Sato Confident of Keeping BAR Seat

Takuma Sato is confident of retaining his seat with BAR next season despite no announcement from the Formula One team about his future.

The Japanese driver signed a three-year deal in 2003 and stepped up to a full-time racing role this season. But Sato has scored just 18 of BAR's 83 points this season and British teammate Jenson Button has clocked up seven podium finishes to his one.

The 27-year-old believes he has done enough to convince the team to keep him on though.

"I'm very happy where I am and I'm expecting to be racing next year with BAR Honda," Sato said on Thursday. "Originally I had a three-year contract, including one year testing and two year's racing of which this year is the first year.

"So we should be able to develop together next year as well. I don't know what the deadline is (for an announcement) but I'm sure this is no longer an issue."

BAR have been unsettled by a contractual dispute with Button, who announced earlier this month that he had signed a deal to race for Williams next year. Button's departure, which BAR are contesting, could put Sato in a strong position because he would offer continuity within the race team.

"We are concentrating on weekend by weekend and not thinking deeply about next year but we need some stability for the longer development so you just carry on what you're doing and extending it to next year," Sato said.

"Two weeks ago it (Button's announcement) was just shocking everybody, but we are really professional people, the atmosphere itself hasn't changed so we continue."

BAR have British test driver Anthony Davidson waiting in the wings after a season of impressive sessions for the team. They also signed former Formula One driver Enrique Bernoldi as a second test driver on Wednesday.