2025 Super Formula Championship

Last updated
Sho Tsuboi 2024 SF Suzuka (Nov) podium.jpg
Kakunoshin Ohta 2024 SF Motegi FP1.jpg
Sho Tsuboi (left) and Dandelion Racing (right) are the current Drivers' and Teams' Championship leaders, respectively.

The 2025 Japanese Super Formula Championship is the fifty-third season of premier Japanese open-wheel motor racing, and the twelfth under the moniker of Super Formula. The season started in March at Suzuka Circuit and is due to be contested over 12 rounds in seven race weekends, ending in November at Suzuka. [1]

Contents

Vantelin Team TOM’S driver Sho Tsuboi entered the season as the defending champion.

The 2025 Super Formula Championship will be the last season for Kazuya Oshima, as after its conclusion, he will end his career after 13 seasons. Kazuya Oshima at Super GT Malaysia Round in 2025.jpg
The 2025 Super Formula Championship will be the last season for Kazuya Oshima, as after its conclusion, he will end his career after 13 seasons.

Teams and drivers

All teams use identical Dallara-built SF23 chassis with either Honda or Toyota engines. Every Honda-powered car uses a Honda HR-417E engine and every Toyota-powered car uses a Toyota TRD-01F engine. All teams compete with tyres supplied by Yokohama.

EntrantEngineNo.Driver nameRounds
Flag of Japan.svg Vantelin Team TOM’S Toyota 1 Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi [3] 1–9
37 Flag of Argentina.svg Sacha Fenestraz 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Kondo Racing Toyota 3 Flag of Japan.svg Kenta Yamashita [3] 1–9
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Zak O'Sullivan 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing Honda 5 Flag of Japan.svg Tadasuke Makino [4] 1–9
6 Flag of Japan.svg Kakunoshin Ohta [4] 1–9
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Kids com Team KCMG Toyota 7 Flag of Japan.svg Kamui Kobayashi [3] 1–2, 5–9
Flag of Japan.svg Seita Nonaka 3–4
8 Flag of Japan.svg Nirei Fukuzumi [3] 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Hazama Ando Triple Tree Racing Honda 10 Flag of Japan.svg ”Juju” 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg ThreeBond Racing Honda 12 Flag of Japan.svg Atsushi Miyake [4] 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg docomo business Rookie Toyota 14 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuya Oshima [3] 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Team Mugen Honda 15 Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa [4] 1–9
16 Flag of Japan.svg Tomoki Nojiri [4] 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Itochu Enex Wecars Team Impul Toyota 19 Flag of Denmark.svg Oliver Rasmussen 1–2, 5–9 [a]
Flag of Japan.svg Seita Nonaka 1–2
Flag of Japan.svg Rikuto Kobayashi 3–4
20 Flag of Japan.svg Mitsunori Takaboshi 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC Toyota 28 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuto Kotaka 1–9
29 Flag of Japan.svg Hibiki Taira 1–5
Flag of Japan.svg Seita Nonaka 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Sanki Vertex Partners CerumoInging Toyota 38 Flag of Japan.svg Sena Sakaguchi [3] 1–9
39 Flag of Japan.svg Toshiki Oyu [3] 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg San-Ei Gen with B-Max Honda 50 Flag of Japan.svg Syun Koide 1–9
Flag of Japan.svg Ponos Nakajima Racing Honda 64 Flag of Japan.svg Ren Sato [4] 1–9
65 Flag of Brazil.svg Igor Omura Fraga 1–9

Team changes

Driver changes

Mid-season changes

  • Oliver Rasmussen was forced to withdraw from the first two rounds at Suzuka after suffering a back injury in a crash in free practice. [14] Rasmussen's replacement for the two races was announced to be TGMGP's reserve driver Seita Nonaka, who came 3rd in Super Formula Lights with TOM'S and made his series debut. [15] [16]
  • Kamui Kobayashi missed the Motegi double-header due to a calendar clash with the WEC's 6 Hours of Imola. Nonaka deputized once again after doing so for Team Impul at the Suzuka season opener. [17] With Rasmussen still not cleared for competition after his crash at the opening round, Team Impul signed 2024 Super Formula Lights runner-up Rikuto Kobayashi to make his series debut in his place. [18]
  • Oliver Rasmussen returned for the third round at Autopolis after he recovered from his back injury. [19]
  • Toyota reevaluated the lineup of its TGMGP junior team after round five at Autopolis: reserve driver Seita Nonaka was promoted to one of the team's race seats, while Hibiki Taira was in turn demoted to serve as Toyota's reserve driver. [20] [21]

Race calendar

The provisional calendar was announced on 1 August 2024. [1] All weekends except the ones at Autopolis and Sportsland Sugo will be double-headers, making this the longest calendar in Super Formula history. The series originally planned its first race outside Japan since 2004 with a round held at Inje Speedium. [22] These plans, however, were cancelled in October 2024. It marked the second time that a planned round at Inje was cancelled. [23] Race ten, originally scheduled to be held on the same weekend as race nine, was postponed to the final meeting at Suzuka because of fog. [24]

RoundCircuitLocationDateSupport billMap of circuit locations
1 Suzuka International Racing Course Suzuka, Mie 8 March Super Formula Lights
Honda N-One Owner's Cup
29 March
3 Mobility Resort Motegi Motegi, Tochigi 19 April Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
All Japan Road Race Championship
420 April
5 Autopolis Hita, Oita 18 May Super Formula Lights
Honda N-One Owner's Cup
6 Fuji Speedway Oyama, Shizuoka 19 July Kyojo Cup
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
720 July
8 Sportsland SUGO Shibata, Miyagi 10 August Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
Honda N-One Owner's Cup
9 Fuji Speedway Oyama, Shizuoka 11 October Kyojo Cup
Honda N-One Owner's Cup
11 Suzuka International Racing Course Suzuka, Mie 22 November Formula Regional Japanese Championship
10 [b] 23 November
12

Regulation changes

Double-header race weekends now have two 60-minute practice sessions on a Friday instead of a single 90-minute session. The rounds held at Autopolis and Sugo retain the format previously employed for single-race events, with 90 minutes of practice prior to qualifying on Saturday. Races held on Saturday are now run over a reduced distance of 165km, while races held on Sunday, including those held during the single-race weekends at Autopolis and SUGO, are run over 185km. These longer races no longer have a pre-determined pit window, while the shorter races retained the existing pit window. [25]

A restriction on the teams' activity on race weekends was employed in order to prevent fatigue among staff members. Teams are now required to stop all work carried out in the paddock four hours after the end of the final session, although there are exemptions in cases of cars becoming seriously damaged in incidents. [25]

On October 27, 2025, the Suzuka schedule was changed to accommodate the three-race format. Qualifying sessions for both afternoon races will be held on Saturday morning. The Saturday race and Sunday afternoon races will retain their standard distances. The Sunday morning race, which is the postponed Fuji race with the grid set by the results of qualifying at Fuji for Round 10, is scheduled for 19 laps (110km) with a 50 minute time limit, and no pit stops scheduled. [26]

Race results

RoundCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning team
1 Suzuka International Racing Course Flag of Japan.svg Tomoki Nojiri Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa Flag of Japan.svg Kakunoshin Ohta Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
2 Flag of Japan.svg Tomoki Nojiri Flag of Japan.svg Ren Sato Flag of Japan.svg Tadasuke Makino Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
3 Mobility Resort Motegi Flag of Japan.svg Tadasuke Makino Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi Flag of Japan.svg Tadasuke Makino Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
4 Flag of Japan.svg Kenta Yamashita Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi Flag of Japan.svg Kakunoshin Ohta Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
5 Autopolis Flag of Japan.svg Tomoki Nojiri Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi Flag of Japan.svg Vantelin Team TOM’S
6 Fuji Speedway Flag of Japan.svg Tomoki Nojiri Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi Flag of Japan.svg Vantelin Team TOM’S
7 Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi Flag of Japan.svg Kamui Kobayashi Flag of Japan.svg Kakunoshin Ohta Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
8 Sportsland SUGO Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa Flag of Japan.svg Team Mugen
9 Fuji Speedway Flag of Argentina.svg Sacha Fenestraz [c] Flag of Japan.svg Seita Nonaka Flag of Argentina.svg Sacha Fenestraz Flag of Japan.svg Vantelin Team TOM’S
11 Suzuka International Racing Course
10 [b] Flag of Japan.svg Tadasuke Makino [d]
12

Championship standings

Scoring system

Race points
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
Points2015118654321
Qualifying points
Position 1st  2nd  3rd 
Points321

Drivers' championship

PosDriver SUZ1 MOT AUT FUJ1 SUG FUJ2 SUZ2 Pts
R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9 [e] R11R10 [b] R12
1 Flag of Japan.svg Sho Tsuboi 424Ret11231422104.5
2 Flag of Japan.svg Kakunoshin Ohta 13123221213101287390
3 Flag of Japan.svg Ayumu Iwasa 2232Ret3Ret32112190
4 Flag of Japan.svg Tadasuke Makino 1011123659104P181
5 Flag of Japan.svg Tomoki Nojiri 7141910212112153363.5
6 Flag of Argentina.svg Sacha Fenestraz 11168417135221147
7 Flag of Japan.svg Sena Sakaguchi 61565571153934
8 Flag of Brazil.svg Igor Omura Fraga 185339891868233.5
9 Flag of Japan.svg Ren Sato 36Ret1241163Ret533
10 Flag of Japan.svg Nirei Fukuzumi Ret14516943Ret31228
11 Flag of Japan.svg Kenta Yamashita 91171313212891027.5
12 Flag of Japan.svg Kamui Kobayashi 5973224191421
13 Flag of Japan.svg Toshiki Oyu Ret7Ret7108712618.5
14 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuya Oshima 131010615610181313
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Zak O'Sullivan 822†1211Ret14167117
16 Flag of Japan.svg Seita Nonaka 171911819Ret16183
17 Flag of Japan.svg Syun Koide 148141420151713223
18 Flag of Japan.svg Mitsunori Takaboshi 1220151911171411160
19 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuto Kotaka Ret18181512181514150
20 Flag of Denmark.svg Oliver Rasmussen WDWD14161317170
21 Flag of Japan.svg Hibiki Taira 151713Ret160
22 Flag of Japan.svg Atsushi Miyake Ret1317181821NCRet190
23 Flag of Japan.svg Juju Noda 162119171920NC20200
24 Flag of Japan.svg Rikuto Kobayashi 16Ret0
PosDriverR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9 [e] R11R10 [b] R12Pts
SUZ1 MOT AUT FUJ1 SUG FUJ2 SUZ2
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenOther points position
BlueOther classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formattingMeaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap

Notes:

Teams' championship

PosDriver SUZ1 MOT AUT FUJ1 SUG FUJ2 SUZ2 Pts
R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9 [e] R11R10 [b] R12
1 Flag of Japan.svg Docomo Team Dandelion Racing 111165184155
1012 2 213109107
2 Flag of Japan.svg Vantelin Team TOM’S 4 244113 21139.5
11168Ret171354 2
2 Flag of Japan.svg Team Mugen  2393 2 2 213133
74Ret10Ret3121521
4 Flag of Japan.svg Ponos Nakajima Racing 35394966562.5
186Ret1281118Ret6
5 Flag of Japan.svg Sanki Vertex Partners CerumoInging 67655775651.5
Ret15Ret710811129
6 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Kids com Team KCMG 595874431250
Ret141116922Ret1914
7 Flag of Japan.svg Kondo Racing 811711312871029.5
922†1213Ret1416911
8 Flag of Japan.svg docomo business Rookie 131010615610181313
9 Flag of Japan.svg San-Ei Gen with B-Max 148141420151713223
10 Flag of Japan.svg Itochu Enex Wecars Team Impul 1219151911161311160
172016Ret1417141717
11 Flag of Japan.svg KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC 1517131512181514150
Ret1818Ret1619Ret1618
12 Flag of Japan.svg ThreeBond Racing Ret1317181821NCRet190
13 Flag of Japan.svg Triple Tree Racing 162119171920NC20200
PosDriverR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9 [e] R11R10 [b] R12Pts
SUZ1 MOT AUT FUJ1 SUG FUJ2 SUZ2

Notes:

Notes

  1. Oliver Rasmussen entered the first double-header at Suzuka, but withdrew ahead of the first qualifying session after sustaining an injury in free practice. He was replaced by Seita Nonaka.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Postponed second race of the penultimate race weekend of the season.
  3. Ayumu Iwasa set the fastest time in qualifying, but had all his times deleted after causing a red flag. Fenestraz inherited pole position.
  4. Race ten, postponed to the final round at Suzuka, will have its grid formed according to the results of the qualifying session held at Fuji Speedway on race ten's original date. Tadasuke Makino will start the race from pole position. [24]
  5. 1 2 3 4 The first race was stopped due to bad weather conditions after less than 75% of laps were completed. Therefore, half points were awarded.

References

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  20. Ebii, Kenichiro (19 May 2025). "TGR-DCが迎えた"入れ替えの時"。生き残った小高と降格の平良、どちらも前を向". jp.motorsport. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
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