P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Autosport Top 50 of 2023: #29 Liam Lawson
Lawson’s move to Super Formula proved to be a game-changer for him, as he secured a historic debut win at Fuji and went on to claim two more victories. Despite some setbacks, such as penalties and crashes, he impressed Red Bull and outscored his teammate in his brief stint with AlphaTauri. Lawson’s performance in Super Formula positions him well for future opportunities in Formula 1.
Ralf Schumacher had a successful season in Formula Nippon, now known as Super Formula, in 1996. He won three races and narrowly beat his teammate and a Japanese racing legend to clinch the championship title. This victory led to his entry into F1 with Jordan.
Loic Duval became a prominent name in Super Formula when he joined Nakajima Racing in 2006. He won his second race in the series and outperformed his teammate. Although he finished fourth overall, his strong showing caught the attention of Honda and paved the way for future opportunities.
Stoffel Vandoorne’s success in Super Formula earned him a full-time seat in F1. Representing McLaren with the support of Honda, he won two races and finished fourth overall. This impressive performance ultimately led to his call-up to the world of Formula 1.
Pierre Gasly, after winning the GP2 title, spent a year in Super Formula in 2017. He had a slower start but gained momentum with back-to-back wins. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the final race left him just shy of winning the championship.
Alex Palou’s campaign in Super Formula may have gone under the radar, but it was noteworthy as he brought the struggling Nakajima Racing team back to the front. He narrowly missed out on the title due to a technical issue at Suzuka but has since found success in IndyCar.
Overall, Lawson’s time in Super Formula adds him to the list of successful foreign racers in Japan’s premier racing series.
