Japanese Driver Ayumu Iwasa Aims High in Formula 1

Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa dreams big as he aims to break the long-standing barrier of Japanese drivers in Formula 1. With no Japanese driver ever winning an F1 race, Iwasa’s goals of becoming a regular F1 driver and world champion seem incredibly ambitious.

The 22-year-old had the opportunity to showcase his talent in front of his home crowd at the Suzuka circuit, driving for the RB team in a practice session. Filling in for Daniel Ricciardo, Iwasa impressed with his performance, showing promising potential in the highly competitive world of F1.

Despite the limited number of seats available in F1, Iwasa’s practice times were not far off from RB’s regular driver, Yuki Tsunoda. He expressed his excitement at the opportunity to drive an F1 car, highlighting the difference in capacity and limit compared to lower formula racing.

Tsunoda, who has more experience in F1, shed light on the challenges Japanese drivers face in breaking into the European-dominated sport. He mentioned the distance from Europe, the need to race in junior categories in Europe to obtain a Super Licence, and the cultural and linguistic barriers as obstacles for Japanese drivers.

Both Iwasa and Tsunoda have worked on overcoming these barriers, with their proficiency in English allowing them to communicate effectively with their teams. Tsunoda emphasized the importance of racing in Europe and competing against European drivers to gain attention from F1 teams.

As Iwasa continues to chase his F1 dreams, his determination and talent could pave the way for future Japanese drivers to make their mark in the prestigious world of Formula 1.