Super Formula Preview: Round 5

Written by Tarun Suresh, Edited by Gabriel Tsui

Credit: ANA

Super Formula makes its return to the calendar this weekend with Round 5 at Autopolis. Round 5 is one of the two race weekends that isn’t a double header, the other being round 8 at Sportsland SUGO.

The four races so far this season bore witness to the Dandelion domination, with both their drivers, Kakunoshin Ohta and Tadasuke Makino, winning two races each, while neither driver qualified outside the top five. In 2024, both drivers finished in the top five at Autopolis, while Makino won the race. The Kyoto-based outfit is expected to continue their winning streak this weekend.

Ayumu Iwasa is still searching for hus first win and has come close this season. This race could see him finally get that first win. His teammate, Tomoki Nojiri, has been having one of the tougher seasons of his career so far. The two-time champion has only one top-five finish so far and will be looking to turn his season around.

Reigning champion Sho Tsuboi had struggled in the previous race weekend, scoring his two worst qualifying sessions since his rookie and sophomore seasons. A bounce-back this weekend will be vital if he is to mount a comeback title challenge.

On the other side of the Team TOM’s garage, Sacha Fenestraz had finally found his form back at Motegi and will be looking to keep his momentum going.

Rookie Igor Omura Fraga has had a great debut season so far. While a race win might be out of reach for the Nakajima Racing driver, Fraga will still be one to look out for.

The top two in the drivers standings, Ohta and Makino, are separated by just one point, and it is going to be exciting to see who gets the upper hand at the end of the weekend.

Predictions: 

Pole: Nojiri

Race: Makino

What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments below!

Qualifying starts at 14:00 local time on Saturday, and the race will commence at 14:30 local time on Sunday.