Downbeat end to Sato's BAR career.

Takuma Sato's BAR career fizzled out in Shanghai with a gearbox problem that capped another fraught afternoon for the Japanese driver.

Sato jumped the start after 'finger trouble' on the steering wheel saw him let the clutch out early, and that led to a drive-through penalty that dropped him back to the rear of the pack. Later in the race, he briefly got up to eighth after making the most of the safety car, but he was unable to hold on to the position.

"I had a problem with the gearbox," he told Crash.net, "After the first few laps, I lost drive, and then it was gradually got worse and worse. When the safety car came, I couldn't get the gears and, after the restart, it was basically completely finished. After the pit-stop, I had a lot of fuel on board to finish the race, and I was P8, so it could have gone a bit better.

"I just jumped the start after I just accidentally tipped the clutch too early. I knew it was an obvious one. I was obviously disappointed finishing like this, but a big thanks to the team. I have a good memory of the last two years."

Sato's hopes are now pinned on the new Honda team happening, and that depends, in large part, on the FIA allowing the team to use a BAR chassis design.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure it will happen, of course, until the FIA confirms the entry," Sato said, "We'll see really. Now the season's finished, we can make action. If it officially happens, then I'll obviously be flat out. It's not a situation I can control, so we will see."