Théo Pourchaire to join illustrious group of F1 drivers in Super Formula

Super Formula has been a very successful developement ground for future Formula 1 stars. Théo Pourchair, who was crownded Formula 2 World Champion in 2023, has no seat available in F1 2024. He will move to Japan for the Super Formula in 2024, hoping to impress for an F1 drive the following season. He joins this illustrious group of F1 drivers with a history in Super Formula.

Michael Schumacher

Perhaps the most famous name in Formula 1 history, along with Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The German competed in the 1991 edition [then known as the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship]. He only completed one race on behalf of Team LeMans. He raced at Sportsland Sugo on 28th July and finished second.

Less than one month later, Schumacher returned to Europe for the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, where he made his Formula 1 debut. Other F1 drivers to race in the competition in 1991 include Eddie Irvine, Johnny Herbert and Mika Salo. Michael's brother Ralf Schumacher also competed in Super Formula but did so in 1996. The German stayed for the full season, and he won the Championship. Pedro de la Rosa competed in the same year but could only finish eighth in the Championship. In 1997, the Spanish driver was crownded champion.

Kamui Kobayashi

One of the biggest names in Japanese motorsport history. Though this driver did the process in reverse. The Japanese driver moved to Europe at a young age to compete in the likes of Formula Renault, Formula 3 Euro Series and eventually GP2. He impressed so much, that he got a drive in F1 with Toyota, Sauber and then Catherham. Kobayashi competed in 76 Grand Prix weekends. Kobayashi left F1 in 2014 after a bit of a fallout. In January 2015, he announced a driver with Team LeMans in the 2015 Super Formula season. Kobayashi stayed with the series, and in 2023 he finished 11th in the championship.

André Lotterer replaced Kobayashi at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix. The German won the Super Formula title in 2011.

Pierre Gasly

In a similar position to recent winners of Formula 2, Pierre Gasly won the step-up series in 2016 but no seat in F1 was free. As part of the Red Bull junior programme, Helmut Marko sent Gasly across to Japan. The Frenchman came within half-a-point of winning the title. More recently, Liam Lawson was sent over to Japanese Championship. He also finished second.

Stoffel Vandoorne, Narain Karthikeyan, Kazuki Nakajima, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Takuma Sato have all competed in Super Formula in recent years. There have been many more F1 drivers to spend time in this series. If you're in it, then you know you are good.