The weekend began under mixed conditions after overnight rain left the circuit evolving rapidly through qualifying. In Q1, Ren Sato topped Group A while Ayumu Iwasa led Group B, though Fukuzumi’s opening benchmark already hinted at the pace ROOKIE RACING carried into the weekend. Roman Stanek failed to progress after an out-lap strategy left insufficient tyre preparation time, while Juju Noda’s session unravelled after an engine stall and wheel installation issue prevented a representative lap.
Q2 initially appeared close on outright pace before track limits penalties reshaped the grid. Fukuzumi’s 1:37.605 stood after Igor Omura Fraga, Tomoki Nojiri, and Sato all lost their quickest laps for exceeding track limits at Degner and Spoon. The penalties secured Fukuzumi pole position ahead of Iwasa and Tadasuke Makino, with the latter collecting his first qualifying points of the season.
Sunday’s race immediately escalated into chaos. Fukuzumi retained the lead at the start while Ohta surged forward from ninth, but the opening lap was interrupted by a Safety Car after contact at the chicane involving Shun Koide, Zak O’Sullivan, Toshiki Oyu, and Nojiri. O’Sullivan, Oyu, and Noda all required pit stops for repairs under caution.
Once racing resumed, the strategic battle developed quickly. Makino attempted an early undercut after pitting on Lap 8, but Fukuzumi’s lead remained intact through the pit cycle. Behind them, Ohta steadily climbed into contention while Iwasa remained within striking distance as tyre degradation began affecting the leader’s pace.
By Lap 25, the gap between Fukuzumi and Iwasa had fallen below half a second. On Lap 26, Iwasa used the Overtake System to complete a move into 130R and briefly take the lead. Fukuzumi responded immediately one lap later, attacking around the outside into the chicane before reclaiming position into Turn 1. The pair continued exchanging pressure through the final laps while Ohta closed rapidly from third, creating a three-car fight for victory deep into the closing stages.
Fukuzumi ultimately crossed the line just 0.240 seconds ahead of Iwasa, with Ohta another 0.380 seconds behind in third. Sena Sakaguchi, Sho Tsuboi, and Makino completed the top six, while Sacha Fenestraz, Fraga, Sato, and Kamui Kobayashi rounded out the points positions.
The result carried historic significance beyond the championship battle itself. The victory marked Fukuzumi’s third career Super Formula win and delivered ROOKIE RACING its first-ever victory in the category since the team’s formation in 2020. Ohta’s podium also secured another strong result for DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING after a measured recovery drive from ninth on the grid.
Suzuka ultimately produced the type of race Super Formula has increasingly become known for: strategic, aggressive, and decided by margins small enough that a single mistake would have changed everything. With the championship now heading toward Fuji Speedway and a triple-header weekend that includes the rescheduled Autopolis round, the title fight enters its decisive phase carrying the momentum of one of the season’s finest contests.
