With just under two weeks until the 2021 FIA Formula Three season gets underway, we caught up with Hitech GP’s Ayumu Iwasa to discover more about his motorsport journey.
Iwasa is only 19 years-old but he has enjoyed a strong rise through the motorsport ladder, earning himself the only new berth on Red Bull’s Junior Programme in 2021 as he makes the step up to F3 this season.
Now discover more about Red Bull’s newest junior recruit as he speaks candidly about his rise up the motorsport ladder and looks ahead to the prospect of F1, as he aims to join compatriot – Yuki Tsunoda in single-seater’s top series.
Who inspired you to become a racing driver?
Iwasa: “It’s my parents. They were amateur racers. And I loved cars when I was little.”
Having enjoyed a successful karting career, what did you find to be the hardest aspect of graduating into single-seater racing with guest appearances in Japanese F4 and Asia FR in 2017?
Iwasa: “I had no big problem for that. But I felt that my body wasn’t strong enough because I didn’t training.”
2018-19 saw you perform well in lower Japanese formulas and clinched the 2019 Suzuka Racing School Single-Seater title. How much did it mean to claim that title which led you to make a huge move across to Europe to race in French F4?
Iwasa: “On 2019, I could grow up the most in my racing life. It had the potential for me to win from the first round.”
2020 saw you dominate French F4 to seal the title and claim your first single-seater race victories with Honda’s support. How much did it mean to you to claim those victories and the title as you prepare to step up to F3?
Iwasa: Everyone’s car were almost same because all car was maintained by FFSA Academy. So I thought I had to learn car set-up as well as improve my driving.
As a young driver who made the move to Europe last season especially during a pandemic, how different did you find adapting to circuits like Zandvoort and Spa Francorchamps compared to Japanese circuits as well as the European culture?
Iwasa: “There were a lot of different things. I was able to find the new driving and improve my driving also. Especially Zandvoort and Spa. So it was good for me.”
2021 will see you race for Hitech GP in F3 and set to experience new circuits like Silverstone on top of a new weekend format. What are your expectations for the new season, after having driven for the team in F3 Asia over winter?
Iwasa: “I’m really looking forward to the first round. I’m going to take a pole position and victory from the first round, but I’m just focusing on getting a better understanding of the FIA-F3 car and the tires now. And then I’ll keep pushing.”
You’re now an official member of Red Bull’s Junior Programme, so how excited are you to be part of their F1 junior programme as Honda prepares to depart F1 at end of season?
Iwasa: “I don’t think too much about it. I’m focusing on just my race in front of me and will do what I should do.”
Your long-term aim is to reach F1 but looking ahead if you were to reach that series, what would it mean to you if could race at Suzuka and particularly alongside compatriot and Red Bull Junior graduate – Yuki Tsunoda?
Iwasa: “I want to make it happen. I would be excited if that happened. So I’ll continue to grow up.”
Finally, what are your ambitions for the future?
Iwasa: “Of course it is to be an F1 World Champion, and I want to please a lot of people.”
Special thanks to Ayumu Iwasa for participating in this interview and to Hitech GP for their assistance in facilitating this interview.
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