Sato Happy to Continue Driving for BAR

Takuma Sato believes BAR-Honda have made the right decision to keep him as part of the team's drivers line-up for 2005, after promising to provide the stability needed next season.

Japanese driver Sato's position for next season was confirmed in the build-up to his home race at Suzuka this weekend as BAR took the option to retain him for the final year of his three-year deal.

Sato, who was BAR's test driver last season, struggled to make an impression in the opening races of the season as he was beseiged by engine failures, and despite only one podium all year BAR feel he is the man to continue to take the team forward.

Jenson Button is likely to quit the team to join Williams, with the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) currently looking into his proposed switch, and BAR have decided against fielding an all-new line-up in 2005.

"It is not surprising they confirmed me for next year because obviously I had a three-year contract already at the beginning of 2003, one year of testing and obviously second and third as a race driver option and automatically it should be confirmed," Sato said in Suzuka today.

"So to me it is not a surprise. But it is good to have it confirmed now because the team really needs stability through the development programme, so I am looking forward to the winter testing and to next year."

Sato said he has given no thought to his team-mate for next year and added: "Not really. At the moment we are just concentrating on this Grand Prix and then Brazil, obviously, this season."

The 27-year-old has finished in the points in his home race for the last two years - after he replaced Jacques Villeneuve for the 2003 season-ending Grand Prix - and he is looking forward to another positive weekend.

"It feels great, always great to come back to your home Grand Prix," said Sato. "Every single driver who has a home Grand Prix is going to find it really special for them.

"After Shanghai I came straight back to Japan, had a relaxed time with my family and all my friends but also had lots and lots of attention from the media and we had so many functions.

"But it is good for us because Formula One is always enthusiastic in Japan in the past but I think this year it seems to be the people who had never heard about F1 or motor racing or were never interested have started to become very interested, which is very important for us.

"If you look at Suzuka this weekend there will probably be a lot of fans coming, 160,000 or whatever. So it is all great news and, of course, we will have extra pressure but also we will have extra support, which is great."