Sato Staying at BAR in 2005
Japan's Takuma Sato will continue to drive for BAR next season, the Formula One team said on Tuesday.
Japan's Takuma Sato will continue to drive for BAR next season, the Formula One team said on Tuesday.
Sato, gearing up for his home Grand Prix at Suzuka on Sunday, is eighth in the Championship with 26 points after equalling the best race performance by a Japanese in Formula One with third place at the US Grand Prix in June.
The 27-year-old, who has a year to run on his contract and was always expected to stay with BAR, has scored points in four of his last five races.
Team boss David Richards hailed his sixth place in China from 18th on the grid last month as "perhaps his best drive to date."
Sato's teammate next season has yet to be decided, with BAR and Williams both claiming to have Briton Jenson Button under contract. The sport's Contract Recognition Board is due to decide the dispute at a hearing in Milan on October 16.
Honda-powered BAR are second in the Constructors' Championship, nine points clear of Renault with just the Brazilian Grand Prix remaining after Japan. Sato joined BAR as a test driver in 2003 after an accident-strewn year racing for Jordan.
He stepped up to the full race drive a year ago when he replaced Canadian Jacques Villeneuve at Suzuka in what was then the last round of the season.
Preview: Loeb looking for 11th win
Preview: Loeb looking for 11th win Preview: Loeb looking for 11th win
Toyota Critical of Honda's Use of Rule Loophole
Toyota Critical of Honda's Use of Rule Loophole Toyota Critical of Honda's Use of Rule Loophole
Points Just a Matter of Time, Says Ralf
Points Just a Matter of Time, Says Ralf Points Just a Matter of Time, Says Ralf
Hamilton: Mercedes can close gap to Red Bull after Melbourne F1 podium
Hamilton: Mercedes can close gap to Red Bull after Melbourne F1 podium Hamilton: Mercedes can close gap to Red Bull after Melbourne F1 podium
Verstappen: Hamilton did not follow racing rules in first-lap F1 battle
Verstappen: Hamilton did not follow racing rules in first-lap F1 battle Verstappen: Hamilton did not follow racing rules in first-lap F1 battle
F1 Australian GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton before farcical restart concludes race
F1 Australian GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton before farcical restart concludes race F1 Australian GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton before farcical restart concludes race
F1 race results: Max Verstappen wins wild Australian GP
F1 race results: Max Verstappen wins wild Australian GP F1 race results: Max Verstappen wins wild Australian GP
How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule
How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule
What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?
What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1? What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?
Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion
Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion
The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023
The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023 The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023
The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories
The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories
The state of play in F1's technical silly season
The state of play in F1's technical silly season The state of play in F1's technical silly season
Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers
Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers
Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries
Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.