11/10/2005
NEWS STORY
The Daily Telegraph is claiming that BAR will decide in the next 48-hours, whether to replace Takuma Sato with Anthony Davidson in the final race of the 2005 season, at Shanghai this weekend.
The British newspaper claims that the Brackley team - bought out by Honda last week - is "concerned following Sato's second indiscretion in three races". This refers to the accidents involving Michael Schumacher (Belgium) and Jarno Trulli (Japan). Following the incident at Suzuka, race stewards excluded the Japanese driver from the results.
If Sato were to be dropped it would be highly ironic for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it was the Japanese driver who was drafted in to replace Jacques Villeneuve at BAR in the final race of the season (Japan) in 2003. The Canadian having been with the team since its inception in 1999.
Secondly, only last week Honda was reported to be saying that it was to help create a second (Junior) F1 team, built around the Japanese driver, who has been dropped by BAR in favour of Rubens Barrichello. Many claimed at the time that the 'announcement' was merely to appease Japanese race fans ahead of their home Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Davidson told The Times that he is ready and waiting for the call.
"I am ready, I have never been more ready," he said. "My problem is that people doubt whether I can race. They know I have the speed because they have seen me in testing. But I have to prove that I am a racing driver and not just someone who pounds around lap after lap."
The Englishman is still trying to secure a deal for 2006, a good performance in the season finale would no doubt help his cause.