The team's creation was directly tied to the career of Takuma Sato. Honda had completed its acquisition of British American Racing at the end of 2005, retaining Jenson Button as its lead driver but releasing Sato — who had scored only one point in his second full season — in favour of Rubens Barrichello. In Japan, Sato's popularity and public pressure led Honda to support the creation of a new team that would keep him in Formula One.
Planning began in February 2005, with the team registering its intent to enter the Formula One World Championship in November of that year. However, the FIA's official entry list for 2006 initially excluded Super Aguri, reportedly because the required $48 million entry bond was not submitted on time. After reapplying and navigating resistance from Midland F1 — which was concerned about reduced television revenue from an expanded grid — the team secured unanimous approval from the existing constructors and received FIA confirmation on 26 January 2006.
Super Aguri raced customer Honda RA806E 2.4-litre V8 engines on Bridgestone tyres. The chassis, designated SA05, was an updated version of the 2002 Arrows A23, acquired from former Minardi principal Paul Stoddart, who had purchased the Arrows assets when that team went into receivership. Technical leadership came from former Arrows engineer Mark Preston.
Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide were the opening race drivers, with Franck Montagny as third driver. Ide's selection drew attention given his age — 31, the oldest Formula One rookie at the time — and limited European experience. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Ide was involved in a collision with Midland's Christijan Albers, resulting in Albers rolling the car. Ide was reprimanded, and at the FIA's request he and Montagny exchanged roles for the European Grand Prix. The FIA subsequently revoked Ide's Superlicence.
Montagny drove through the French Grand Prix before Sakon Yamamoto took his seat. The team updated the chassis to the SA06 specification from the German Grand Prix. Sato scored a tenth-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix to close the year.
For 2007, Super Aguri signed Anthony Davidson — previously a Honda test driver — alongside Sato. The team faced a pre-season controversy when rivals Williams and Spyker contested its use of what was effectively the works Honda car of the previous year, arguing the arrangement violated the Concorde Agreement's restriction on using parts designed by another Formula One manufacturer. The FIA did not ultimately act on this dispute.
The SA07 failed its initial FIA crash test, pushing back the car's launch to less than 48 hours before the Australian Grand Prix. Despite this, Davidson and Sato qualified tenth and eleventh — the team's best grid positions to that point.
Super Aguri scored its first-ever championship points at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Sato benefited from high attrition among faster cars to finish eighth. The team's best result came at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Sato finished sixth and collected three points, passing defending champion Fernando Alonso in the process. The team ended 2007 with four points and eighth place in the constructors' championship.
Yamamoto moved mid-season to Spyker F1, filling the seat vacated by Christijan Albers from the European Grand Prix onwards, following a loan arrangement between the two teams.
Super Aguri kept Sato and Davidson for 2008 following an unspecified stake acquisition by the Magma Group. The SA08 launch was delayed twice due to financial uncertainty, and the team missed the final pre-season tests. When Magma ultimately withdrew from their proposed takeover, the team's situation became precarious.
Super Aguri attended the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, reportedly with financial assistance from Bernie Ecclestone. Upon arriving at Istanbul Park for the Turkish Grand Prix, the team's trucks and motorhomes were denied entry to the circuit. Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry had reportedly informed organisers that Super Aguri would not participate. Team founder Aguri Suzuki announced on 6 May 2008 that Super Aguri was withdrawing from the championship with immediate effect, citing breach of contract by title sponsor SS United Group Oil & Gas Company.
The team was placed into administration on 7 May 2008. Its assets were subsequently acquired by German businessman Franz Hilmer of Formtech GmbH, who later made an unsuccessful application to enter the 2010 Formula One World Championship under the Brabham name. The intellectual property remained with Formtech Composites at the Leafield factory.
Super Aguri F1 was an underdog story defined by loyalty, ingenuity and financial fragility. The team made the most of limited resources, converting recycled Arrows hardware into a competitive enough platform to score points and occasionally embarrass larger budgets. Sato's sixth place in Canada in 2007 — passing the reigning world champion — remains the team's defining moment. The circumstances of its closure, involving a defaulting sponsor and a disputed boardroom decision by a rival company, gave it a particularly abrupt ending for a team that had been building genuine momentum.