The 2026 Japanese F4 Championship moved to Suzuka Circuit for Round 4, where Ryo Shirasaki continued the remarkable run of form that has transformed his championship campaign.
After leaving the opening Fuji round without a point, the Kageyama Racing driver arrived at Suzuka with four consecutive victories across Okayama and the second Fuji meeting. He extended that streak in emphatic fashion, taking pole position for both races before converting each into victory. As a result, Shirasaki left Suzuka with six consecutive wins and a championship advantage that grew from 11 to 45 points.
The Independent Class produced a far less predictable weekend. Hirobon emerged from an eventful Race 7 with his fourth victory of the season, before Nobuhiro Imada responded in Race 8 to claim his first win of 2026. Those results strengthened Hirobon’s control of the standings after title rival Yutaka Toriba failed to score across the weekend.
Full results from Round 4 of the 2026 Japanese F4 season at Suzuka
Shirasaki takes both Suzuka poles
Shirasaki arrived at Suzuka as the championship leader and immediately maintained his momentum during a hot and humid Qualifying session. Masaki Hamabe initially led the way before several drivers moved into the 2:07s, with Ryo Sakai, Megumu Suzuki and Buntaro Igarashi all featuring towards the front as the times continued to fall.
Shirasaki eventually produced a 2:07.282 to move to the top of the Race 7 classification. Hamabe came closest with a 2:07.330, leaving the pair separated by only 0.048s, while Ryo Sakai followed in third. Ryutaro Sakai qualified fourth ahead of championship rival Masana Muto and Suzuki.
The session then came to an abrupt halt when Hamabe crashed between Turns 1 and 2, triggering a Red Flag. Only five minutes remained when Qualifying resumed, leaving little opportunity for the order to change. Shirasaki’s benchmark therefore stood, securing another pole position as his impressive run continued.
Second-best laps determined the Race 8 grid, and Shirasaki’s 2:07.471 again proved good enough for pole. Ryo Sakai joined him on the front row, with Soichiro Shioda, Suzuki, Igarashi and Ryutaro Sakai completing the top six. Shirasaki therefore left Qualifying with his fifth and sixth consecutive poles after previously sweeping the sessions at Okayama and Fuji.
Japanese F4 Suzuka Qualifying report
Shirasaki withstands early pressure in Race 7
Shirasaki started Race 7 alongside Hamabe, although the TGR-DC Racing School driver produced the stronger initial launch. They remained side-by-side through the opening sequence before Shirasaki defended the inside line and retained control of the race.
Ryutaro Sakai quickly emerged as the biggest mover behind them. Starting fourth, he passed Hamabe at the chicane on the opening lap to take second, while Muto and Igarashi also joined the fight. Muto moved ahead of Hamabe at Spoon on lap two before Igarashi attacked around the outside at 130R and briefly claimed third. However, Muto responded at Turn 1 on the following lap and reclaimed the final podium position.
While the cars behind fought for position, Shirasaki began to establish control at the front. He gradually opened a gap of around 1.5 seconds over Ryutaro Sakai, while Muto remained close enough to keep the leading pair within sight. Behind them, Igarashi led a closely packed group containing Hamabe, Ryo Sakai, Yuzuki Miura, Shioda, Suzuki and Kenta Kumagai.
The race changed on lap nine when Miki Onaga spun at Turn 2. Race Control deployed the Safety Car, erasing Shirasaki’s carefully built advantage and seemingly setting up a late restart. However, officials could not clear the incident quickly enough to resume competitive racing. The Safety Car entered the pit lane at the end of the final lap, but overtaking remained prohibited before the chequered flag.
Shirasaki consequently secured his fifth consecutive victory, finishing 0.561s ahead of Ryutaro Sakai. Muto completed the podium only 0.117s further behind, while Igarashi took fourth ahead of Hamabe and Ryo Sakai. Ryutaro Sakai also recorded the fastest lap with a 2:08.106.
Japanese F4 Race 7 Champion Class report
Shirasaki completes third consecutive double victory
Race 8 gave Shirasaki another opportunity to extend his winning run, this time with Ryo Sakai alongside him on the front row. The championship leader made a clean start and retained first into Turn 1, while Sakai held second. Shioda initially occupied third but lost ground to Igarashi, while Ryutaro Sakai and Miura also made progress during the opening phase.
The race barely reached its second lap before the first interruption. Kota Umemoto lost control between Turns 1 and 2, while Taisei Murakami became involved as he attempted to avoid the incident. Both cars stopped outside the circuit, prompting the Safety Car.
Racing resumed on lap five, but another incident immediately reshaped the order. Miura made contact with Ryutaro Sakai around the chicane, sending the Race 7 runner-up towards the back of the field. At the front, Ryo Sakai stayed close to Shirasaki after the restart, although the leader gradually began to increase his advantage. By lap seven, the gap had grown to approximately 1.5 seconds.
Shioda, meanwhile, recovered from his difficult opening lap and began closing on Igarashi. He completed the pass between Turns 1 and 2 on lap seven to reclaim third and place himself in contention for a maiden Japanese F4 podium.
Another Safety Car followed on lap nine when Sena Yamamoto crashed at Degner. Once again, officials could not complete the recovery before the final lap, and the race ended without another competitive restart. Shirasaki crossed the line 0.639s ahead of Ryo Sakai to claim his sixth consecutive victory and his third successive weekend sweep.
Shioda secured his first podium in third, with Igarashi fourth. Miura initially finished fifth but received a 40-second penalty for his contact with Ryutaro Sakai, promoting Lu You De to fifth and Megumu Suzuki to sixth. Shirasaki also completed the weekend with the fastest lap, setting a 2:07.521.
Japanese F4 Race 8 Champion Class report
Shirasaki opens substantial Champion Class advantage
Shirasaki entered Suzuka with 100 points and an 11-point advantage over Muto, but another perfect 50-point weekend moved him onto 150 and significantly changed the complexion of the championship battle.
Muto’s third place in Race 7 and 10th-place result in Race 8 left him on 105 points, meaning the gap at the top has increased to 45 points with three rounds remaining. After beginning the season with no points at the opening Fuji weekend, Shirasaki has now built his championship lead almost entirely through six consecutive victories.
Ryo Sakai enjoyed one of the strongest weekends among Shirasaki’s closest rivals. Sixth in Race 7 and second in Race 8 moved him from 45 to 71 points and promoted him from fourth to third in the standings. Igarashi also scored heavily through fourth-place finishes in both races and now sits only three points behind Sakai on 68.
Hamabe climbs to fifth with 48 points, while Ryutaro Sakai follows on 45 after his Race 7 podium. Syo Momose sits seventh with 43 points, ahead of Miura on 38, Lu on 33 and Yuta Suzuki on 30.
The Teams’ Championship remains considerably tighter than the Drivers’ standings. Kageyama Racing has moved into the lead with 158 points, only three ahead of TGR-DC Racing School. OTG Motor Sports sits third on 48, while Mitsusada Racing and HFDP with B-Max Racing Team share 45 points.
2026 Japanese F4 standings after Round 4 at Suzuka: Champion Class
Drivers’ standings
- Ryo Shirasaki – 150 points
- Masana Muto – 105 points
- Ryo Sakai – 71 points
- Buntaro Igarashi – 68 points
- Masaki Hamabe – 48 points
- Ryutaro Sakai – 45 points
- Syo Momose – 43 points
- Yuzuki Miura – 38 points
- Lu You De – 33 points
- Yuta Suzuki – 30 points
Teams’ standings
- HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing – 158 points
- TGR-DC Racing School – 155 points
- OTG MOTOR SPORTS – 48 points
- MITSUSADA RACING – 45 points
- HFDP with B-Max Racing Team – 45 points
- AKILAND Racing – 33 points
- PONOS RACING – 25 points
- Bionic Jack Racing – 21 points
- B-MAX ENGINEERING – 20 points
- FALCON MOTORSPORT – 10 points
Full 2026 Japanese F4 standings
Imada and Hirobon split Independent Class poles
The Independent Class began with Nobuhiro Imada securing his first pole position of the season. The B-Max-supported driver produced a 2:09.294 to beat Kentaro by 0.184s, while championship leader Hirobon qualified third ahead of Masaki Ueda, Dragon and Yutaka Toriba.
Second-best laps again determined the Race 8 grid and produced a different order. Hirobon and Kentaro both recorded a 2:09.669, but Hirobon took pole in the official classification. Imada lined up third ahead of Toriba, Dragon and Shoichiro Akamatsu.
With Hirobon leading Toriba by only nine points entering the weekend, Suzuka appeared likely to provide another close chapter in the Independent Class championship fight. Instead, two difficult races for Toriba allowed Hirobon to leave the circuit with a significantly stronger advantage.
Hirobon profits from dramatic Race 7
Imada retained the lead at the beginning of Race 7, while Kentaro immediately began applying pressure from second. Hirobon stayed close in third, with Dragon, Ueda and Makio Saito among those forming the chasing group during the opening stages.
The first major incident came on lap three when Hachiro Osaka hit Mototino after exiting the Hairpin. Hiroshi Sugiyama slowed to avoid the incident, but Toriba then made contact with Sugiyama. The collision damaged Toriba’s front wing and forced one of Hirobon’s principal championship rivals into retirement.
Officials deployed the Safety Car before restarting the race on lap seven. Kentaro immediately resumed his attack on Imada, reducing the gap to three-tenths on lap seven and only one-tenth on lap eight. He drew alongside the leader on the following lap before the pair made light contact at Turn 2, sending Imada into a spin. Officials treated the collision as a racing incident and Kentaro emerged in the lead.
However, he remained there for only a matter of corners. Hirobon closed quickly before Kentaro took too much kerb at Degner and lost control between the two corners. Although he avoided the barriers and continued, Hirobon swept into first while Dragon, Saito and Ueda also moved ahead.
Kentaro recovered to fourth, but another Safety Car arrived on lap 10 when Yuichi Sasaki crashed at 130R. As in the Champion Class race later that day, officials withdrew the Safety Car on the final lap without permitting overtaking before the finish.
Hirobon therefore claimed his fourth victory of the season, with Dragon finishing only 0.552s behind in second. Saito completed the podium, while Kentaro recovered to fourth ahead of Ueda and William.
Japanese F4 Race 7 Independent Class report
Imada responds with first victory of 2026
Race 8 gave Imada an immediate opportunity to respond after losing the lead in the previous day’s contest. Hirobon started from pole, but Imada produced the stronger launch from third and reached the opening corners in first. Hirobon settled into second, while Toriba climbed from fourth to third ahead of Kentaro and Dragon.
The Safety Car appeared almost immediately after Isao Nakashima locked his tyres on the approach to the Esses and hit Saito, leaving both cars stranded in the gravel. Racing resumed on lap four, with Imada retaining the lead under increasing pressure from Hirobon. Toriba remained close in third, allowing the leading trio to begin separating from Kentaro.
Hirobon gradually intensified his attack. On lap eight, he drew alongside Imada between the Hairpin and Spoon, but the leader successfully defended. Hirobon tried again around the outside at Turn 1 on lap nine, only for Imada to maintain first once more. Their battle brought Toriba closer, but his race soon ended after he dropped a wheel onto the dirt around the Reverse Bank area and became stranded in the gravel.
The resulting Safety Car appeared with two laps remaining, but quick recovery work allowed officials to provide one final racing lap. Imada judged the restart well and created enough separation through the chicane to prevent Hirobon from launching an immediate attack.
He completed the final lap without error and secured his first Independent Class victory of the season, finishing 1.201s ahead of Hirobon. Kentaro completed the podium, with Dragon fourth ahead of Ueda and Kentaro Kojima. Despite his retirement, Toriba recorded the fastest lap with a 2:09.320.
Japanese F4 Race 8 Independent Class report
Hirobon takes control of Independent Class title fight
Hirobon started Round 4 only nine points ahead of Toriba, but Suzuka dramatically changed the championship picture. His victory in Race 7 and second place in Race 8 added 43 points, increasing his total from 108 to 151.
Toriba, by contrast, failed to finish either race and remains on 99 points. Hirobon therefore leaves Suzuka with a 52-point advantage, giving him significantly more breathing room than he carried into the weekend.
Imada’s Race 8 victory lifted him from 56 to 81 points, drawing him level with Kentaro. The official classification places Imada third ahead of Kentaro, while Dragon’s second and fourth-place finishes move him to 68 points in fifth.
Masayoshi Oyama follows on 60 points, with Ikari seventh on 47. Ueda’s pair of fifth-place finishes lift him to 35, one ahead of Nakashima, while Akamatsu completes the top 10 on 30 points alongside Go Shimizu.
The Teams’ Championship reflects Hirobon’s growing advantage, with Team 5ZIGEN leading on 151 points. B-Max Engineering has moved into second following strong results from Imada and Dragon, while Kageyama Racing remains on 99 after Toriba’s scoreless weekend.
2026 Japanese F4 standings after Round 4 at Suzuka: Independent Class
Drivers’ standings
- Hirobon – 151 points
- Yutaka Toriba – 99 points
- Nobuhiro Imada – 81 points
- Kentaro – 81 points
- Dragon – 68 points
- Masayoshi Oyama – 60 points
- Ikari – 47 points
- Masaki Ueda – 35 points
- Isao Nakashima – 34 points
- Shoichiro Akamatsu – 30 points
Teams’ standings
- TEAM 5ZIGEN – 151 points
- B-MAX ENGINEERING – 115 points
- HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing – 99 points
- Field Motorsport – 81 points
- AKILAND RACING – 76 points
- Rn-sports – 71 points
- Bionic Jack Racing – 47 points
- ZAP SPEED – 30 points
- Eagle Sports – 30 points
- HELM MOTORSPORTS – 24 points
Full 2026 Japanese F4 standings
Shirasaki strengthens his grip on the championship
Round 4 continued Shirasaki’s extraordinary turnaround after his scoreless start to the campaign. Across the three rounds since the season-opening Fuji event, the Kageyama Racing driver has now secured six consecutive victories and six consecutive pole positions, while scoring 150 championship points.
Muto remains second, but his deficit has grown from 11 points after the previous Fuji round to 45 following Suzuka. Meanwhile, Ryo Sakai and Igarashi have emerged as the closest challengers behind the leading pair after both produced strong weekends of their own.
The Teams’ Championship remains much tighter. Kageyama Racing’s latest double victory has moved it ahead of TGR-DC Racing School, although only three points separate the two teams after eight races.
The Independent Class produced a more significant shift. Hirobon entered Suzuka under pressure from Toriba but leaves with a 52-point advantage after finishing first and second while his rival failed to score. Imada’s breakthrough victory also moves him level with Kentaro in the fight for third.
Japanese F4 now heads to Sportsland Sugo for Round 5, where Shirasaki will attempt to extend his six-race winning streak and Hirobon will look to consolidate his increasingly strong Independent Class championship advantage.
