Midland offered Sato a contract - team boss

The new Midland Formula One team have offered Japan's Takuma Sato a contract for next year, says team boss Colin Kolles.

"Takuma has the contract, so now the ball is in his court," the Autosport magazine quoted him as saying. "If he wants to sign it, he could be a Midland driver next year.

"We offered him the contract in Brazil and we are still waiting to hear."

Toyota-powered Midland take over from Jordan next year after Russian-born Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider bought that team last January.

Sato has lost his drive with Honda-owned BAR, after scoring just one point in an accident-filled season, and has been linked to a mystery 11th team planning to make their debut next year with Honda engines.

"Whether it's a new team or an existing team, I'm determined to race in 2006 anyway," the Japanese told reporters at the season-ending Chinese Grand Prix last weekend.

"I've got to believe in my heart 100 per cent. But you never know until you get a contract.

"If the new team doesn't happen we are still in contact with existing teams and there are still possibilities. I have to choose what is the best option for me in 2006."

Jordan's drivers this year were Indian Narain Karthikeyan and Portugal's Tiago Monteiro. Both are also hoping to stay on with Midland.