Anthony Davidson stunned by how good ‘phenomenally fast’ F1 rival was – he only achieved one podium

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Anthony Davidson is better known by many Formula 1 fans for his work away from the track rather than on it.

British followers of F1 will recognise Anthony Davidson from his work analysing races for Sky Sports F1.

However, Davidson was once an incredibly promising young driver who never quite got the chance he deserved in Formula 1.

The 45-year-old took part in 24 Grand Prix across four seasons with BAR, Minardi and Super Aguri.

The latter disappeared off the grid in 2008 and with that Davidson’s F1 career came to an end.

However, Davidson still works with Mercedes as a simulator driver alongside his media duties and racing exploits in other series.

Davidson was speaking to the Formula 1 website about his career and some of the drivers that he came up against.

His career was intertwined with Jenson Button’s having raced against him as a youngster and the race both being associated with BAR during their time in F1.

However, Davidson has been quick to point out how impressed he was with another driver who popped up time and against alongside him.

Japan has produced several stars in F1, with Yuki Tsunoda now among them having survived four seasons within the turbulent Red Bull hierarchy.

Before him, Takuma Sato was a household name having taken part in nearly 100 Grand Prix across his career.

Davidson has now shared his thoughts on the 47-year-old who somehow only managed a single podium finish – at the 2004 United States Grand Prix – throughout his time in F1.

Anthony Davidson amazed by how fast former teammate Takuma Sato was

Talking about the man who went on to impress in IndyCar after F1, Davidson said: “Takuma was a big part of my life.

“He was the first driver I ever met that, as a teammate, I was taken back by how quick he was.

“Right to the end of our time in F3, I still had question marks some days as to how the hell he was producing these lap times, and I sometimes still couldn’t get close to him even after a season of being his teammate.

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“He was a phenomenally fast F3 driver. What a lesson it was to drive alongside him. He also had his head buried in the data, working with his engineers.

“Formula Ford, yes, you can tune the car, but it was just mechanical set-up. He was into the way that differential worked, the way the aerodynamic balance would work – he knew so much more than I did.

“Takuma taught me to work harder and to stress the details more. I wish I could go back and do F3 with the level of knowledge I have now because you never stop learning.

“He was so feisty, so determined, and I really had to step up my game to get anywhere close to him.”

Takuma Sato was one of Formula 1’s fastest cult heroes

Sato made his debut in F1 with Jordan, scoring his first points in the sport at his home race at Suzuka in 2002.

He lost his seat the following year but was picked up by BAR who handed him a race seat for the following two seasons alongside Jenson Button when the team managed to finish 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship.

Eddie Jordan joked that Sato crashed too often, but when he kept his car on the road, he was superb.

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Juan Pablo Montoya once predicted Sato to win a race before Button such was his raw speed.

In 2004, via Autosport, the Colombian said: “Jenson is doing a very good job but Takuma is coming along really impressive in the last few races.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Takuma would win a race before Jenson. I think he is a guy that tries really hard all the time and I think he’s starting to find his limits.”

Sato never achieved that feat and even picked up a two-race ban alongside Button after irregularities were found with their cars at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix.

His experience didn’t help drag the Super Aguri team forward and although he scored the Japanese outfit’s only points in F1, it wasn’t enough to earn him a race seat elsewhere on the grid when they eventually folded.