No BAR to team's success, says Richards

David Richards believes BAR are closer than ever to a maiden grand prix win despite “under-performing” at the European Grand Prix.

Hopes were high that the Brackley-based team might at least equal their best-ever result of second after Takuma Sato claimed his first front-row start.

Sato ran second for much of the race but found himself behind Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello, who used a two-stop strategy to good effect, late in the day.

That nevertheless left Sato looking at his first podium, but the Japanese driver pushed too hard in trying to pass Barrichello and lost part of his front wing after a crash.

Sato’s error proved immaterial soon after though when his engine blew up, promoting team-mate Jenson Button to third as Michael Schumacher romped to an easy win from Barrichello.

It was a sign of BAR’s superb progress this season that Englishman Button’s fifth podium finish in seven races was described by Richards as the end to “not his most perfect weekend”.

Richards though feels his team – who only started in Formula One in 1999 – are constantly making strides forward.

He said: “I think we are learning in every weekend. We are getting better all the time. We are refining the car and we are refining all our tactics. It never was going to be easy.

“It was a day of mixed fortunes: Takuma on the front row of the grid, looking like he would get his first podium and it all goes up in a cloud of smoke. I think it is a weekend Jenson would consider was not his most perfect weekend.

“He drove very well consolidating his position and third place, from that point of view, I have to say I’m very impressed by him.

“But I think when we analyse our weekend I have to say we under-performed.”

Sato came in for criticism from Barrichello, who claimed the Japanese driver’s late move had been “amateur”.

But Richards defended his driver and insisted Sato is on the verge of great things.

“We need people like Takuma in motor racing,” he said.

“There have been occasions when he has been a little ambitious but his day will come. I’m sure Rubens has a lot more experience than Takuma and he has a very valid point but at the end of the day our man is paid to race motor cars.

“It is experience gained and I’m sure next time he will be more refined in overtaking manoeuvres.

“I think there was a distinct possibility had he waited one more lap it would have been a little easier for him. But had he waited one more lap the engine would have gone as well.

“Takuma is disappointed but he will be testing again this week at Silverstone and back in a racing car again for Montreal and I’m sure fighting just as hard.”

Asked when Sato might finally break his podium duck, Richards replied: “Quite soon. I’m confident of Takuma. He has all the ability and all the talent. Things will come together soon.”

Schumacher was way ahead of the scrap between his team-mate and Sato, proving his troubles at the Monaco Grand Prix were not the start of a slump.

Ferrari technical chief Ross Brawn was relieved to see his number one driver banish memories of his crash at Monaco in such dominant fashion.

“All I can say is that this year he is incredibly motivated,” he said.

“After the frustration of Monaco, Michael wanted to win again as soon as possible to be certain we were not going into a dip.”