Pink Bull’s Ayumu Iwasa “can be higher than Tsunoda” in F1

Newly topped Tremendous Components champion Ayumu Iwasa has the potential to carry out in Components 1 at a better degree than Yuki Tsunoda, believes his race engineer.

Tomohiko Koike made the declare within the wake of final weekend’s Suzuka finale, the place two pole positions and victory within the remaining race have been sufficient to propel Workforce Mugen’s Iwasa forward of defending champion Sho Tsuboi within the drivers’ standings.

For the final two years, Iwasa has mixed racing in Tremendous Components with reserve and simulator duties with Pink Bull’s two F1 groups, most lately showing with Racing Bulls in FP1 for the Mexico Grand Prix final month.

Nevertheless, the Japanese driver doesn’t look like within the body for a race drive at Racing Bulls, regardless of each Tsunoda and Liam Lawson dealing with unsure futures heading into the ultimate a part of the F1 season.

Koike, who additionally engineered Lawson for his Tremendous Components title bid in 2023, believes Iwasa’s technical data may make him a greater match for F1 than his compatriot Tsunoda.

“Iwasa is getting higher and higher,” Koike instructed Motorsport. “By way of his driving talent and his strategy in the direction of racing, he was higher than final season.

“This season he has been very constant and I might say his common efficiency has been the very best of any driver, higher than Tsuboi and Kakunoshin [Ohta].

“It’s fairly straightforward to think about him in Components 1. I believe he can be higher than Tsunoda.

Ayumu Iwasa, Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce

Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool

“I don’t know Tsunoda personally, however I believe Iwasa, not solely when it comes to driving talent, however his means to arrange the automotive is kind of spectacular, on the identical degree as [Tomoki] Nojiri.

“That’s why I believe he would have the ability to drive higher in F1 than some drivers who’re on the grid. He simply must be given an opportunity, that’s essentially the most troublesome factor.”

Addressing his future after profitable the title, Iwasa remained coy about his 2026 plans within the seemingly absence of a possibility to step as much as an F1 race seat.

“At this stage I don’t know,” mentioned Iwasa when requested what profitable the Tremendous Components crown may imply for his profession shifting ahead.

“I believe it will likely be as much as me to make the very best use of that worth, so I wish to transfer ahead in a means that lets me make full use of the title of champion, of being primary in Japan.”

Koike mentioned Mugen would “actually welcome” Iwasa staying on the staff to defend his Tremendous Components title, including: “I believe he’ll solely attain an excellent larger degree.”

Dethroned Tsuboi admits: “It was Iwasa’s yr”
Sho Tsuboi, VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S

Sho Tsuboi, VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S

Photograph by: Masahide Kamio

Tsuboi went into Sunday’s deciding race at Suzuka with a 12.5-point margin over Iwasa, which meant he wanted to complete fourth as a way to stop the Mugen driver from overturning his lead.

However a disappointing run to eighth from seventh on the grid meant the TOM’S driver ended up 4.5 factors away from changing into the Toyota staff’s first ever back-to-back champion.

Addressing reporters post-race, Tsuboi conceded Iwasa was the yr’s rightful champion, highlighting the factors his rival misplaced at each Autopolis and Motegi as a consequence of automotive failures.

“By way of pure pace, I believe there was completely no likelihood of beating the Honda drivers this weekend, and Iwasa made virtually no errors in any race this yr,” mentioned Tsuboi.

“At any time when he completed a race, he was within the prime three. I believe it was Iwasa’s yr.

“He had mechanical bother on two events, so in case you give him again the factors he misplaced there, he ought to have been far forward coming into this weekend.

“From that viewpoint, it was solely via his misfortune that I used to be capable of keep within the title battle till the tip. In actuality, Iwasa ought to have been champion earlier than the ultimate race.

“After all I’m pissed off, however I did all I may. Iwasa was actually wonderful this yr.”

Extra reporting by Kenichiro Ebii

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