[4] The SA05 was driven by Takuma Sato, whose firing by the works Honda team had played a significant role in creating the team, and also was driven by inexperienced Japanese rookie Yuji Ide and long-term Renault test driver Franck Montagny.

The team was created at short notice, partly due to Honda's unwillingness to leave the popular Sato without an F1 drive.

The car was predictably the slowest during pre-season testing, but a new aerodynamic package was introduced before the first race in Bahrain which brought the team closer to the others.

Ide, however, was out of his depth, and his Super Licence was taken away[8] in part after a spectacular collision with Christijan Albers' Midland at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix.

The team's increase in personnel and support from Honda allowed them to prepare the SA06, which was used from the German GP onwards.