Richards on Sato....

[Senna 0]

from planetf1.com:

Desperate Richards gives Sato a golf lesson

22/03/04

Dave Richards has revealed that he is giving Takuma Sato driving lessons, based on his golf swing, in a bid to teach his wayward driver how keep the car on the road.

Despite protestations that Sato had curbed the wildness that resulted in him being derided as a 'crashaholic' in his first season in F1, the Japanese starlet's return to the grid, after a year testing for BAR, has so far only been marked by the number of times he has left the track.

By Planet-F1's count, Sato has already spun three times during the opening two races weekends of 2004, with a minor collision on the first lap at Melbourne thrown in for good measure.

Now his team boss, who controversially opted to replace former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve with Sato, has decided to take his charge out on driving lessons.

"Yeah, we have talked about it," Richards told Autosport when asked if he thought Sato was overdriving the car. "I asked him if he ever played golf and he said no. I told him the way I play golf is the way you drive the car. I take the driver and really lash at the ball and think I can hit it further than anyone else.

"You have to let the car do the work. But I think we can work on that together and find ways of improving. We've got a very clear strategy towards it. I've got to work on Taku. We've got to spend some time together and that will be one of my focuses now, to see if I can raise his game."

On a point of information: Planet-F1 understands that Dave Richards has never driven a Formula One car in his life.

[hollywood2003 0]

Interesting that a principal who has never driven a F1 car or even been a competitive driver is telling a F1 driver how to do it.

If Richo was not keen on Sato , then Honda must have paid big time for Sato??

[Taku 0]

good to see you've been true to form and even provided biased options on the poll alastair.

[nojvnof1 0]

All this does is confirm my views, DR is a crackpot. hollywood, the only thing DR is keen on is Jense, if you know what I mean. Honda told DR put Taku in the car or we pull out the sponsorship $$$. Once again, $$$ win.

shaun

[hollywood2003 0]

In a country like Japan with a population of hundreds of milliosn surely Honda can find a decent driver??

Does anyone remember the other crappy Japo Driver Ukyo Katayama (never finshed a GP in his life!!)

[nojvnof1 0]

In a country like Japan with a population of hundreds of milliosn surely Honda can find a decent driver??

Does anyone remember the other crappy Japo Driver Ukyo Katayama (never finshed a GP in his life!!)

Crashayama did well in his first season in '94, he scored points, but after that, well he just lost it and lost it, and lost it.

shaun

[webber 0]

i said Yes but to be honest i like the guy but he boes crash often. but that just makes the race more fun so if hes racing i will be happy

[Senna 0]

good to see you've been true to form and even provided biased options on the poll alastair.

Why thank-you Taku for your kind words. Although really I should have made it a simple yes no question so that we’d see the results more clearly…note to self

[hollywood2003 0]

Alistair,

you really need to stop sending notes to yourself, he he

personally I loved the poll options!!

good for a laugh