Analysis

Hiyu Yamakoshi's F3 form sparks confidence for Future

Japanese driver Hiyu Yamakoshi reflects on a strong rookie F3 season, indicating he can compete with top F1 junior talent.

By Miika Rantanen·2026-08-28·234 words

Japanese driver Hiyu Yamakoshi has expressed confidence in his ability to compete at the top of the FIA Formula 3 Championship. The Van Amersfoort Racing driver, in his rookie season, believes he can challenge and even outperform established F1 junior talents. This assessment follows a successful run of results in the 2026 season.

Rookie Season Highlights

Yamakoshi joined the F3 grid in 2026 with Van Amersfoort Racing, moving from GB3 and FRECA. His season began with initial challenges, including a disqualification and three races without points. However, he secured his first podium at the Barcelona Feature Race, finishing second. Motorsport Week reported that Yamakoshi subsequently took pole position at the Red Bull Ring. He is currently seventh in the F3 championship standings. The gap to third place is 20 points, with two rounds remaining.

Mental Shift and Future Prospects

Yamakoshi confirmed to Motorsport Week that his strong performances have altered his self-perception. He stated he did not anticipate achieving such results so quickly in a competitive series like Formula 3. Securing a pole position at the Red Bull Ring was an unexpected highlight, as was his Feature Race podium in Barcelona. These results, he explained, have boosted his confidence. Yamakoshi believes his pace allows him to compete directly with leading F1 junior team drivers, sometimes proving faster. This shift in mentality could be pivotal for his career progression as he aims for higher categories.

Status And Sources

This story is labelled Analysis, which means this is our reading of facts that are already established. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Miika Rantanen.

Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:

• Motorsport Weekmotorsportweek.com

Miika Rantanen

Junior ladder analyst · Turku, Finland

Miika Rantanen lives in Turku. He works as a data analyst for a logistics firm in the city. At home, he plays bass in a covers band. They perform at weddings and other private events around Southwest Finland. Motorsport is his serious pursuit outside of work.

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