Super Aguri shine in Spain

While the Formula 1 world eulogised about Lewis Hamilton, the youngest ever leader of the World Championship, another notable performance went almost unnoticed in Spain. Super Aguri scored their first World Championship point in what was only their 21st grand prix.

Takuma Sato drove a tenacious race to eighth place, finishing just ahead of Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella.

"When you think where the team was a year ago," said Sato, "it's amazing to think that we've finished in the points here. It was a truly great performance by the team and everything worked well - the car, the Bridgestone Potenza tyres, the pit crew. When I saw Giancarlo exit the pits behind me late in the race it was a fantastic feeling."

Fisichella had been forced into the pits for a late-race splash-‘n’-dash after an earlier refuelling problem, but Sato truly deserved the final points-scoring position after improving the performance of his SA07 throughout the weekend.

He ended Friday’s two practice sessions in 19th place; he was 14th on Saturday morning and then 13th in qualifying. Sato then set the 12th fastest lap of the race (1:24.110s), which was faster than the three other Honda-powered drivers on the grid.

“Everyone did a great job," said Sato. "I’m lost for words.”

Not only was this Super Aguri's first ever World Championship point, it was Sato's first point since the 2005 Hungarian Grand Prix and the first point of '07 for a Honda-powered car.