While the open-wheel world might have its eyes on Melbourne and Long Beach, another major series gets its 2022 season underway this weekend, with the Super Formula opener taking place at Fuji.
The last two seasons have been difficult for Super Formula with Japan's strict travel restrictions, and the 2022 grid shows the ongoing constraints during the global pandemic. Only two drivers are the grid come from outside Japan, as the series continues to remain mostly domestic after a very international last decade.
On the bright side, the 2022 driver roster remains highly competitive, and Super Formula has a healthy schedule.
Schedule
Super Formula is going to have one of its longest seasons in recent history. A grand total of 10 races over seven weekends with three doubleheaders makes up the 2022 calendar.
The season begins with a doubleheader at Fuji on April 9 and 10. Two weeks later, Super Formula will be at Suzuka. After a month off, Super Formula heads to Autopolis on May 22 before another month break. Sportsland SUGO marks the fifth round of the season on June 19.
The second half of the calendar begins on July 17 at Fuji. Motegi will host the second doubleheader on August 20 and 21. Super Formula will have over two months off, with an extended break due to the FIA World Endurance Championship's 6 Hours of Fuji in September. Suzuka will close ou the season with a doubleheader on October 29 and 30.
Teams:
Team Mugen
Tomoki Nojiri: #1 Team Mugen Motul SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Nojiri won the Super Formula championship on with three victories, four podium finishes, six top five finishes and his worst finish was sixth over seven races in 2021. His official points total was 86 points, but he scored 94 points before his dropped score.
What to expect in 2022: After a four-year rough patch, Nojiri has won a race in each of the previous three seasons, been in the top five of the championship all three years, but last year far exceeded his previous expectations. He again is at the front, second in the Suzuka test and fifth in the Fuji test. There hasn't been a repeat champion since Tsugio Matsuda in 2007-08. Prior to that, Satoru Nakajima was the last repeat champion in 1984-85. History says Noriji will not successfully defend his title, but he should put up a strong effort and if he is on form again, maybe Nojiri will make history of his own.
Ukyo Sasahara: #15 Team Mugen Bingo SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Sasahara scored 18 points after starting the first two races of the season, a fifth from third on the grid at Fuji, and he was third as Suzuka. He was full-time in Super GT driving for Team Mugen in GT500. He scored points in five of eight races with two top five finishes.
What to expect in 2022: Testing was not flattering for Sasahara, as he was 18th at Suzuka and 12th at Fuji. He is with a good team and Nojiri showed they are in a good position. Sasahara can get up there. He looked good in his few starts last year with Team Dandelion Racing. I think he will score some points and could compete for a podium finish occasionally.
Carenex Team Impul
Yuhi Sekiguchi: #19 Carenex Team Impul SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Sekiguchi was third in the Super Formula championship with two podium finishes, five top five finishes and points scored in six of seven races. His official points total was 55 points, but he scored 55.5 points before his dropped score.
What to expect in 2022: Sekiguchi's consistency was a plus for him last season and he bounced back from a difficult 2020 season. It will be nearly three years since his last victory when the season commences. He is a regular top five championship driver. He should end his winless drought. Testing results looked good, as he was fifth at Suzuka and fourth at Fuji. We cannot count him out of the championship conversation.
Ryō Hirakawa: #20 Carenex Team Impul SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Hirakawa was fourth in the championship with 46 points after a pair of runner-up finishes and four total top five finishes while retiring from his other two starts. He missed the Sportsland SUGO round due to his FIA World Endurance Championship commitments in Portimão.
What to expect in 2022: It appears to be a theme from testing that no team has two cars at the front, and Team Impul wasn't any different. Hirakawa was 16th at Suzuka, but was up to ninth at Fuji. However, Hirakawa should have nothing to worry about. He and Sekiguchi might be the best 1-2 punch in Super Formula. I think Hirakawa can win a race and he will be in the championship fight.
Docomo Team Dandelion Racing
Tadasuke Makino: #5 Docomo Dandelion M5S SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Makino scored 24 points in five starts, which saw his best finish being third and he scored in the final four races of the season, putting him ninth in the championship. He missed the first two races due to meningitis.
What to expect in 2022: Missing the first two races threw off what Makino's season actually could have been, but four consecutive points results are encouraging. His testing pace was encouraging, sixth at Suzuka and 11th at Fuji. I think he will be a solid points scorer, but I am not sure he will take it to the next level just yet.
Hiroki Otsu: #6 Docomo Dandelion M6Y SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Otsu scored his first career victory from pole position in the penultimate race of the season at Motegi. With points scored in six of seven races, his official points total was 38.5 points after a dropped score of one point, placing him sixth in the championship.
What to expect in 2022: Otsu was third at the Suzuka test and seventh at the Fuji test. He was one of the quieter drivers in the 2021 season. I think he is the sleeper for this season. I think he could sneak into the championship picture and be the driver we least expect to have multiple victories through the first six races and all of a sudden is someone everyone is taking seriously. Championship top five is not out of the question.
TCS Nakajima Racing
Naoki Yamamoto: #64 TCS Nakajima Racing SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Yamamoto had his worst championship finish in his 12-year Super Formula career. He was 13th in the championship with 13 points scored. His best finish was sixth and he scored points in four of seven races.
What to expect in 2022: A bounce back because it couldn't have been much worse for Yamamoto last year, but testing results were scattered: tenth at Suzuka and 19th at Fuji. Just from the testing results it feels like when Nakajima Racing is hot it will be hot and when it is cold it will be freezing. There is a chance Yamamoto will be exactly where he was last year. He should do better, but that doesn't mean he will be on the podium and contending for race victories. His goal should be to get one or two top five finishes and score points in at least five races.
Toshiki Oyu: #65 TCS Nakajima Racing SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Oyu rounded out the top five in the championship after picking up two runner-up finishes and finishing in the points in the first five races of the season. His official points total was 41 points, but he had 43 points before the dropped score.
What to expect in 2022: When Yamamoto was tenth at the Suzuka test, Oyu was eighth. But at Fuji, Oyu was only 18th. He thoroughly thrashed his championship teammate last year. But after seeing the testing results, I am not sure he can do that again. I think both Nakajima drivers will be fighting just to make the top ten of the championship.
P.mu/Cerumo INGING
Shō Tsuboi: #37 P.mu/Cerumo INGING SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Tsuboi scored points in only two of seven races, a seventh in the first Suzuka race and a ninth in the first Motegi race. He retired from three races and was placed 15th in the championship. He also won the Super GT GT500 championship.
What to expect in 2022: After a dismal 2021 season, Tsuboi opened testing in fine form, topping the Suzuka test and being second in the Fuji test. Last year was a step back. In 2020, he was third in the championship and was heading in the right direction. The only problem is in each of his three seasons in Super Formula, he is a bit of feast or famine. His best two finishes in 2019 were fifth and second and scored no points in the other five races. In 2020, he won twice, but he retired from three races and didn't score in another. If he is going to be a champion contender he must be more consistently at the front. Maybe the fourth year is the charm, but we need to see the results immediately.
Sena Sakaguchi: #38 P.mu/Cerumo INGING SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Sakaguchi was seventh in the championship with two runner-up finishes, three top five finishes and points scored in five of seven races. He scored 35.5 points.
What to expect in 2022: While Tsuboi was at the top of the charts in testing, Sakaguchi was toward the bottom, 20th at Suzuka and 17th at Fuji. Testing is concerning, but if Tsuboi has speed then Sakaguchi should be competitive. If Tsuboi hits its then I am not sure Sakaguchi will beat him. Both cars should be competing for a top ten championship finish. Top five for both is a stretch.
Kuo Vantelin Team TOM'S
Giuliano Alesi: #36 Kuo Vantelin Team TOM'S SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Alesi scored his first career victory in his second start of his career, a rain-shortened Autopolis race. He scored in four of five starts, filling in when Kazuki Nakajima was busy with the Toyota Hypercar program in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Alesi was also runner-up in the Super Formula Lights championship with four victories and 14 podium finishes from 17 starts.
What to expect in 2022: Alesi's one victory in a rain-shortened race kind of flattered his overall results, and his testing results left some questions. He was 16th at Suzuka but sixth at Fuji. He has a handled on the tracks. He has raced this car more than he probably expected at this point in his career. I am not comfortable saying he is one of the best drivers in this series yet. He was just on the edge of the championship top ten last year as a part-time driver. He should get in there, but still has more room to improve.
Ritomo Miyata: #37 Kuo Vantelin Team TOM'S SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Miyata was tenth in the championship after scoring points in the first six races of the season. His best finish was fourth in the shortened Autopolis race. His official points total was 22 points, but he had 24 points before his dropped score.
What to expect in 2022: Miyata might not have had the victory, but his consistency stood out in 2021 and he was quicker than Alesi in both tests, one position ahead at Suzuka and he was third overall at Fuji. Miyata is lining up to be better than Alesi even though many are likely swayed by Alesi's name. Miyata could sneak into the top five of the championship and turn some heads.
Team Goh
Ren Sato: #53 Red Bull Team Goh G01 SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Sato was third in the Super Formula Lights championship with five victories and nine podium finishes.
What to expect in 2022: Team Goh is stepping up to run a two-car team, and it is doing it with two young, but promising drivers. Sato was 17th and 15th in testing. This team will be learning and struggling for speed. Any points will be a plus.
Atsushi Miyake: #55 Team Goh G01 SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Miyake was fourth in the Super Formula Lights championship with two victories and five podium finishes.
What to expect in 2022: Miyake was slowest in the Suzuka test, but a spot ahead of Sato in the Fuji test. Same as Sato, Miyake needs to complete laps and develop. If the team can get points then it is a bonus.
B-Max Racing
Nobuharu Matsushita: #50 BYOUBUGAURA B-Max Racing Honda
What did he do in 2021: Matsushita had two podium finishes, three top five finishes, four top ten results and he won pole position for the season finale at Suzuka. He wound up eighth in the championship on 33.5 points.
What to expect in 2022: After being a late addition to the grid when B-Max's original driver, American Yves Baltas, was unable to enter the country, Matsushita saved his career and is back in Honda's good graces. He was mid-pack in testing, 12th at Suzuka and tenth at Fuji. We could see Matsushita hit off again and be at the front. I think he will be one of many drivers fighting to be in the top ten.
Kondō Racing
Kenta Yamashita: #3 REALIZE Corporation Kondō SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Yamashita scored eight points with his only points finishes being eighth in the penultimate race and sixth in the finale.
What to expect in 2022: Yamashita was consistent in testing, seventh at Suzuka and eighth at Fuji. After respectable results in his previous three seasons, last year was a sharp drop off. I think he should bounce back and be more competitive. He could get back to competing for podium finishes. A race victory could be out of reach but it is not doubtful. He should be back in the top ten of the championship.
Sacha Fenestraz: #4 REALIZE Corporation Kondō SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Fenestraz returned to competition for the final two races of the season after missing out on the first five races of the 2021 season due to pandemic travel restrictions. He was seventh in the finale at Suzuka.
What to expect in 2022: After nearly missing out on the nearly 2021 season, Fenestraz returned and he was fourth at the Suzuka test and topped the Fuji test. He knows the tracks. He won the 2019 Japanese Formula Three championship. This brief hiatus could just be a blip and he could be set to be the top driver. He should win some races and could find himself in the title battle.
KCMG
Kamui Kobayashi: #7 Kids.com KCMG Cayman SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Due to FIA World Endurance Championship commitments, Kobayashi was only to make one start, the penultimate race at Motegi. He was tenth and picked up one point, giving him 20th in the championship.
What to expect in 2022: Death, taxes, and Kamui Kobayashi has still not won a Super Formula race in 42 starts. One of the best drivers in the world, Kobayashi is not with a perennial Super Formula threat. He was ninth in the Suzuka test but 13th at the Fuji test. There has to be one race that goes Kobayashi's way and he just wins. I am not sure that will happen this year. I am not sure he can be a regular points scorer in 2022.
Yuji Kunimoto: #18 Kids.com KCMG Elyse SF19-Toyota
What did he do in 2021: Kunimoto was eighth in the season opener at Fuji and then did not score points for the rest of the season with three retirements.
What to expect in 2022: Kunimoto was at the bottom of both tests, 19th at Suzuka and 21st at Fuji. Just because there are more races, he should do better than three points, but I am not sure he will do much greater than that.
docomo business ROOKIE Racing
Kazuya Oshima: #14 docomo business ROOKIE Racing
What did he do in 2021: For the second consecutive season, Oshima was 19th in the championship. He opened the season with a tenth at Fuji and then picked up another point and a half in the rain-shortened Autopolis race.
What to expect in 2022: Oshima's last five championship finishes have been 12th, 12th, 14th, 19th and 19th. He has not score more than seven points in any of those seasons. He was 15th and 16th in testing. If he breaks the seven-point barrier, it is because he had a safety car or weather in his favor.
ThreeBond Drago Corse
Nirei Fukuzumi: #12 ThreeBond Drago Corse SF19-Honda
What did he do in 2021: Fukuzumi was second in the championship with two victories, Sportsland SUGO and the Suzuka finale, and a third in the Fuji season opener. However, his only other points scored was the three from pole position in the first Suzuka race and he finished on 55 points.
What to expect in 2022: The surprise change of the offseason was Fukuzumi moving from Team Dandelion Racing to Drago Corse, which only returned to the grid in 2020. Fukuzumi had a good Suzuka test in 11th but was 20th at Fuji. I don't think he will be winning multiple races and be runner-up in the championship, but he should get a few points finishes, perhaps he could get into the top five for a race or two.
Other Notes:
Qualifying will consist of only two rounds in 2022. The fastest six from round one will advance to set the first three rows of the grid.
At doubleheader weekends, there will be a qualifying session held for each race in the morning before each race.
All ten races will count toward the championship. Only the best five results out of seven races counted toward the championship in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Last year, was the first time Honda had drivers win consecutive championships since Toyota joined the series in 2006.
The drivers' champion has not driven for the teams' champion since 2017.
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.
Two French drivers have won championships: Benoît Tréluyer in 2006 and Loïc Duval in 2009.
Nojiri won three races last season on his way to the championship. It was the second consecutive season the champion won at least three races. Prior to 2021, the champion had not won three races in a season since 2012.
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.
Three of the last four champions have won the season opener.
Each Fuji race this weekend will be at 12:40 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Both races are scheduled for 41 laps or 75 minutes.
