Whats with all the hype & Takuma Sato?

[v10motorhead]

I cant help noticing all the hype saying how good Sato is! Has everyone forgotten his 2002 season? Here are some instances I cant seem to get out of my head! Melbourne qualifying, T-boning in Austria, he did a 360 degree spin at Spa in a practice session (was too fast for the corner but managed to get back on track), Monaco? That was the pits, What kind of a driver crashes out when letting his team mate pass by? I clearly remember 2 Jordans entering the tunnel & the next thing you know, one's coming out sidewards! According to me, he left good 'ol Eddie Jordan almost bankrupt!

Don't get me wrong, Sato must be a good driver, otherwise he wouldn't be in F1, but he's too impatient, ragged & seems to perform only at Suzuka! So I think everyone should just hold back until he delivers some consistent results...

[Scuderia_Russ]

Ha,ha...that's exactly as i remember his exploits...and in the last race of 2002 when he finished fifth (i think) it was like he'd won the championship,jumping all over Eddie and generally going nuts! Eddie just looked relieved the season was over more than anything!! I reckon alot of people will be thinking about Alonso driving for Minardi,then testing for Renault the year after and then flying in a race seat the year after that;except he's gone Jordan race,BAR test BAR race seat.Plus the fact he finished behind Button at Suzuka which even Jaques struggled to do most of the season!

[Irvingthien]

Poor racer. He was given a chance in 2002 because Jordan wanted to continue using Honda engines but this plan failed. BAR was pressurized by Honda to sign Sato. Hope he'll do better this year. Cheers.

[Micky]

He's useless. He can't race with people as we seen in Monaco. A year out testing won't have helped either.

[fa22_raptor]

Com'on... he's not THAT bad

[KeithYoung]

I dont think he is good, he got his seat due to sponsorship which happens alot in these lower teams.

[uzael]

I've been pretty Harsh about TS in the past, but the fact is that we've only seen him race once in 12 months time. Maybe a year of testing has matured hm somewhat. Could be that he was under enormous pressure by jordan to perform so that they could keep the honda contract and therefore psyched himself out. I'm really waiting to judge him until this season is over, he could be really solid #2.

[SpeedTech]

Well Uzael I will have to agree with you there mate

[Gliderpilot]

I'll probably be flamed for saying this, but he could be the 'next Senna' Senna was a really hotheaded driver in the beginning of his career and frequently crashed while driving over the limit. He later found the limit and was able to stay there.

Sato did a pretty respectable race at Suzuka last year considering what material he had at hand. It was particulary interesting to see him NOT back off while Schumacher attempted to overtake him. It will be interesting to see what he can do this year in a seemingly very improved BAR.

I sincerely doubt that Honda would push BAR into accepting Sato if he did not belong on a racetrack.

[Guest]

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:35 am Post subject:

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I'll probably be flamed for saying this, but he could be the 'next Senna' etc

[j4kwan]

I think F1 values Sato's skills because he hasn't been racing along time and started racing only in his early 20s. For him to achieve such skill and recognition in such a short time reasons that he is a quick learner, quick driver and very adaptive; and that's potenial to be even a greater racer.

Supposedly Sato he's one of the better Japanese drivers within the past few decades too; including the likes of Tora Takagi and Nakano. Being the only asian driver on the grid brings in a lot of cashola and potential market for F1

Sato still needs to to refine his rough driving style and curb his meetings with the concrete walls... Personally, I rather see Villeneuve duke it out with Button again.

[Gliderpilot]

Personally, I rather see Villeneuve duke it out with Button again.

... and deplete BAR of valuable money better spent on developing the car? Sure, but then we can instead place him in Minardi together with Irvine who also was a whining brat and see who was the worst.

[v10motorhead]

I just hope TS doesn't ruin the championship battle by getting in the way of the title contenders!!. Also, earlier this year, there were rumours that Honda might pull out of F1, I just hope TS is not going to be the main reason @ the end of the season for damaging their budget & reputation. He might just be a good excuse for Honda with his history of damaging F1 budgets! We've already lost Arrows & Prost recently & there are too few cars on the grid, for the pinnacle of motorsport... Lets hope we have more than 10 teams in the near future...

Another Senna in the making? OK I admit Senna was hotheaded... I would rate Montoya, Massa & Bernoldi & hotheaded drivers.... But Sato? Nope definetly not... He's more pigheaded with all the risky manouveres he manages to pull....

BAR should hv just gone with Verstappen.... Heaps of experience & plenty of sponsorship money!!!

[Gliderpilot]

I guess we'll see in two weeks. It'll be interesting.

Verstappen should have been placed in a Jordan if anything. Yes, heaps of experience and sponsorship money (or whatever the thing was with his agent) to bring the yellow car round safe in 8th spot, but not podium material by far.

[Scuderia_Russ]

not podium material by far.

Sure was downhill from '94 wasn't it!