Pierre Gasly raced for Team Mugen in Super Formula 2017, initially struggled to adapt to Japanese circuits and culture, but from mid-season showed remarkable adaptability. He secured back-to-back victories at Motegi and Autopolis and went into the final round with the title on the line.
Then heartbreak struck: a typhoon cancelled the final race at Suzuka. He lost the championship to Hiroaki Ishiura by half a point. HALF A POINT. because of a TYPHOON.
While the Super Formula race was cancelled by weather, Kvyat was called in to replace Pierre in the Toro Rosso—so Pierre missed an F1 race to contest a Super Formula round that never happened.
but the Japanese connection runs DEEP—which is why Pierre is genuinely beloved by Japanese fans and why the Suzuka crowd always goes particularly hard for him
