Super Aguri want to retain drivers

Sato's contract for 2008 is believed to be a near certainty, with the team having been set up around the Japanese driver and him having scored twice for them this season.

And although Davidson has not added to the team's points tally, his impressive qualifying efforts and ever improving race craft have left the team in no doubt that they also want to extend his contract into next year.

Super Aguri's managing director Daniel Audetto told autosport.com: "We want to keep the same drivers. That is our aim.

"We are very happy with the job they are doing. Anthony made a big improvement with his race craft. In qualifying he has always been fast and in the races he is now better.

"And Sato did a fantastic season. The maturity of Takuma is astonishing. You see at the start of races he always gains four or five positions."

Davidson's hopes of retaining his seat for next year were boosted in Turkey, where a supreme effort in qualifying netted him 11th on the grid.

Speaking about the team's vote of confidence in him, Davidson said he was happy with how his season had gone - although remains frustrated that a possible podium finish slipped through his fingers in Canada after he hit a groundhog.

"It is good," he told autosport.com. "I think this year has gone well for me. Yes I have not had the highlights that Taku has had with points, and not wanting to take anything away from him or our cars, but you do need a bit of luck to do that.

"I should be sitting here with points right now after Canada. I should have points guaranteed and it is that sort of thing that makes you less fashionable in the paddock.

"This is quite a fickle game. Hopefully with flashes of brilliance like Turkey, people can take a step back and still see what I can do. It is nice to know the team are happy with you. I am happy with what they are doing and if I am happy then everyone else should be as well.

"I am the hardest critic of them all. I always have been."

Although talks between Super Aguri and Spanish investor Alejandro Agag have prompted speculation that the team could take a Spanish driver if an investment deal comes off, Audetto is adamant that such a scenario is remote.

"We are talking with Agag, but it is such an early stage that I don't really want to talk about it," he said. "If they bring something then they may want a Spanish driver, but honestly I don't see today a Spanish driver ready for F1 next year. Maybe with a good F1 testing he could be there for 2009, but not yet."