Looking back at the European GP weekend, a couple of points come to mind.

Firstly, Takuma Sato. The Japanese youngster has been performing well this season, though in terms of results he has been largely outshone by his English teammate Jenson Button. Sadly, there is a widespread belief that Takuma is only in the second car because Honda wants him there, rather than on merit. Personally, and I stress this is my personal opinion, I think he's an excellent racer that simply need a little more time. He's a former F3 champion, and that alone should count for something. Furthermore, many of the accidents he had back in 2002 were not of his own making.

This season he has been superb, and at the Nurburgring he moved up to the next level. Sadly his enthusiasm finally got the better of him and it ended in tears, cue the usual recriminations from fellow drivers, journalists and of course race fans.

Talking of recriminations, for the second successive weekend, a Schumacher exits following a close-encounter of the JPM kind. Seven races in, indeed a couple of seasons in, is Juan Pablo living up to expectations?

Finally the green light has effectively been given to a new qualifying format which will see drivers complete a minimum of 6 laps in two twenty-minute sessions, the aggregate times deciding the grid order. Meanwhile, it looks as though Formula One - sadly in my opinion - is to become a 2.4 litre formula, with all cars running V8 configurations.

We'd like your opinion on these, and indeed any other points raised over the European Grand Prix weekend.

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Chris Balfe
Editor

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To check out our previous Talking Points, click here

Joe Angers - Ayer, MA, USA

I'd like to express some of my opinions regarding the Talking Points brought up during the European GP.

Firstly, Takuma Sato. This guy is definitely the real deal in my view. Now admittedly, you can't argue that his being with Jordan and now B.A.R. had nothing to do with Honda. I would say the only reason he even got a shot at F-1 is because of Honda. With that said though, let's remember, he's no Satoru Nakjima. I've been very impressed with his sheer speed, even compared to Jenson who he somehows has managed to overshadow on occasion (that must be akin to the bombing of Pearl Harbor for the British Press). If he can temper his aggression a little bit, and couple that with some reliability from his Honda engines, and I see a very bright future for him. I only wish Ford would do for an American driver what Honda has done for Taku. As for Ruben's comments, I'd wish he'd show half the competitive spirit Taku has, instead of running around making up the numbers as Schuey's blocking back.