we know exactly where he is against other drivers in Formula One.

"BAR have given Taku some vital testing time, they have provided him with a lot of good things," he added. "I am grateful that they have given him, at no cost to us, some Formula One testing mileage which we will take the benefit from.

"But they were in a contractual situation. I know it took a while to get them to release him so that's an indication that they really liked him."