Many series have been competing for a month or so, but this weekend marks the opening weekend to the 2023 Super Formula championship season. Japan's premium single-seater series will see the introduction of the Dallara SF23 chassis, replacing the SF19 model. The SF23 chassis has been designed aerodynamically to increase the possibility of passing. Compromised of bio-composite material, the SF23 chassis sees a reduction of 90% in material CO2 emissions when compared to carbon fiber parts.
Along with the new car, adjustments have been made to the Overtake System in hopes of increasing passing. Each entry will have 200 seconds of OTS per race, but the cool-down period in which the system cannot be used after activation will vary at different circuits. The cool-down period will 120 seconds at Fuji and Motegi and 110 seconds a Sportsland SUGO, Suzuka and Autopolis.
Honda and Toyota remain in the series and each will field 11 drivers apiece. Eighteen Japanese drivers will fill the grid, but there will be four international participants, three will be new to the series.
Schedule
Nine races will take place over seven race weekends for Super Formula. The season opener and finale will each be doubleheaders.
Fuji opens with two races on April 8 and 9 and two weeks later the series will make its first trip to Suzuka. After Suzuka, Super Formula will contest one race, each essentially a month apart over the next four months.
On May 21, Autopolis will host round three before round four takes place on June 18 at Sportsland SUGO. On July 16, the second Fuji weekend will take place before Motegi hosts the seventh round of the season on August 20.
The season finale will take place over two months after Motegi with the Suzuka doubleheader closing the season over the weekend of October 28-29.
Teams:
Team Mugen
Tomoki Nojiri: #1 Red Bull Motul Mugen SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Nojiri won his second consecutive Super Formula championship on 154 points from a pair of victories, eight trips to the podium and his worst finish being fourth over the ten race season. He won six pole positions and qualified in the top three in the final nine races of the season. He was also 12th in the Super GT GT500 championship with a victory at Fuji.
What to expect in 2023: Nojiri topped the Suzuka preseason test. He isn't going anywhere. Will he be as dominant as he has been the last two seasons? It cannot be ruled out, but there are a handful of drivers in Super Formula that will make it difficult, and with it only being a nine-race season, a few days with bad luck are enough to unravel a championship. Nojiri will win multiple times. It is a matter if anyone can be better.
Liam Lawson: #15 Red Bull Motul Mugen SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Lawson was third in the Formula Two championship on 149 points, 106 points behind championship Felipe Drugovich, but only 15 points behind Théo Pourchaire. Lawson was a point ahead of Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant in the championship. Lawson won four races, all of which were sprint races. He had ten podium finishes, four in feature races. He also competed in Friday practice in three Formula One rounds, Beglium, Mexico and Abu Dhabi.
What to expect in 2023: He might have been ninth in testing, but Lawson should be competitive this season. It is a new car and new circuits, but we have seen top European junior single-seater drivers enter Super Formula and run respectably. It doesn't mean there will not be growing pains. Lawson should be in the championship top ten and at some point be a threat for victory. It might not come and he might only have a few podium finishes, but there is a world where Lawson has it click and is the best in the series.
Itochu Enex Team Impul
Yuhi Sekiguchi: #19 Itochu Enex Team Impul SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: Sekiguchi won the second race of the Motegi doubleheader. It was his only podium finish all season and his only other top five result was a fourth in the Fuji season opener. Sekiguchi's 43 points earned him seventh in the championship.
What to expect in 2023: During both days at the Suzuka test, Sekiguchi was the clear second Impul driver. Consistency earned him seventh in the championship, but with this grid appearing to grow stronger, there is a good chance he will slip outside the top ten in the championship if he doesn't make an improvement from his testing pace.
Ryō Hirakawa: #20 Itochu Enex Team Impul SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: Despite being the first driver with multiple victories in the 2022 season, Hirakawa was third in the championship on 87 points. Though he won twice, he only had two other podium finishes all season and he finished outside the top five in five races, two of which were retirements. The good news for Hirakawa is he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Drivers' championship as well.
What to expect in 2023: Hirakawa had the fifth best time in testing. He should be in the championship fight. We know he can win, but with how Nojiri is driving, it will require flawlessness to win the title. Hirakawa's best days are good enough, but he cannot not afford the streakiness that we saw last season.
Kondō Racing
Kenta Yamashita: #3 REALIZE Corporation Kondō SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: With only three finishes in the points, his best being fourth in the second race of the season, Yamashita ended up 15th in the championship with 19 points, more than doubling his 2021 points total but slipping a spot in the championship. He was fifth in the Super GT GT500 championship with the highlight being victory in the Okayma season opener.
What to expect in 2023: Yamashita missed testing due to a back injury. Ukyo Sasahara had the car in tenth and 11th both days in the Suzuka test. Yamashita has been in a rut the last few seasons, but he should pick himself up. Championship top ten will be tough to get to, but he should have a few more points finishes.
Kazuto Kotaka: #4 REALIZE Corporation Kondō SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: Kotaka won the Super Formula Lights championship with 114 points from eight victories and 11 podium finishes. He scored points in 17 of 18 races.
What to expect in 2023: The Kondō cars flipped being tenth and 11th over the two days at the Suzuka test. Kotaka replaces Sacha Fenestraz, who was second in the championship last season. Kotaka isn't going to match that level, but he can crack the top ten in the championship and he could do it while topping his veteran teammate. That would be quite the achievement.
Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
Tadasuke Makino: #5 Docomo Dandelion M5S SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: A career-best fifth in the championship on 61 points, Makino scored points in nine of ten races with two podium finishes and seven finishes in the top six. Along with Naoki Yamamoto, he was third in the Super GT GT500 championship with a victory at Motegi.
What to expect in 2023: Makino should be competitive and could improve on his best championship finish for a second consecutive season. He could also take a slight step back. He was sixth on both day of his testing and his fastest times each day were 0.099 seconds apart. Consistency could win him a championship if there is inconsistency around him, but looking at Nojiri's speed and the pace of others, Makino has to raise his consistency to take the title.
Kakunoshin Ohta: #6 Docomo Dandelion M6Y SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Ohta was second in the Super Formula Lights championship, finishing six points behind Kotaka. Ohta won four races and had 12 podium finishes. He competed in the Super GT GT300 championship and had two podium finishes with Takashi Kobayashi, placing them eighth in the championship.
What to expect in 2023: It doesn't help that Ohta didn't get to participate in the Suzuka test due an accident in Super GT testing at the same track. I am not sure what he can do in this car. I don't expect him to be at Makino's level. Maybe he has a few points finishes. Hiroki Otsu scored 33 points in this car last year and his best finish was second in the season finale. If that is the benchmark, I will take the under on points for Ohta.
TCS Nakajima Racing
Naoki Yamamoto: #64 TCS Nakajima Racing SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Yamamoto picked up his first victory in two season when he won the first race of the Motegi doubleheader, but it was his only top five finish in the entire season. He scored points in only three other races. His 32-point total snuck Yamamoto into the championship top ten. He was third in the Super GT GT500 championship with Makino.
What to expect in 2023: After a pair of seasons fighting in the middle of the field, Yamamoto looks ready to be back at the front. He had the second fastest time in the Suzuka preseason test and both Nakajima cars were in the top three. Yamamoto is a master, and it would not be a surprise to see him and Nojiri go toe-to-toe for the championship. He will score more points than last season.
Ren Sato: #65 TCS Nakajima Racing SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: The rookie found himself on his first Super Formula podium in the penultimate race of the season. It was his only top five finish, but he score points in four other races to place him 12th in the championship on 25 points.
What to expect in 2023: Sato might be at Nakajima at the right time. The team looks plenty quick to see him jump into the top ten in the championship. Is he quick enough to wind up taking the championship? That seems ambitious. Sato could be in the top five championship battle with possibly a race victory. A championship feels like a stretch considering the competition.
Vantelin Team TOM'S
Giuliano Alesi: #36 Vantelin Team TOM'S SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: The only time Alesi scored points was the second race of the season, an eighth in Fuji gave him three points, but he was 20th in the championship after three retirements. The Frenchman faired better in Super GT. He was tenth in the GT500 championship with Sho Tsuboi, scoring points in all eight races with his best finish being second.
What to expect in 2023: TOM's has lost its might. Alesi hasn't necessarily shown he is an outstanding driver either. He isn't dreadful, but there is no reason to believe he should be lighting up Super Formula. He should be doing better than three points in a season, yet that appears to be the best he can hope for again this season.
Ritomo Miyata: #37 Vantelin Team TOM'S SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: In his sophomore season, Miyata leaped to fourth in the championship on 64 points, with two podium finishes and six top five finishes. He was in the points in eight of ten races, but he finished all ten races.
What to expect in 2023: Miyata's testing results were a little more scattered than his teammates. He was 14th the first day and then fourth the next, but still over six-tenths off of Nojiri's fastest time. Miyata will slide back from fourth in the championship. There is a slim chance he falls out of the championship top ten, but he should have what it takes to cling to at least tenth.
TGM Grand Prix
Toshiki Oyu: #53 TGM GP SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Driving for Nakajima Racing, Oyu scored 43 points, placing him eighth in the championship with his best finish being second at Sportsland SUGO. He had six points finishes and started on pole position for the second Motegi race.
What to expect in 2023: It feels like Oyu will be right around where he was last year. He was eighth in testing. It could be marginally better or marginally worse and yet not feel disappointing. The most difficult thing for Oyu is he is on, at best, the fourth best Honda team. In theory, there are six Honda entries ahead of him alone, two of which are rookies, which play into his favor but that would still only make him the fifth-best Honda driver. Podium finishes are possible, but would not be frequent if they happen.
Cem Bölükbasi: #55 TGM GP SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Bölükbasi competed in 16 Formula Two races with his best finish being 11th in the Monaco feature race. He scored no points. He ran the opening round of the Formula Regional Asian Championship in Abu Dhabi and retired from all three races.
What to expect in 2023: If he wasn't scoring points in Formula Two, Bölükbasi isn't going to be scoring in Super Formula. If he does, it is because weather or attrition.
P.mu/Cerumo INGING
Shō Tsuboi: #37 P.mu/Cerumo INGING SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: After scoring only three points in the first five races, Tsuboi picked up 27 points in the final five races, leading off with a runner-up finish in the third Fuji race, his lone podium finish, a bright spot for falling two points outside the championship top ten.
What to expect in 2023: Tsuboi was seventh on day one in testing. He will be in that fight for eighth to 12th in the championship again. If he can maximize his best days and minimize his off days, he can get into the top ten in the championship. If he doesn't do that, his season could look identical to 2022.
Sena Sakaguchi: #38 P.mu/Cerumo INGING SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: Sakaguchi dropped from seventh in the championship on 35.5 points down to 18th in the championship on six points. His best finish was eight at Autopolis while finishing ninth in the second Motegi race and tenth in the second Suzuka race. He was running at the finish of all ten races.
What to expect in 2023: Better than 2022, but not close to the 2021 level. What is the middle of seventh and 18th and six points and 35.5 points? About 13th in the championship with 16 points. That is doable for Sakaguchi.
B-Max Racing
Nobuharu Matsushita: #50 BYOUBUGAURA B-Max Racing SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Matsushita took a surprising but popular victory in the third race of the season at Suzuki, but his tenth in the next race at Autopolis was his final points finish in the season. Four retirements and a pair of 11th-place finishes left him 13th in the championship. Matsushita was fourth in the Super GT GT500 championship with a victory at Autopolis.
What to expect in 2023: Matsushita will likely score fewer points mostly because I doubt he will get a victory in the third race of the season again. That Autopolis race was an anomaly. At best, he will have one or two points finishes and will likely score six points or fewer.
Raoul Hyman: #51 BYOUBUGAURA B-Max Racing SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Hyman won the Formula Regional Americas championship with 362 points after winning 11 of 18 races and having 16 podium finishes. The Formula Regional Americas championship earned Hyman a chance to compete in Super Formula this season.
What to expect in 2023: Hyman is going to struggle. This is a big change from Formula Regional Americas. It is a much more powerful car. Imagine if he was leaping into IndyCar. You cannot expect him to do much, especially since all the tracks will be new.
Kids.com Team KCMG
Kamui Kobayashi: #7 Kids.com KCMG Cayman SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: After opening the season with eight points in the first three races, Kobayashi's only other point was tenth in the final race at Suzuka. This left him 17th in the championship. Outside of Super Formula, Kobayashi was third in the World Endurance Drivers' Championship with a pair of victories and a pair of runner-up finish.
What to expect in 2023: Kobayashi has now made 52 Super Formula starts and has yet to score a victory. It doesn't make any sense. KCMG has brought in former Super Formula driver Tetsuta Tanaka to be Kobayashi's race manager and Kobayashi has said about the changes, "If this doesn't work, it's over." It must work. Kobayashi was fourth in the Suzuka test, the fastest Toyota. He should get a race victory. As for the championship, his best result is sixth. If everything works, top five is possible, and based on Kobayashi's talent alone you cannot rule out a championship.
Yuji Kunimoto: #18 Kids.com KCMG Elyse SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: Kunimoto scored ten points, placing him 16th in the championship with his best finish being sixth in the first Suzuka race. He and Sakaguchi won four pole positions in Super GT competition, but their best finish was fifth.
What to expect in 2023: While Kobayashi was at the top of the testing time sheet, Kunimoto was trapped in the middle. KCMG is putting most of the focus on Kobayashi. It is natural that Kunimoto will be left behind a bit, but if Kobayashi is competing for race victories, Kunimoto will have a few good days. It might not be enough to make the championship top ten though.
ThreeBond Racing
Nirei Fukuzumi: #12 ThreeBond Drago Corse SF23-Honda
What did he do in 2022: Fukuzumi's only finish in the points was eighth at Sportsland SUGO. He was disqualified from the Autopolis round and retired four times. He was Nojiri's co-driver in Super GT, where they won a rain-shortened Fuji race.
What to expect in 2023: Something similar to 2022. One or two races where it clicks and he can finish in the top ten. Outside of that, he will be in the teens and not scoring many points.
docomo business ROOKIE Racing
Kazuya Oshima: #14 docomo business ROOKIE SF23-Toyota
What did he do in 2022: The only pointless driver in 2022, Oshima was 21st in the championship with his best finish being 13th in the third Fuji race. Oshima saw the checkered flag in all ten races. He was fifth in the Super GT GT500 championship, where he won the opening race at Okayama with Yamashita.
What to expect in 2023: If there is any encouraging sign, it is Oshima was seventh on the second day of the Suzuka test. He must score at least one point. His consistency should pay off in one race and get him a tenth-place result. It will likely be his only point, but a point deserved nonetheless.
Other Notes:
Tomoki Nojiri could become the first driver to win three consecutive Super Formula championships.
Honda has won the last three drivers' championships, the first time the manufacture has won three consecutive drivers' titles since a seven-year run from 1981 to 1987.
Toyota has won 88 Super Formula races while Honda has won 87 races. Mugen leads all engine manufacturers with 160 Super Formula victories.
When this season is over, Dallara will be second all-time in victories for a chassis manufacturer. Dallara enters 2023 with 70 victories. With nine races this season, Dallara will surpass Reynard (72) and March (75) in victories. Lola is the all-time leader with 124 victories.
Naoki Yamamoto is one victory away from becoming the 11th driver to reach ten Super Formula victories. Nojiri is two victories away from the ten-victory milestone, and Yuhi Sekiguchi is three victories away from double figures.
Yamamoto and Nojiri are tied with Tsugio Matsuda for sixth all-time in Super Formula pole positions on 13. Only five drivers have reached 15 pole positions in the series.
The last European champion was André Lotterer in 2011. Lotterer's 2011 championship is also the last time the champion missed a race during the season. The German won five of seven races that year.
The most recent British winner was Richard Lyons in the 2005 season opener at Motegi.
Two New Zealanders have won in Super Formula (Mike Thackwell and Nick Cassidy).
The last Super Formula season where Japanese drivers won every race was 2000. Toranosuke Takagi won eight of ten races that season, Tsugio Matsuda won once, and Satoshi Motoyama won the season finale.
The first race of the Super Formula season from Fuji will take place at 1:15 a.m. ET on Saturday April 8. The second race will take place at 1:30 a.m. ET on Sunday April 9. Each race is scheduled for 41 laps or 75 minutes.
