Junior Formula Series
Early disaster ruins Super Formula Fuji for Iwasa – Finishes P11
At the start of the race, unfortunately, I stalled the engine
After Qualifying 2nd, just 0.017 off pole, Red Bull Junior Ayumu Iwasa looked set to challenge his Mugen teammate for the Super Formula points lead in the 4th round of the Japanese championship. It all went wrong for the 22-year-old Japanese on the start line in Fuji when the car stalled.
Saturday was quite up and down, I was struggling a bit with the car, we didn't have high potential.
“We were working to improve but were a little bit negative for the Qualifying.”
“But actually we did make a step forward for Quali and had good potential both from the car and my side in Q1. In Q2 we tried to take pole, we felt it was possible. But unfortunately, I was P2 by a few hundredths. The positive point was that we had been able to make a good step from FP1. Good teamwork.”
“Today was also not easy, FP2 was not so good this morning but it was better in the 8-minute warm up and we were happy with the improvement.”
“At the start of the race, unfortunately, I stalled the engine. I have no words about that. We decide the set-up and plan for the start. So in the car at the start, I cannot do anything from the driver's side.”
Ayumu Iwasa pitstop in Fuji - Super Formula Japan 2024
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
Ayumu Iwasa with his mechanics in the garage of Fuji - Super Formula 2024
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
Ayumu Iwasa is ready to race Super Formula in Fuji - 2024
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
Ayumu Iwasa in the garage of Fuji - Super Formula Japan 2024
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
It was a big frustration, also for the team.
“We had a good race performance but the start was everything. We need to check and see what happened. At the moment we think we need to improve our approach and everything. We can do better.”
“On the other hand, we had strong performance through the weekend so we need to change our mindset and win every race from now on.”
