Sato doing all he can to return to F1

The Japanese has been left without a drive after Super Aguri were forced out of the sport following the Spanish Grand Prix.

Although he has steered clear of making many appearances in the F1 paddock, Sato says talks are ongoing with several teams to try and get him back on the grid in 2009.

He insists, also, that his priority is to land a race seat and that he will only accept a test deal if there was no room on the grid for him to race.

"We are working on it at the moment as a pure race driver seat," Sato told autosport.com about his latest situation. "That is our main target and objective, but a test driver deal will be considered if there is nothing else available. That is something I would have to think about much later on if everything else was shut down. Until then, I want to just wait."

Sato said that there was unlikely to be any news on his future plans for a while, with teams reluctant to make any firm commitments for 2009 at this stage of the season.

"Well, at the moment there is nothing I can say. Although we are talking with a few teams, we are just at the start of our conversations. All the teams have arrived at the midseason and it is too early to think about next year.

"If any opportunity comes up to race this year then it will be a bonus, but I am just focusing on getting back to F1. I have no intention to leave F1 and do not want to give it up until there is absolutely zero chance. If it happens then I will think about it then, but until then I will be flat out working hard to get back to F1. Whether it will be soon, or 2009 or onwards, we don't know."

Sato said he has so far rejected offers for other single-seater or sportscar categories because of his determination to remain in F1.

"Andrew (Gilbert-Scott, manager) had a few offers from the United States, in open-wheels and sportscars. It is nice to hear that kind of immediate reaction, and we are keeping open our options.

"We have told all the teams that we are currently concentrating on F1 but we will keep our connection with them. If everything else is gone then I will have to think about it, but at the moment I am just concentrating on F1."

When asked if he was confident he would return, Sato said: "I just hope really. There is no absolute confidence because there is nothing guaranteed, but you have to believe. If nothing happens then that is life, but at the moment we are working flat out to make it happen. So let's wait and see what we can announce in the future."