SUPER FORMULA

Japan’s top Formula 1 race set to be a fierce battle in 2025

The cars will use the SF23 chassis common to all teams, and the tires will be made by Yokohama Rubber.

The All-Japan Super Formula Championship has been running for over half a century since its launch in 1973. Along with FIA-F2, it is seen as a stepping stone to the Formula One (F1) World Championship, and is attracting increasing international attention every year. It is currently considered the highest level in Asia.

All teams use the same SF23 chassis for their cars, and Yokohama Rubber is the sole manufacturer of tires. There are two engine models, manufactured by Toyota and Honda, but their performance is closely matched through tuning, so the outcome is left to the driver’s skill and the overall strength of the team. It is no exaggeration to say that the battle for 1/1000th of a second is one of the highest levels in the world.

The two-race system begins in the 2025 season

The 2025 season kicked off with an official test at Suzuka Circuit in February. However, the test was held in the middle of winter, and all practice sessions were cancelled on the second day due to snowfall. This meant that each team was left feeling unsatisfied going into the opening round.

This season will have a total of 12 races. A two-race system will be implemented at all events except for Round 5 at Autopolis and Round 8 at SUGO. The aim of this is to give drivers more driving opportunities, but it has also brought a new atmosphere to the entire season, with changes in strategy and an impact on physical fitness.

The absolute champion Dandelion and the rising star

Led by defending champion Sho Tsuboi, the title race has once again been centered around Dandelion Racing and Team Mugen. Dandelion’s strength has been particularly notable. In the opening round at Suzuka (Rd1 & 2), Kakunoshin Ota and Tadasuke Makino each won. These two also won the following round at Motegi (Rd3 & 4), achieving a one-two finish in both races. They showed a start that could truly be described as “total domination.”

Meanwhile, the performances of notable rookies are also not to be missed. The list includes Super Formula Lights champion Takashi Koide, former Williams driver Zach O’Sullivan, and Oliver Rasmussen, who came from FIA-F2. And above all, Igor Omura-Fraga, a unique figure who came out of the Gran Turismo world, took his first podium finish at Rd3 Motegi, proving his high potential.

Furthermore, JUJU (Noda Jujun), a female college student driver in her second year of racing, is steadily gaining experience. While she struggles with the new system, it is impressive to see signs of her progress everywhere.

A sudden change in the Autopolis and a restart at Fuji

The third event (Rd5) will be held at Autopolis in Aso — Sho Tsuboi

The third round (Rd5) took place at Autopolis in Aso. As usual, the weekend was a mess of weather, with heavy rain, strong winds, and dense fog causing all Saturday practice sessions to be cancelled. An unusual schedule was created, with qualifying and the final held on Sunday.

The team that suffered the most from this situation was none other than the reigning champions, Dandelion. While Ota and Makino struggled, Sho Tsuboi seized the opportunity to win. He showed his champion spirit with his first victory of the season.

Official testing then took place at Fuji Speedway in early June. Each team conducted a two-day, 10-hour long run in preparation for the two Fuji Speedway events, which will be key to the second half of the season. Tsuboi maintained his strong form, and Iwasa Ayumu and Nojiri Tomoki also recorded top times. Fraga also seemed to be steadily gaining confidence.

How will the balance of power change at Fuji in midsummer?

The next round is the fourth event, Rounds 6 and 7 at Fuji Speedway (July 19th and 20th). With five of the 12 rounds already completed, the season is finally reaching the halfway point.

Dandelion has shown outstanding results so far, but considering the comebacks of other teams at the Fuji test, it’s highly likely that the second half of the season will be a close one. When will the main players in the championship battle show their fangs, and when will they hold their ground? The All-Japan Super Formula is more interesting than ever right now.

PHOTO/Wataru TAMURA