Takuma Sato says Japan needs a 'local hero' in F1

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Former Grand Prix driver Takuma Sato says Japan needs a representative in F1 to revive once again the country's massive passion for the sport.

Sato's career in F1 span six seasons, from 2002 to 2008, during which he drove for Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri but achieved just a single podium.

However, Sato's win in the 2017 Indy 500 has guaranteed the 42-year-old star status in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Present at Suzuka two weeks ago, Sato said F1 remains popular in Japan, thanks in part to Honda's presence and recent wins with Red Bull, although the sport's aura has decreased since its heydays.

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"It's not the madness it once was," admitted Sato, speaking to France's Auto-Hebdo.

"Honda’s recent wins are helping, but I don’t think that’s the problem. Fans want something other than what happened in the 80s and 2000s.

"In those days, a mere presence in F1 was considered as exceptional. Today, they want local heroes.

"The real solution is a Japanese driver who can fight for a podium. For five years, they've been waiting for a successor to Kamui Kobayashi."

This year, Super Formula champion Naoki Yamamoto was awarded a run in FP1 by Red Bull, but the Milton Keynes-based outfit has pretty much ruled out a fulltime promotion for the 31-year-old Japanese driver.

Sato praised his countryman for his one-off performance.

"He did a great job in free practice given the circumstances, because it is never easy to just jump into a Formula 1 car," he added.

"Naoki blazed a trail once again that young drivers will follow. We need a Japanese driver on the grid.

"There is plenty of talent in Japan, but the challenge is to get all the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Super Formula is perhaps the most competitive category leading to F1. I think it’s only a matter of time before a star Japanese driver reaches F1."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.