Sho Tsuboi Eyes F1 Opportunity Following Super Formula Success
Reigning Super Formula champion Sho Tsuboi is positioning himself for a potential Formula 1 test with the Haas team, due to Toyota’s burgeoning partnership with the American outfit. Tsuboi, who clinched his maiden Super Formula title last year with the TOM’S team while also securing a third SUPER GT title, has emerged as a strong candidate for Haas’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program.
The collaboration between Toyota and Haas has seen Ryo Hirakawa serve as the team’s official reserve driver, participating in two practice sessions, with more scheduled for the future. Tsuboi, who recently turned 30, expressed his ambitions for F1, stating, “Winning the double title means I’ve won everything I can in Japanese racing, and I can start to consider more possibilities.”
In an interview, Tsuboi noted the significance of his championship success in reshaping his aspirations: “Before I won the Super Formula title, I didn’t think I’d have other options. But now, it seems the environment is starting to take shape where I could have the chance to drive an F1 car.”
His predecessor, Ritomo Miyata, recently tested for Haas in January. Additionally, Kamui Kobayashi, a fellow Toyota driver, recently maneuvered the VF-23 at Paul Ricard, intensifying his involvement in coaching Toyota’s younger talents. Tsuboi emphasized the importance of the opportunity: “Becoming an F1 driver has been my dream since I was a kid… winning the championship allowed me to have a new goal beyond that.”
Tsuboi’s ambition to join the ranks of F1 drivers appears more attainable, fueled by Toyota’s strategic partnership with Haas. His trajectory represents a growing commitment to developing talent in the motorsport sphere.
