SUPER AGURI-HONDA

RR: OK finally, we come along to the newest team for 2006. With 4 years old Arrows' chassis, they really don't stand much of a chance do they?

NDR: I suppose in time this team could play the role of an ordinary team. At the moment I fear a similiar feat at the first race as was suffered by Lola, although perhaps not quite as embarassing. Great driver in Sato, if not at times erratic. Yuji Ide? Unknown quantity, and perhaps coming into F1 too late aswell. The engines will be good in the car, guarantee that, and they should recieve good support from Honda. Especially with favourite son Takuma in a seat, something they could not provide him with at the BAR / Honda team. At one point I even saw this team as an excuse to keep Sato in F1! Perhaps not, but it will take time for them to progress from anything nearing back of the grid mediocrity. Although, they could fight Midland when the new car comes.

RR: Well until they release their new car sometime later in the season, I can only expect them to be about 7 seconds off the pace. Sato is quick, but I hope he doesn't run up a costly repair bill, because the team doesn’t need that. As for Ide, I'm not expecting any fireworks from him, one of the more obscure entries in recent times for me .

NDR: No, neither am I, but then I don't ordinarily write off drivers before their debuts. But, in case he falls far from the pace, to be fair he has had next to no mileage in an F1 car. Actually, I am wondering how he did enough to qualify for a Super license.

RR: Well he did well enough in Formula Nippon, I believe to qualify, but he certainly will struggle in the first few races, he was about 3 seconds off Sato's times in testing. He will take a while to adapt. However the Honda engine will be a huge help I believe.

NDR: But the lack of running time in practice sessions could count against him.

RR: Yes, exactly. When it comes to testing sessions at the Grands Prix, he needs to ensure he is the first man out, and the last man back to the pits

NDR: Hopefully the Super Aguri engineers can provide him with a reliable car, because that is all he will really need at this stage. Expectations won't be high, so that should provide a pressure free - or to some extent at least - environment for him to learn in. Good luck to him, but I say that because i am slightly less than confident for his chances.

RR: Well, you say the pressures off, but he really needs to keep Sato within a reasonable distance. If he's three seconds off still at the Grands Prix, and the rumours of Davidson joining the team when the new car comes out are true, then Ide for me has a lot of trouble when it comes to finding another seat

NDR: Well, until a good car comes along, I can't see Ant wanting a seat there. It could seriously damage his reputation, so he will be wary of that before making commitment. Same for Sato, but at the moment, he really has nothing to lose. But, as you say, it could happen, and there are plenty of drivers who could replace him. I actually thought that Motoyama would have got the drive. But the pro-Japanese approach might not work - pro-French didn't work for Prost, and he was a better driver and thought of as a thinking driver.

RR: Yeah, I agree with that. Eddie Jordan has warned against an all Japanese line up, saying that F1 needs a more international approach. I think Aguri needed to widen his options a bit, not just make an attempt to please the Japanese contingent. Having said that, maybe a Japanese line up was a request from Honda?

NDR: Could be - it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Who do they have in the design department?

RR: Mark Preston I believe, ex Arrows guy, indeed as many of the staff are, and don't forget they are operating out of the magnificent Leafield Technical Centre

NDR: And sponsorship? It was rumoured that Tesco would be sponsoring them - is this true, if so, not only could they boost their own interest in international expansion, but provided a large source of income for the team. Actually, if they secure this, and they continue to have Honda backing, they might just do alright, and build some kind of future for them in the sport.

RR: Well if the Tesco thing is true, then I'm sure the Tesco Value slogan will come into affect, as Super Aguri certainly is an Economy team at the moment. As for income? Well every little helps.

NDR: I wonder if they will acquire a following in Japan, or dare i say it, around the world, as the new underdogs of the field?

Next Page

Please remember to check back after every Grand Prix to read our in-depth race reports!

Our Partners