Sato excited about home debut

Incredibly, he has never raced cars in Japan despite having lived there all his life - apart from the past five years spent in Europe building a racing career.

"For me this will be the most exciting grand prix of the year because it is my home circuit," said Sato, who will be looking to end his maiden season in F1 by scoring a first championship point. "Suzuka was the first place I ever saw a racing car or had contact with motor racing.

"The first motor race I saw was in 1987 at Suzuka. I was a 10-year-old boy and it was like a mega-shock when I first saw Formula 1 cars!

"Since then my heart was always in F1, but I never had the chance to enter racing because you need outside help from a lot of people. Finally, 10 years later, I seized an opportunity and went to the Suzuka Racing School. I was 20 years old, which was the upper age limit, and I was so pleased to grab that last chance."

Sato won a scholarship at the school and that helped him to begin his career.

"Five years later, I am returning to Suzuka as an F1 driver! It is the most exciting year of my life. Suzuka is the centre of my world and just so awesome for me."