Geoff Willis(Technical Director) Gary Savage (Deputy Technical Director) Kevin Taylor (Chief Engineer, Composites and Structures) Willem Toet(Chief Engineer, Aerodynamics and Development) Mark Ellis(Chief Engineer, Vehicle Performance) Ian Wright (Chief Engineer, Vehicle Dynamics) Jörg Zander(Chief Engineer, Transmission and Mechanical) Simon Lacey(Head of Aerodynamics) Mariano Alperin [ja](Chief Aerodynamicist)
From the onset of the season, the car proved to be very competitive with Jenson Button scoring six podiums from the first eight races, including his first podium in Malaysia as well as his first pole position in Imola. The podiums continued with Takuma Sato becoming the first Japanese driver to score a podium since 1990 at Indianapolis and Button taking four further podiums in the latter stages of the season. Overall the car scored 11 podiums and one pole position.
After a close fight with Renault, BAR-Honda finished second in the Constructors' Championship, beating every team except Ferrari. Button, who many tipped as driver of the year, finished third in the Drivers' Championship. Despite some reliability problems for Sato, he finished eighth in the Drivers' Championship, the best-ever result for a Japanese and Asian driver in Formula One.[1]
The team's third driver, Anthony Davidson, drove the Spanish, Italian and Brazilian friday practice sessions with a new colouring. FIA regulations allowed the third car to have a different livery from the race cars; the task was to create a design for title sponsor Lucky Strike that showed the progression of the livery over the last few years, and also to come up with a new concept.[8] In Spain, a black and white colour scheme appeared on Davidson's car. In Italy, Davidson's car had an x-ray effect that incorrectly showed the driver's feet. In Brazil, there was a "graffiti"-style paint job that included Davidson's own face, and on the side of the car the words "Brazil 04".[9][10]
In China, team owner British American Tobacco wanted to promote its 555 branding and thus all team members, including all three drivers, wore special blue-yellow overalls and clothing throughout the weekend.[11] Davidson drove a blue-yellow 555-coloured car in Friday's practice. Button and Sato drove all weekend with the traditional red and white Lucky Strike-coloured car.
BAR used 'Lucky Strike' logos in all other races except the Canadian, French, and British Grands Prix, and '555' logos in China.
BAR 05 Concept Car
During the 2004-2005 offseason, BAR used the 05 Concept Car, a modified version of the 006, notably featuring a black and gray livery, the Honda RA005E engine from the following season, as well as the rear end of the future 007.[12]
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)