Super Formula Calendar

Super Formula represents Japan's premier open-wheel racing championship, delivering high-speed competition across some of the country's most demanding circuits. Entering its 54th season in 2026—and marking its 14th year under the Super Formula name—the series has established itself as a significant step on the international motorsport ladder, with its champion earning 30 FIA Super License points. This recognition places Super Formula among the world's most competitive single-seater championships.

Championship Structure and Format

The 2026 Super Formula Championship consists of 12 rounds contested across seven race weekends at five Japanese circuits. Five of these weekends feature double-header races, while Autopolis and Sportsland Sugo host single-race events. Points are awarded to the top ten finishers following a 20, 15, 11, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 structure, with an additional point granted for pole position. This scoring system rewards both consistent performance and outright speed throughout the season.

Race Weekend Format

Super Formula weekend formats vary depending on the event type. A typical race weekend includes a one-hour free practice session and a three-part qualifying session (Q1, Q2, Q3) on Saturday. Sunday typically features a 30-minute warm-up session before the main race, which covers a distance of at least 250km. For the 2026 season, double-header weekends have been revised so both races run over uniform distances, with fixed pit windows adjusted according to track length implemented for all races. Single-race weekends at venues like Autopolis and Sugo utilize a three-stage knockout qualifying system. All races require a mandatory pit stop for tire changes, adding strategic depth to the competition.

Technical Specifications

Super Formula operates as a spec series, ensuring competitive balance through identical chassis across all teams. Every car is built around the Dallara SF23 chassis, powered by either Honda (HR-417E) or Toyota (TRD-01F) 2-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engines producing over 550 horsepower. Teams are restricted to two engine units per year, with a 10-grid penalty applied for additional engine changes. Yokohama provides control tires for the series, which since 2023 have been carbon-neutral tires produced with 33% sustainable materials. A standardized shared damper system has been in use since 2024.

2026 Season and Competition

The 2026 season commenced in April at Mobility Resort Motegi, with the calendar featuring races at Suzuka International Racing Course, Fuji Speedway, Autopolis, and Sportsland Sugo before concluding at Suzuka in November. The schedule has been designed to avoid clashes with the World Endurance Championship. As of the current season, Kakunoshin Ohta leads the Drivers' Championship for Dandelion Racing, which also tops the Teams' standings. Ayumu Iwasa, the 2025 champion with Team Mugen, entered 2026 as the defending titleholder.

The 2026 grid includes established teams such as Team Mugen, Dandelion Racing, Kondo Racing, Team TOM'S, KCMG, Nakajima Racing, TGMGP, Triple Tree Racing, ThreeBond Racing, and Cerumo Inging, alongside newcomer Delightworks Racing. Notable drivers include two-time champion Tomoki Nojiri, Luke Browning, Kenta Yamashita, Igor Fraga, Kamui Kobayashi, Juju Noda, and Nobuharu Matsushita, ensuring competitive racing throughout the season.