Sho Tsuboi is getting ready to pack his bags for Europe. According to Autosport, the 31-year-old Toyota-backed driver is poised to leave Super Formula at the end of the season to take on FIA Formula 2 in 2027.
Tsuboi secured the 2024 Super Formula title for TOM’S. Now, he looks set to follow in the footsteps of Ritomo Miyata by jumping straight from the pinnacle of Japanese single-seater racing into the Formula 1 support series.
This upcoming move is heavily tied to his ongoing involvement in the Haas F1 team’s Testing of Previous Cars programme, with a 2027 F2 drive likely to run alongside an expanded role with the squad due to their technical partnership with Toyota. Tsuboi recently stepped into a Haas TPC test at Jerez alongside Ryo Hirakawa and Jack Doohan, marking his third appearance of the year and his fifth overall since kicking things off at Fuji Speedway last July.
Toyota Racing vice-chairman Kazuki Nakajima stayed tight-lipped on specifics when questioned by Autosport, but admitted that Tsuboi's international horizons might have broadened thanks to his Haas F1 duties. "We are happy to support not only Sho but all our drivers, and if they have certain targets, thanks to 'Morizo-san' [Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda], we are in a position to support it," Nakajima said. "The first question is what his targets are for his future, but I hope his opportunities to drive for Haas may have had a positive impact on his future plans or his wishes. It’s really up to him. If he wants to challenge things on an international level, I think there are opportunities, including with Haas. But the first question is what he wants to do."
With Tsuboi heading to F2, Miyata's time in the championship appears to be wrapping up. That comes despite Miyata—who is team-mate to Colton Herta at Hitech—claiming a maiden win at the Madring during what has been his most competitive campaign out of three seasons in F2. The 26-year-old’s next steps remain undecided, though a return to Japan to reunite with TOM’S in both Super Formula and Super GT is a clear possibility.
Meanwhile, Zak O’Sullivan is stepping away from Super Formula to dive into Formula E with Envision Racing for the 2026/27 season. O’Sullivan was revealed as part of an all-new lineup for the Chinese-owned squad alongside Maximilian Gunther, following two seasons balancing simulator and reserve duties for the team with his Super Formula commitments. The former Williams F1 reserve and Autosport BRDC Award winner has breathed new life into Team Impul this season, delivering the squad's first pole since 2022 at the Fuji opener in July and its first podium since 2023.
Whether O’Sullivan will actually finish out the 2026 campaign remains up in the air due to a scheduling clash between Formula E’s pre-season test at Jarama and the Super Formula finale at Suzuka, scheduled for 20-22 November. The Jarama test spans five days from 16-20 November, meaning O’Sullivan would need to bolt out of Spain by 19 November to make it to Suzuka on time, though the exact daily schedule is still unconfirmed. Impul team director Kazuki Hoshino declined to comment when asked about the prospect of O’Sullivan leaving the team a race early.
