Sato waits to test the EJ10B.

The current British Formula 3 champion is hotly tipped to be announced as Giancarlo Fisichella's team mate at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. Speaking to Autosport.com, he claimed that the deal is not yet done with the Honda-powered team, but did talk about his expectations when he lines up on the Melbourne Grid in March 2002.

"Japan wants me to succeed as a racing driver in the F1 world, and so do I - I'm really, really desperate to succeed," he said. "In the first year it's going to be quite difficult, I have to learn quite a lot. But I'm going step by step. It's not like a big bang immediately. I want to do everything step by step, and then one day I'll be in a good position in F1."

This weekend will be a very busy one for the highest profile 4 wheel racer in Japan. He attended a Honda promotional day in Tokyo on Monday and then demonstrated a BAR - the other F1 team that is currently powered by the Japanese manufacturer - around a car park in front of a large crowd and TV cameras. It marked the first time he had performed in his homeland since he moved to Europe to race in the British and European junior single-seater scene in 1998.

He admitted that leaving Japan was vital for him to get noticed by F1 teams. "If you are Japanese, it's difficult to stay in Japan, if you really want to go F1," he said. "You have to go to Europe to learn English, and that I've done. Obviously competition wise it's very similar, it's a very, very high level in Japanese motor racing. But I think drivers need to go abroad to learn everything."