Suzuka awaits: Luke's biggest Super Formula test yet

Rounds 4 and 5 bring a landmark venue and a double-header challenge

Published

21 MAY 2026

Est. reading time

2 min

Luke Browning returns to Super Formula action this weekend, and this time the setting couldn't be more significant.

Suzuka hosts Rounds 4 and 5 of the 2026 Super Formula Championship across Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May, making it the first double-header since Motegi after Autopolis was washed out by heavy rain.

A track he's already driven

Suzuka isn't new territory. He's thoroughly familiar with it in an F1 context, having spent time at Williams' side of the garage during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend in March + testing for SF in February. That familiarity is rare for a rookie in Super Formula — and it could matter.

The weekend structure: double-header intensity

Friday 22nd May features practice running across two separate Super Formula sessions, giving Luke valuable track time to build rhythm ahead of qualifying.

Saturday then brings qualifying and the Round 4 race, before Sunday follows with a second qualifying session and the Round 5 final.

Two races, two separate qualifying sessions, and very little room for error across the weekend. It's the same double-header intensity as Motegi — but on a circuit with far higher technical demands.

Track focus: the iconic figure-of-eight

Suzuka needs no introduction. A 5.807 km figure-of-eight layout, 18 corners, and some of the most demanding sequences in world motorsport — including the famous Esses, Degner curves, and the double apex 130R.

As we covered in our venues guide [LINK], Suzuka has hosted Super Formula since 1973. It consistently produces some of the most dramatic racing of any season, and it places a premium on mechanical precision and driver commitment.

For a rookie still building mileage in the SF23, it's the biggest circuit challenge of the season so far.

What to watch this weekend

Coming off the back of a cancelled Autopolis round, this is Luke's first competitive racing action since his Motegi comeback drive in early April. This is what we need to watch for:

Qualifying performance across both sessions

Tyre management and OTS strategy across two races

Back-to-back execution with minimal reset time between races

The combination of previous test experience and a fresher mindset after a break makes this a particularly interesting weekend to watch.

Follow Luke across both races this weekend.

Get Your Browning ID

Show your support for Luke by signing up for your very own Browning ID and start collecting your LB Pins!

General

Support

Social