Ayumu Iwasa has been handed his first F1 test run with AlphaTauri in the post-season Abu Dhabi test ahead of his Super Formula move in 2024.
AlphaTauri –
Scuderia AlphaTauri will run three drivers at the end-of-season test which takes place at the Yas Marina Circuit on the Tuesday following the final round of the Formula 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull Junior and Honda Formula Dream Project driver Ayumu Iwasa will get behind the wheel of one of our AT04s for the full day of testing, while in the second car, Daniel Ricciardo will drive in the morning, handing over to Yuki Tsunoda for the final afternoon of track time this year.
22-year-old Iwasa from Osaka, Japan is currently lying third in the Formula 2 championship having won three times so far this season, with just two races remaining this weekend in Abu Dhabi. In fact, he won last year’s Feature Race at Yas Marina on his way to finishing fifth in the championship.
For the 2024 season, Ayumu is scheduled to return to Japan to race in the prestigious Super Formula series. It will be his first season racing back on home turf since 2019. As of 2020, he was racing in Europe, winning the French F4 title, going on to finish 12th in Formula 3 the following year.
Super Formula –
Ayumu Iwasa, who has been competing in the FIA Formula Two Championship (F2) this season from Honda’s driver development program, will be racing full-time in the All Japan Super Formula Championship (Super Formula) in 2024. Ayumu Iwasa is currently performing impressively in F2, ranked 3rd overall at the end of the Round 13. Next season, he will be racing for both the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP), Honda’s driver development program, and the Red Bull Junior Team, Red Bull’s driver development program. He will compete in Super Formula, the premier class in Japan, with the aim of competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1) in the future.
Iwasa will be joining TEAM MUGEN to race alongside teammate Tomoki Nojiri, winner of the Super Formula championship in 2021 and 2022. As announced by TEAM MUGEN, aiming to claim their third championship title and to strengthen the team, they have reached a basic agreement with Nojiri to sign a multi-year contract.
Iwasa will also participate with Scuderia AlphaTauri in the Season End Test at the Yas Marina Circuit following the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Honda will continue to focus on its development program to produce drivers who will be active in the world’s top categories including Formula One.
Ayumu Iwasa: “I am happy to be able to compete in Super Formula, which leads to the world state, following my experience in F2, and to race in my home country. Super Formula, which is the second fastest series after F1, is a very exciting challenge for me, as I have followed it closely while competing in F2. I will do my best to achieve my dream of reaching the top of the world, and staying there. To my Japanese fans, I look forward to your support!”
Koji Watanabe | Honda Racing Corporation President: “I am very pleased that Iwasa, who has shown remarkable performance this season, will be stepping up from F2 to race in Super Formula. I am looking forward to seeing Iwasa, who continues to work calmly and positively and has the ability to attract those around him, results in his new field. I expect Tomoki Nojiri, who has been signed to a multi-year contract, to continue to play an active role as the ace of the Honda teams.”
Here’s the FP1 driver list –
Red Bull: Jake Dennis, Isack Hadjar
Mercedes: Frederik Vesti (replacing Lewis Hamilton)
Ferrari: Robert Shwartzman (replacing Charles Leclerc)
McLaren: Pato O’Ward (replacing Lando Norris)
Alpine: Jack Doohan (replacing Esteban Ocon)
Aston Martin: Felipe Drugovich (replacing Fernando Alonso)
Williams: Zak O’Sullivan (replacing Alexander Albon)
Alfa Romeo: Theo Pourchaire (replacing Zhou Guanyu)
Haas: Oliver Bearman (replacing Kevin Magnussen)
Post-season test line-up so far (includes Young Driver and Regulars) –
Mercedes – Frederik Vesti
Williams – Zak O’Sullivan/Franco Colapinto, Alexander Albon/Logan Sargeant
Haas – Oliver Bearman, Pietro Fittipaldi
AlphaTauri – Ayumu Iwasa, Daniel Ricciardo/Yuki Tsunoda
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