Button: Sato's inconsistent and ragged

By Phil Huff (04/01/2004)
January 6 2005

Lucky Strike BAR Honda's Jenson Button believes the status quo between himself and team mate Takuma Sato will remain in 2005, with Button referring to Sato as 'ragged' and lacking consistency.

Talking over the F1 season with Martin Brundle for ITV, Button went back to a controversial incident at the European Grand Prix, where Takuma Sato and Rubens Barrichello collided.

"I think he gets it into his head that he has to overtake," explains Jenson, "and I think he made that decision half way around the lap, 30 odd seconds before he actually did the move."

Takuma made a move down the inside of Rubens into the first corner, knocking his left front wheel into the Brazilian's side pod.

"He thought 'I have to overtake Rubens at turn one this lap' and he went for it," he continued. "For me, he was too far back. Rubens didn't know he was coming, and he didn't know until he hit him."

"His style is what it is," he said, somewhat disparagingly.

"He has done a great job in some races, but it's the consistency he's lacked, especially in 2004. I don't know what's going to change for 2005 really.

"But he has been quick, and I'm sure people love watching him driving because he is quite ragged and, at times, he is very, very fast."