Takuma Sato has drawn a definitive line under Formula 1

Takuma Sato is to date the best Japanese driver in the history of Formula 1 thanks to his eighth-place finish in the World Championship in 2004. He also took third place on the podium at the United States Grand Prix that same year, driving a BAR-Honda. Before him, only Aguri Suzuki had achieved such a feat at Suzuka in 1989, before Kamui Kobayashi followed in his compatriots’ footsteps last year, also on the Japanese track.

Defector from Jordan at its beginnings in 2002, replacing Jean Alesi, Sato then continued his career of 90 races with Super Aguri, still supported by the engine supplier Honda, which has just announced its return to Formula 1 for the 2015 season, a little over four years after announcing its departure from F1.

Since the cessation of activities of the Super Aguri team after the first four races of 2008, the Tokyo native has not managed to find a seat in Formula 1 despite tests with Toro Rosso and advanced contacts with Team Lotus (now Caterham). But even though this abrupt halt in the Japanese driver’s career has left him with a sense of unfinished business, Sato is very happy with his switch to IndyCar and wishes to continue his career in this discipline as he confides to Autosport: « I am now concentrating solely on IndyCar, one hundred percent. Formula 1 was great. But my job is here now. I am very happy with my situation and hope to stay in IndyCar for a long time. »

However, it was not easy for the Japanese driver to bounce back after the painful episode marking the end of Super Aguri and consequently his own presence in Formula 1: « The day Super Aguri had to withdraw for financial reasons was a sad moment for everyone. I hadn’t finished my job in Formula 1, so I tried to come back for two seasons. »

Indeed, Sato was in advanced talks with Scuderia Toro Rosso and had even undergone tests to secure a racing seat for 2009. But it ended up going to the Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais: « I had a good opportunity with Toro Rosso. I had a good winter testing day but, unfortunately, by the end of it, for various reasons, it didn’t work out. It was quite shocking for me. Then, I had a small opportunity but it also didn’t materialize. Formula 1 is Formula 1, it’s great. But there’s more than just Formula 1 for racing and I’ve always been interested in IndyCar. »

Here is something that could definitively put an end to the rumors regarding a possible return of the Japanese after the recent announcement of Honda’s return to Formula 1.