Who is Ayumu Iwasa? The Red Bull Junior Team Driver from Japan

Formula 1 is one of the fastest sports on the planet, and many times, things are faster off-track here. Recently AlphaTauri was renamed to Visa Cash App Red Bull Team, aka VCARB, however, this rebranding has not improved the team’s performance. So far Yuki Tsunoda is the only points scorer in the team and Daniel Ricciardo‘s F1 seat is under threat.

Enters Ayumu Iwasa, the fresh young talent in Red Bull’s driver pool. Although he has never been behind an F1 wheel, he has proved himself in the lower leagues to build his way to the top. Recently, the young drivers in the sport have been impressing fans all over. Oliver Bearman was one example. But now the question stands: will Ayumu Iwasa be able to do the same? Let’s take a look at his background and see what we know about the Japanese driver so far.

Ayumu Iwasa: Early Career, Parents and Childhood

Ayumu Iwasa was born on September 22, 2001, in Osaka, Japan. His journey in racing began at a young age, inspired by his parents who were racers themselves, competing with a Honda Civic at circuits like Suzuka. They instilled in him a love for the sport and encouraged him into karting at the young age of four.

Growing up, Iwasa honed his skills on the track, guided by the experiences shared by his family. While his parents served as his pillars of support, with his father acting as his mechanic and his mother managing various aspects of his racing endeavors, Iwasa’s ambition extended beyond mere participation in karting championships. He aspired to ascend to the upper echelons of motorsport, aiming for nothing short of a Formula 1 World Championship.

He has a sister that is dear to him, who also visits him during races, or makes sure to text him before or after each one. She keeps him motivated, with banter and comments that push him to do better. Although she is not a racer, she does do simulator racing against her brother and has clocked in just 2 seconds behind him.

Ayumu Iwasa’s rise to Formula 2 and Super Formula

The Suzuka Racing School played a huge role in Iwasa’s development as a racer. Under the mentorship of professional drivers, like Takuma Sato. He not only refined his driving skills but also gained priceless insights into the off-track requirements of becoming an F1 driver. This support continued even as he progressed through the ranks, with Iwasa maintaining contact with mentors like Sato.

Transitioning from karting, Iwasa raced across various series pushing him closer to F1. His notable achievements include clinching the French F4 Championship title in 2020, followed by an impressive debut in the FIA-F3 Championship in 2021, where he finished 12th overall despite being a rookie. Iwasa’s meteoric rise continued in 2022 as he made his mark in the fiercely competitive FIA-F2 Championship, securing an impressive fifth-place finish in his rookie year.

Ayumu Iwasa’s Red Bull and Honda Connection

In 2021, Ayumu Iwasa joined Red Bull’s prestigious development program. His skills were noticed by Red Bull and his makes him a potential rising star in the sport. The development program will help him nurture his skills as a driver and push him toward his goal of driving and winning in Formula One.

His affiliation with Red Bull strengthened his ties with Honda, as both entities have a partnership in motorsport endeavors. He has been working with Honda for a while, with the manufacturer always having his back since the early days of racing.

Iwasa acknowledges that decisions about his career progression are not entirely in his hands; they also involve negotiations between Honda and Red Bull. Therefore, he prioritizes doing his best in his current role and acknowledges the need for continuous improvement as a driver.

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Red Bull is the perfect team for him as one of his biggest inspirations is Max Verstappen and driving with him one day is a dream of his. That being said, there is still a lot that he needs to achieve before standing on equal footing with the 3-time world champion.

With Iwasa making his debut this year, the world will get to see a new driver on the grid and maybe a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo. The season is quite hard with the top 4 teams maintaining their spot, leaving very little room for points, with only one or two drivers making it besides Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, and Aston Martin.

That being said, the Red Bull B Team would be a good place to start, and proving himself might also get him a place next to Verstappen after Perez’s contract expires. Ultimately, the Japanese driver is a powerhouse and we have high expectations from him. Do you think he will be able to make it to the race and score points for the team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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