Hiyu Yamakoshi to replace Nicolás Varrone at Van Amersfoort Racing in Azerbaijan
Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) have announced that their Formula 3 driver Hiyu Yamakoshi will step up to the team’s Formula 2 seat in the upcoming weekend at Baku, replacing the outgoing Nicolás Varrone.
A statement from the team read: “Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) is pleased to announce that Hiyu Yamakoshi will step up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship for the upcoming round in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“The Japanese driver will replace Nico Varrone for the 12th round of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season, following a mutually agreed decision between Nico and the team.”
Yamakoshi had a strong rookie campaign in F3, scoring three podiums and finishing ninth in the standings. He also won the sprint race in Monaco before being disqualified due to a technical infringement.
The Japanese driver beat teammates Bruno del Pino and Enzo Deligny in the standings, and ended the campaign as the fifth-best rookie on the grid. He eventually accumulated 71 points, enough for ninth in the standings.
The 19-year-old was delighted to make the step up to F2, and spoke on this announcement:
“I’m very happy to have this opportunity to make my Formula 2 debut with VAR. I’ve been with the team since F4, so stepping into F2 together makes this a very special moment.
“I’m looking forward to learning as much as possible throughout the weekend, working with the team and making the most of the experience,” Yamakoshi added:
VAR Team Principal Brad Joyce said of Yamakoshi: “We’re pleased to give Hiyu the opportunity to make his Formula 2 debut in Baku. He has made strong progress this season and has shown his pace in F3, with several strong results throughout his rookie campaign.
Joyce added:
“Having worked with Hiyu for three years, we know his approach and his ability to learn. This will be a new challenge for him, and we’re looking forward to working with him throughout the weekend.”
Varrone leaves the team after three points-scoring results, including a best finish of fourth in the first-ever F2 race at Miami. The Argentine also scored a fastest lap in the Canadian round as well, finishing sixth.
Joyce thanked Varrone for his work with the team, saying:
“At the same time, we would like to thank Nico for his work with the team this season. He has been a valued member of our F2 line-up, and we have really enjoyed having him as part of the team.
He also spoke of Varrone’s quick adaptation to F2, given that the 26-year-old hadn’t driven in single-seaters since 2020.
“Coming from sports car racing, the move to Formula 2 was a significant change, and Nico adapted very well to the demands of single-seater racing.
“He took on that challenge and showed that he could adapt to Formula 2 in a very short period of time. We wish him all the best for the next steps in his career.”
Varrone has competed in sports car racing since 2021, and won his class twice at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, triumphing with the LGMT3 class, and in 2024 with the LMP2 Pro-Am class.
In 2025, he competed in the World Endurance Championship (WEC)’s Hypercar class for Porsche’s Proton Competition, scoring a point in the 6 Hours of São Paulo.
Varrone has been a factory driver for Corvette since 2024, and competes in the IMSA Sportscar Championship for the American outfit.
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