Sato has not finished any of the last three Grands Prix

The Japanese driver has yet to finish on the F1 podium and another chance was lost in last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix when his engine blew up.

"He is an extraordinary talent - my job is to harness it now," said Richards.

"When it comes right, and I've seen it so many times before with people of that sort of level of speed and performance, then it just won't stop."

Richards added: "He will learn and he's learning all the time but obviously we are impatient all of us for that to come right for him."

Engine problems have ended Sato's challenge in the last three Grands Prix.

But Richards dismissed suggestions that Sato's aggressive driving style had contributed to the engine failures.

"It's something we don't understand to be perfectly honest and I don't think you can level blame at Taku for that at all," said Richards.

"We have to try and understand it. There is a technical reason for it and it certainly can't be blamed on the driver."