53 replies to this topic

[glorius&victorius]

I think Toyota should hire Sato with immediate effect and try to give him an F1 seat at the cost of Timo Glock who simply cannot make an impression, not on the track, not off the track.

I don't think Sato will be WDC one day, but he's exciting to watch and as David Coulthard says: "unpredictable" when it comes to overtaking him. In fact I think that he did become older and wiser.


Come on lets give Sato a comeback boost! (... for sure people at Toyota are watching this BB...)


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Disclaimer: poll was put together hastily and in excitement.... so there might be an option missing

[noikeee]

Yes, for comical value.

[pingu666]

what about running him in a 3rd car?

[Group B]

I don't see TK doing any better than Glock, although I like him. It's hardly fair to sack TG on basis of nationality.

[glorius&victorius]

Originally posted by pingu666
what about running him in a 3rd car?

are 3rd cars possible?

[santori]

No. I'd like to see him back but his nationality has already saved his career too many times.

Also, Glock is good and should get better.

[potmotr]

Originally posted by glorius&victorius


are 3rd cars possible?

I think they are, but with the consent of all other teams on the grid.
And with the midgrid so tightly packed the other teams aren't going to welcome more competition in the form of a third Toyota.

[wrighty]

now, if you were asking me this 12 months ago.......... bye Ralf, but now? I don't think so, Taku's an excellent driver still but I don't think he's markedly better than either of the current stable, even TG so......no, I'm afraid Taku's F1 time may be up, and it is a real shame
Having said that, i'm sure he has oodles of experience and racecraft to offer for Le Mans, IRL/CC or many other top-line frmulae around the world......i'd almost be sad to 'just' see him in JTCC.

Unlucky Taku, and not for the first time but thanks for some stunning memories in F1 and here's hoping you make some more in the future

[potmotr]

Originally posted by wrighty
Unlucky Taku, and not for the first time but thanks for some stunning memories in F1 and here's hoping you make some more in the future

To be fair, I think he had a good shot. In 2004 he was in the best car on the grid but only managed one podium compared to many from Button. I think he's a great character in the sport, had pulled the odd inspirational move, but has had a good shot.

[Risil]

Originally posted by wrighty

Having said that, i'm sure he has oodles of experience and racecraft to offer for [...] IRL

Now that would add comedic value. Incredibly dangerous comedic value, but comedic value none the less.

[miniman]

Sato would make Sundays more entertaining, not at Toyota but at Honda, in place of.... hummm.... take your pick!

[Orin]

Originally posted by wrighty
now, if you were asking me this 12 months ago.......... bye Ralf, but now? I don't think so, Taku's an excellent driver still but I don't think he's markedly better than either of the current stable, even TG so......no, I'm afraid Taku's F1 time may be up, and it is a real shame
Having said that, i'm sure he has oodles of experience and racecraft to offer for Le Mans, IRL/CC or many other top-line frmulae around the world......i'd almost be sad to 'just' see him in JTCC.

Unlucky Taku, and not for the first time but thanks for some stunning memories in F1 and here's hoping you make some more in the future

Sadly have to agree. His correct place is in a Super Aguri or Force India type team, I can't see him doing well at Toyota, Trulli would hammer him. But it would be great to see him do well in the States.

[pacificquay]

I cannot fathom where people get the idea Timo Glock is no good.

[potmotr]

Originally posted by pacificquay
I cannot fathom where people get the idea Timo Glock is no good.

I don't think he's useless, but he's having a poor season to date.
He should be blowing Trulli into the weeds if he wants to be seen as a man of the future.

[pingu666]

hamilton kinda raised the bar for rookies didnt he?

[Beyond]

it's not toyota, it's ferrari the right place

[Josta]

I would say yes because it would piss Honda off, and give Toyota massive PR kudos in Japan. Lots of people who are looking to buy cars in Japan would buy Toyota rather than Honda because of it.

[potmotr]

Originally posted by Josta
I would say yes because it would piss Honda off, and give Toyota massive PR kudos in Japan. Lots of people who are looking to buy cars in Japan would buy Toyota rather than Honda because of it.

I think there are more promising Japanese drivers around. Taku is 32 this year which is a bit old...

[Josta]

Originally posted by potmotr


I think there are more promising Japanese drivers around. Taku is 32 this year which is a bit old...

Who cares? The fact is that Sato is an idol in Japan. If Toyota took him when Honda abandoned him, the Japanese would see Toyota as the hero's and Honda as the bad guys.

[Mox]

In my opinion, Takuma has shown little more than overly agressive driving, causing more incidents than successes.

He was never good enough for F1 in my book.

[pingu666]

sato had the best f3 season ever didnt he ?

he was good enough. not the best driver on the grid, most entertaining? possibly

[IOU 16]

Originally posted by paranoik0
Yes, for comical value.

That's the only way I see it.

Satomania is over people. He has been givne a shot with 3 teams and could not do anything. True SA was not the best team in F1, but he did not show enough at Honda to keep the seat that went to Barrichello. He was given his first shot with Jordan, and did nothing there either.

No. He is done in F1 as a driver. The new Japanese driver out there is Kazuki Nakajima.

Originally posted by pingu666
sato had the best f3 season ever didnt he ?

he was good enough. not the best driver on the grid, most entertaining? possibly

Best British F3 season yes. 16 wins in 25 starts. But Lewis Hamilton had the best F3 season with 15 wins in 20 starts in the F3 Euroseries in 2005.

[Mox]

Originally posted by pingu666
sato had the best f3 season ever didnt he ?

Eh, no?

Sato had 16 wins over 25 races (64%)

Senna and Magnussen had 12 from 16 (75%).

And sadly, a great F3 season does not mean you are capable of F1, as Magnussen's career plainly shows.

[IOU 16]

Originally posted by Mox


Eh, no?

Sato had 16 wins over 25 races (64%)

Senna and Magnussen had 12 from 16 (75%).

And sadly, a great F3 season does not mean you are capable of F1, as Magnussen's career plainly shows.

Hamilton also had a 75% winning record.

F3 isn't supposed to be the series that feeds into F1 though. The former F3000 and now GP2 are that series. F3 feeds into GP2.

[Risil]

Originally posted by IOU 16


Hamilton also had a 75% winning record.

F3 isn't supposed to be the series that feeds into F1 though. The former F3000 and now GP2 are that series. F3 feeds into GP2.

How many GP2/F3000/F2 championship winners became World Champions?

And how many F3 champions?

[pingu666]

sato still got more wins in a season tho ;) just a lesser %, its a decent indication of there being some talent there...

we now know sato isnt good enough to win championships probably, but hes good enough tobe in the pack, honda replaced him with rubens whos done what exactly ? I like rubens but i dont think hes done much, if any better than what sato would of done...

[Bumper]

I think Sato is underrated, he's matured a lot since (excuse the pun) crashing onto the F1 scene.

I'd say Sato in, Barrichello out at Honda next year, as Barrichello is on the final year of his contract.

[Atreiu]

No, it wouldn't really make any difference.

[stevvy1986]

Originally posted by potmotr


In 2004 he was in the best car on the grid

except for the ferrari

[Clatter]

Originally posted by pingu666
what about running him in a 3rd car?

3rd cars are not allowed.

[One]

Sato is a lot better than Glock, for sure just that Glock seems to talk more than Sato in German...

[IOU 16]

Originally posted by One
Sato is a lot better than Glock, for sure just that Glock seems to talk more than Sato in German...

He's a GP2 Champ. Give the guy some time before throwing him under the bus and out of F1. Remember folks, he is with Toyota. The greatest underacheivers in F1 history.


to go back to F3 Champs v. Non F3 champs.

F3 WC’s
Jim Clark - 1960 (Junior Title)
Jackie Stewart - 1964
Nelson Piques - 1978
Alain Prost -1979 (French and Euro titles)
Aryton Senna - 1983
Mika Haikinen - 1990
Michael Schumacher - 1990

Not F3 WC’s
Jack Brabham - 1960
Denny Hulme - 1961
Fernando Alonso - 1999 (WSR)

[StefanV]

Neither Toyota or Honda are at the position where it is the quality of drives that prevents them from winning races. Glock 8th or Sato 10th should not matter much. But obviously it does.

[UPRC]

For next season, perhaps. Glock should be allowed to prove himself. On the other hand... Sato, in my opinion, is not any worse than Glock or Trulli.

He should be taken up as a test driver or third driver for the season, I think.

[thiscocks]

Originally posted by potmotr


To be fair, I think he had a good shot. In 2004 he was in the best car on the grid but only managed one podium compared to many from Button. I think he's a great character in the sport, had pulled the odd inspirational move, but has had a good shot.

Dont think the Honda was better than the ferrari....

Anyway, no I think Nakajima deserves a good shot at F1 now instead. Toyota would never employ a Honda man alongside another Japanese driver who has Toyota roots. Sato is still a great driver, who has recieved alot of unfair critisism but I think hes had his time in F1 and had some great drives. I wish him good luck.

[F1 Tor.]

Originally posted by UPRC
For next season, perhaps. Glock should be allowed to prove himself. On the other hand... Sato, in my opinion, is not any worse than Glock or Trulli.

He should be taken up as a test driver or third driver for the season, I think.

[potmotr]

Originally posted by thiscocks


Dont think the Honda was better than the ferrari....

Sorry, I meant best car on the grid, except for the Ferrari...
Good spotting!

[Buttoneer]

If Sato was so important to Japanese business and the nation generally, Super Aguri would have found plenty of sponsors. Where was Sony? How about Nintendo, Capcom, or a myriad other tech and software companies?

Sato should be given a drive based purely on his ability and results, which to my mind puts him in the running for an F1 seat but not at the expense of another driver. Test position for Sato, I think.

[Andrew Ford &F1]

I voted "No", as I think that Sato did nothing to deserve another shot, but must admit that last year he impressed me a lot. As for Glock, he should be given more time. Yes, he hasn't shown anything special this season, but it's still a long way to go. Plus, he's the reigning GP2 champ, so he has earned himself at least a year of F1. What I'm more curious about is why nobody advocates Davidson's rightful claim to a place on the f1 grid? I mean, the guy was far more impressive this year than Taku and his 14th fastest laptime from Bahrain is a good indication of that.

[Josta]

Originally posted by Andrew, Ford &F1
I voted "No", as I think that Sato did nothing to deserve another shot, but must admit that last year he impressed me a lot. As for Glock, he should be given more time. Yes, he hasn't shown anything special this season, but it's still a long way to go. Plus, he's the reigning GP2 champ, so he has earned himself at least a year of F1. What I'm more curious about is why nobody advocates Davidson's rightful claim to a place on the f1 grid? I mean, the guy was far more impressive this year than Taku and his 14th fastest laptime from Bahrain is a good indication of that.

Glock is the reigning GP2 champ in a field that was vastly inferior to any previous GP2 field. He was in F1, failed to impress, then failed to impress in Champ car, then took several years after backpeddling to GP2 to do anything. I am going to go out on limb here. Glock is shite. From F1 nobody to Champ car nobody, to GP2 nobody to GP2 champ in a crap year. Then back to crap F1 nobody.

[F1Fanatic.co.uk]

Should TOYOTA hire Sato with immediate effect?

No, if anyone's going to hire one of the ex-Aguri drivers they should take Davidson because he's better.

[Josta]

Originally posted by F1Fanatic.co.uk

No, if anyone's going to hire one of the ex-Aguri drivers they should take Davidson because he's better.

Better in what way? Sato thrashed him in pretty much every race.

[F1Fanatic.co.uk]

Originally posted by Josta
Better in what way? Sato thrashed him in pretty much every race.

Unsurprisingly, I don't agree. Even a cursory glance at the statistic reveals the idea Sato "thrashed' Davidson is at odds with reality.

Looking at how those races panned out, factoring in Davidson's considerable advantage in qualifying in the later part of 2007, his speed so far this season (especially at Catalunya as has already been mentioned) and what we have been told about Sato's leading role within the team, I am confident that Davidson is the better driver.

[Josta]

Originally posted by F1Fanatic.co.uk

Unsurprisingly, I don't agree. Even a cursory glance at the statistic reveals the idea Sato "thrashed' Davidson is at odds with reality.

Looking at how those races panned out, factoring in Davidson's considerable advantage in qualifying in the later part of 2007, his speed so far this season (especially at Catalunya as has already been mentioned) and what we have been told about Sato's leadig role within the team, I am confident that Davidson is the better driver.

Well, in their 21 races together, Davidson finished ahead of Sato 7 times. Davidson scored no points compared to Sato's 4 and Davidsons best finishing position was 11th compared to Sato's 6th. How you can equate this to Davidson being better I have no idea. Nationality?

[le chat noir]

Originally posted by Josta


Well, in their 21 races together, Davidson finished ahead of Sato 7 times. Davidson scored no points compared to Sato's 4 and Davidsons best finishing position was 11th compared to Sato's 6th. How you can equate this to Davidson being better I have no idea. Nationality?

by looking at circumstance i imagine.

[One]

Sato has the upperhands then if you look at the circumstances. 6 th to 11th 0 o 4. Obviously, Sato overtook Alonsoad Raikkonen as well.

[le chat noir]

Originally posted by One
Sato has the upperhands then if you look at the circumstances. 6 th to 11th 0 o 4. Obviously, Sato overtook Alonsoad Raikkonen as well.

jesus man. the finishing position shows nothing of the circumstances.

and sato overtook alonso when he'd crippled his car - this is the circumstance you leave out - but it was still bloody good.

can't recall him passing kr so have no comment to make there

[One]

OK. I understood. In your opinion can you specify what situation made Davison look better than Sato?

[santori]

Originally posted by Josta


Glock is the reigning GP2 champ in a field that was vastly inferior to any previous GP2 field. He was in F1, failed to impress, then failed to impress in Champ car, then took several years after backpeddling to GP2 to do anything. I am going to go out on limb here. Glock is shite. From F1 nobody to Champ car nobody, to GP2 nobody to GP2 champ in a crap year. Then back to crap F1 nobody.

2004: Glock scores a point on his F1 debut. A lucky point, but still a point.
2005: Champcar Rookie of the Year.
2006: GP2. Once he has his hands on a competitive car, he's a match for Hamilton and Piquet.
2007: GP2 champion.

[le chat noir]

Originally posted by One
OK. I understood. In your opinion can you specify what situation made Davison look better than Sato?

its f1fanatics opinion...