Ayumu Iwasa Better Option than Tsunoda

Newly crowned Super Formula champion Ayumu Iwasa has the potential to outperform Yuki Tsunoda in Formula 1, according to his race engineer Tomohiko Koike.

Koike’s remarks followed a dominant weekend at Suzuka, where Iwasa secured two pole positions and a victory in the final race to clinch the 2025 Super Formula title for Team Mugen. The performance allowed him to overhaul defending champion Sho Tsuboi in the standings.

Iwasa has spent the past two years balancing Super Formula with reserve and simulator duties for Red Bull’s F1 teams. Most recently, he participated in FP1 with Racing Bulls during the Mexico Grand Prix.
Despite that involvement, he is not currently viewed as a leading candidate for a 2026 F1 race seat, even as both Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson face uncertain futures.

Koike, who also engineered Lawson’s 2023 Super Formula title campaign, believes Iwasa’s technical understanding gives him an edge over his compatriot Tsunoda.

“Iwasa is getting better and better,” said Koike. “In terms of his driving skill and his approach towards racing, he was better than last season. This season he has been very consistent and I would say his average performance has been the best of any driver, better than Tsuboi and Kakunoshin Ohta.”

Koike added that Iwasa’s ability to develop and fine-tune a car is on par with two-time Super Formula champion Tomoki Nojiri.

“It’s quite easy to imagine him in Formula 1. I think he would be better than Tsunoda,” he said. “Not only in terms of driving skill, but his ability to set up the car is quite impressive. That’s why I think he would be able to drive better in F1 than some drivers who are on the grid. He just needs to be given a chance that’s the most difficult thing.”

Iwasa coy about his 2026 plans

After securing the title, the 24-year-old remained guarded when discussing his future, especially with no clear F1 pathway available.

“At this stage I don’t know,” Iwasa said. “I think it will be up to me to make the best use of that value, so I want to move forward in a way that lets me make full use of the title of champion, of being number one in Japan.”

Koike noted that Team Mugen would gladly welcome Iwasa back for a title defense.

“I think he will only reach an even higher level,” he said.

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