Explainer: Everything you need to know about Super Formula
Here’s our guide to Japan’s premier motor racing competition
Published
21 JAN 2026
Est. reading time
3 min
Luke will be taking on a new challenge in 2026, as he heads to Japan to compete in Super Formula.
The 23-year-old is set to combine his recently-announced duties as Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s Reserve Driver with a seat at Kondo Racing over the coming months.
Ahead of the new Super Formula season starting later this year, here’s our guide to what lies in store for Luke next term…
What is Super Formula?
Super Formula is widely considered to be the pinnacle of single-seater racing in Asia and one of the world’s elite motorsport competitions.
In fact, only Formula 1 is faster than Super Formula, reflecting its status as a true test for drivers and teams alike.
Running since 1973, every team in the series currently uses identical Dallara SF23 chassis and Yokohama-supplied tyres.
However, there is some variation between vehicles, with teams utilising either Honda HR-417E or Toyota TRD-01F engines — the latter in the case of Kondo Racing.
When and where will Luke be racing in 2026?
The 2026 Super Formula season kicks off on 4th-5th April at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture, with Rounds 1 and 2 taking place across that weekend.
They’re the first of 12 rounds throughout the year, culminating in the final two races of 2026 at the Suzuka International Racing Course on 21st-22nd November.
Visits to Hita, Oyama (x2), Shibata and another trip to Suzuka are sandwiched between those two events — and we’ll have a complete guide to those venues coming later this week.
How does the scoring work?
Drivers receive points if they place within the top three during Qualifying, with three points for top spot, two for second and one for third.
But a much larger haul is available from the race itself, with 20 points available for the winner and decreasing in differing increments down to a point for 10th place (20, 15, 11, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).
As with Formula 1 or Formula 2, those points will determine Luke’s ranking in the Drivers’ Championship and Kondo Racing’s position in the Teams’ Championship.
Who are Kondo Racing?
Luke’s new team, Kondo Racing, have been competing in Super Formula since 2000, back when the series was known as Super Nippon.
Team Principal and founder Masahiko Kondo oversaw a Teams’ Championship triumph in 2018 when Nick Cassidy and Kenta Yamashita were at the wheel, before placing third in 2022 — again with Yamashita involved, this time alongside Sacha Fenestraz.
They are yet to claim a Drivers’ Championship, though, with the aforementioned Cassidy coming closest by placing second in 2018.
Yuji Tachikawa also deserves an honourable mention for finishing third all the way back in 2001, while the team as a whole have only had one season without a podium finish since 2017.
Luke will certainly hope to continue the Shizuoka-based outfit’s rich history of podium placing in 2026!
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