There’s been little sign of what the future might hold for Super Aguri.
But assuming they are on the grid this year it looks as though they will keep their 2007 line-up of Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, following remarks by managing director Daniele Audetto:
He’s doing a fantastic job. I think Anthony is proving that he was a good choice: the speed is still there and the maturity is coming. So I expect that next year we are going to have two very good drivers.
The chances of them dropping Sato seem remote as the team was created by Honda to create a berth for Sato after he was dropped by the team for 2006.
But exactly how they will compete this year remains to be seen. In 2007 they used a modified Honda 2006 chassis – but the FIA’s failure to legalise the use of customer chassis for 2008 may prevent them from repeating that trick.
Thanks to Number 38 for the tip.
More on Super Aguri
harrison
1st January 2008, 17:09
He’s doing a fantastic job. I think Anthony is proving that he was a good choice: the speed is still there and the maturity is coming. So I expect that next year we are going to have two very good drivers.
O.K. there’s Davidson. Who’s the other good driver?
Clive
1st January 2008, 17:39
Ooh, that smarts. Sato has his moments, after all. :D
M Smith
1st January 2008, 18:49
Sato and Davidson are a good pairing for Super Aguri, I see no reason to drop either drivers.
Daniel PT
1st January 2008, 19:27
Sato and Davidson are a good pairing and a low profile one (at least in europe). If Davidson keeps the grips he is holding since the end of last season, 2008 should see the last season of Sato’s career in Formula 1. Indeed he has his moments but they are getting rare.
Vertigo
1st January 2008, 20:30
No matter how bad Sato is, he has a drive at Super Aguri as long as he is the best Japanese F1 driver. Sato and Davidson get on well too, so they seem pretty secure for next year. And of course they’re both friendly happy fellas in a friendly happy team.
Robert McKay
1st January 2008, 20:59
As long as there’s no financial worries at Aguri requiring pay-driver types, Davidson should be fine.
George
1st January 2008, 21:24
The bigger question is will Super Aguri even make the field next year? With sponsorship loss and customer cars in serious question it may be doubtful.
SA was created for the sole purpose of giving Sato-san an F1 driver’s seat. As long as the team competes so will Sato; or until a better Japanese driver appears.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
1st January 2008, 21:42
From Vertigo: “Sato… has a drive at Super Aguri as long as he is the best Japanese F1 driver”
Is Kazuki Nakajima a threat to that claim?
Clive
1st January 2008, 22:50
Sooner or later Japan will produce a genuine contender for the championship – the depth of enthusiasm for motor racing and the chances available to young drivers in that country make that almost inevitable. And Kazuki Nakajima might just be the one to do it, in spite of his famous overshot pit stop in Brazil. He has the speed – now all he needs is experience and a level head.
AmericanTifosi
1st January 2008, 23:17
I think it would be wise for Super Aguri to retain both of it’s drivers. They have both done well this season dispite Super Aguri not haveing the greatest car in the world, and have regularily outperformed the much richer Honda factory team.
Vertigo
2nd January 2008, 13:44
Daniel Audetto has told itv-f1 that “He (Anthony Davidson) will be on the grid, definitely, 100%. He has been doing a fantastic job for us”.
That just leaves Sato then.
milos
3rd January 2008, 10:41
Audeto also said they have sponsors line up, but no announcement will be made till the customer car arbitration is over … If they loose out, the only car they could race is their 2006 SA2 – the slightly improved SA1 aka Arrows 2002 … they would send them back to the back end of the grid and am afraid that could mean end of the team …
As far as the drivers go, I like to see Sato in F1… We need some excitement !
Number 38
4th January 2008, 15:54
My view is Lil Ant is a bit timid in traffic but races well in the open. Another year of race experience and a REAL race car, who knows he could surpass Button!!!! Surpass Button, I said it first.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
4th January 2008, 16:12
The official FIA 2008 F1 entry list has been published today and lists Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson as the Super Aguri drivers:
FIA – 2008 FIA Formula 1 World Championship entry list (external)
Andy Smith (Canada)
4th January 2008, 22:00
how about Liutzi for 2nd seat with team india?
Vertigo
5th January 2008, 10:44
Fisichella looks like he’s got the Force India seat. Shame as Liuzzi isn’t that bad really.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
8th February 2008, 14:18
The car passed its crash test today. I’m assuming the SA08 is just a remix of Honda’s dreadful RA107. It seems Super Aguri’s role in 2008 is just to provide someone for Honda to beat.