Richards Happy with Sato's Performance

Japanese driver Takuma Sato has been handed a vote of confidence by BAR-Honda boss David Richards after his fourth-place finish in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday.

Sato has failed to match his high-scoring British teammate Jenson Button but Richards said: "Often with a young driver they are very inexperienced and make mistakes. You need to support them in that period and I hope the team has given the support he needed and we are now moving on to a new level. He has been very solid, he's improving all the time.

"Certainly the car's been quick at every track we've been to. Shanghai and Suzuka should be good for us, as should Brazil. I've always had the conviction that he has the ability to improve more than anyone else on the grid."

Sato's fourth place finish behind teammate Button at Monza was only his fifth points finish of the season while the Englishman has managed to claim points in all but two of the 15 races. Button, in fact, has won points every time he has finished this season but Sato has struggled for reliability and has failed to reach the end of seven races this season.

Richards refused to confirm whether Sato, who is in the second year of a three-year contract with BAR, would retain his race seat next season after rumours suggested he would be dropped to the third driver role.

The team chief's mind is currently focused on the fight to keep Button, who believes he has signed a contract with Williams to join Australian Mark Webber next year.

But he said: "The contract (with Sato) is signed but it has a break clause in our favour. It's early days but certainly he's heading in the right direction. The pressure lifted a little bit off his shoulders and he's starting to be comfortable now. I think the key to any great drivers' performance is they've got to feel confident in themselves and comfortable in their environment."