🇯🇵 Sakon Yamamoto

Sakon Yamamoto is a retired professional single-seater driver who raced in Formula 1, Formula 3 Euro Series, and GP2 Series between 2003 and 2008. He competed most extensively in Formula 1, where he started 21 times for HRT between 2006 and 2010. His career spanned five seasons across three championships and 51 starts in total.[1]

Yamamoto began in Formula 3 Euro Series in 2003 with Superfund TME, a small operation that fielded established professionals alongside developing drivers. He moved into GP2 Series in 2007 and 2008, starting 13 times for ART Grand Prix. His final indexed season was 2008, when he finished 21st in the GP2 standings across four rounds. Throughout this period he raced regularly against elite professionals including Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 world champion and 2005 GP2 champion, and Robert Kubica, both of whom he typically finished behind.[2]

The fields Yamamoto raced in were mixed amateur and professional grids. He finished ahead of established professionals including Sébastien Buemi, a five-time WEC LMP1 champion and Formula E champion, in their single meeting. Against Maro Engel, a 2024 GT World Challenge Europe champion, he took five finishes over the other driver. His record against stronger opposition was generally modest, placing him in the lower tier of a field that regularly included drivers who went on to win world championships.