Richards looks forward to action

BAR boss Dave Richards has upped the ante ahead of what he describes as a “gruelling” schedule.

Richards knows if his team are to claim second place in the constructors’ championship behind the seemingly uncatchable Ferrari, the next four races in just six weeks are likely to determine their quest.

With BAR trailing Renault by 15 points, Richards is eager to see both drivers in the top eight, although his comments appear to be more intended for Takuma Sato rather than Jenson Button.

The Briton has been in the points in all seven grands prix this season, including five podiums, while in contrast, Sato has just two fifth-placed finishes to his credit in Bahrain and Spain.

But it is a mark of the achievements of BAR this season that Richards is thirsting for more success, and there could be more to come at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve which should favour his team.

BAR should certainly lay to rest their Canadian hoodoo for in five appearances at the track on the Ile Notre-Dame since 1999, the team have yet to score a point, with their best finish eighth in 2000 and 2002.

Richards insisted: “Four races in six weeks is a fantastic treat for the fans, but pretty gruelling stuff for the race teams.

“But a fifth podium finish in the European Grand Prix, coupled with the developments we have on the car for Canada, gives us a major boost for the next two races.

“We have a strong hold on third in the constructors’ championship and are delighted to have been responsible for a great deal of the racing action this season.

“However, the missing piece of the jigsaw at the moment is the need to get both cars to the finish as regularly as possible, and our failure to do so in five out of seven races has enabled Renault to pull away from us in second place.

“We have some catching up to do now, although the momentum that another back-to-back race brings should help us to stay focused on our objectives.”

While Button senses he is slowly closing the gap to six-times world champion Michael Schumacher, Japanese star Sato continues to play catch-up with his team mate.

The 27-year-old certainly has the pace, but not the consistency, as proven 11 days ago during the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring when he had a chance to finish second in his grasp, only to blow it.

Sato knows he can improve and is eager to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Richards over the next two races in Canada and a week later at the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

“The performance of the team has been very strong over the past few races and I am really looking forward to Montreal and Indianapolis – and to achieving what I hope will be my first podium,” insisted Sato.

“Again this is a track I have raced at only once before, but the circuit characteristics – the chicane with high kerbs and the hairpin in particular - are similar to Imola where we were very competitive.

“They should suit the car and I am expecting us to perform well. Honda have been working very hard to introduce a good step with both power and reliability for here.

“So I’m feeling confident and eager to pick up where I left off at the Nurburgring two weeks ago.”