After a successful 2023 Super Formula season which saw him claim victory over incoming Red Bull Racing F1 driver, Liam Lawson, Ritomo Miyata made his Formula 2 debut with Rodin Motorsport, partnering with Barbados’ Zane Maloney. However, despite a relatively strong start to the 2024 F2 season, Miyata would ultimately end the season 19th in the championship with an unimpressive 31 points. Despite his best efforts, Miyata struggled throughout the season. However, though he failed to reach the peaks of a podium, he rarely fell to the back of the back. Instead, Miyata delivered an average but unimpressive season.
Miyata scores first points in feature race debut
Miyata enjoyed a strong start to his F2 career when he qualified fifth in the 2024 Sakhir F2 round. However, though he started the sprint race from P6, he crossed the line P9, having been unable to keep ahead of the likes of MP Motorsport’s Dennis Hauger, Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto, Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron, Campos Racing’s Pepe Martí and Isack Hadjar and even his teammate Zane Maloney who went on to claim the first win of the season. Miyata, on the other hand, just barely missed out on points, finishing just 0.058 seconds behind Hauger in P8.
While Maloney again outperformed Miyata, the Japanese driver still claimed his first two F2 points in the feature race. He finished P9, just over four seconds ahead of Prema Racing’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Though Miyata was likely disappointed to lose places in both the sprint and feature races, he could still take pride in his strong performance throughout the weekend. That he scored points on his debut weekend was certainly a positive sign.
Unfortunately, Miyata would not enjoy similar success in Saudi Arabia. He finished the sprint race P12 and the feature P15. This, however, would not become a trend as a few weeks later, during the 2024 Melbourne F2 round, he claimed P5 finishes in both the sprint and feature races despite qualifying P12.
Miyata suffers dip in performance in Imola and Monaco
Despite the highs of Australia, Imola would prove less successful for the Japanese driver who finished P13 in the sprint and P15 in the feature race after a disappointing qualifying performance.
Monaco, unfortunately, would prove even less lucky, when during qualifying he suffered an engine failure in the Monaco tunnel. This resulted in a terrifying near collision between him and Hadjar who had been on a fast lap. Hadjar had not seen the slowing Miyata as he rounded the corner, and though his quick reflexes allowed him to avoid Miyata, the two cars touched wheels. Fortunately, neither car sustained damage in what could have been a deadly incident.
Hadjar went on to qualify third. However, Miyata failed to set a time within the 107% rule, and although the stewards permitted him to race, they required him to start both races from the back of the grid.
Unfortunately, though he would gain places in both the sprint and feature races, helped by the many retirements, he could not make his way into the points. He finished the sprint race P17 and the feature P15.
Miyata’s 2024 F2 season takes a downward turn
Though he would score points in the sprint race of the 2024 Barcelona F2 round after a P7 finish, Miyata found himself suffering his worst form of the season. He failed to score points in that weekend’s feature race, and though he came close to claiming points in Silverstone some weeks late, he did not add another point to his tally until the feature race in Hungary.
After a disappointing P12 finish in the sprint, Miyata, despite starting P18, made his way up the field during the feature race to claim four points from a P8 finish. These would be Rodin Motorsport’s only points that weekend as Maloney finished P13 in the sprint race and retired on Lap 7 of the feature race after a collision with Aron.
Though Miyata would again claim points in Belgium with a P7 finish in the feature race, he would suffer another dip in form. This, unfortunately, lasted until the penultimate round of the 2024 F2 season.
Miyata brings F2 tally to 31 in Abu Dhabi
While Miyata would not enjoy the highs he had reached in Melbourne, he would have a relatively successful end to his 2024 season. This, however, would not become obvious until the feature race of the 2025 Lusail F2 round.
Miyata suffered a disappointing qualifying in Qatar, earning himself a measly P15 starting position for both the sprint and feature races. This, however, would not be the most difficult part of his weekend. Though he crossed the line in seventh place, officials handed him two penalties, dropping him to P13. The first was a four-place penalty for causing a collision with DAMS Lucas Oil’s Dino Beganovic. The second was a two-place penalty for colliding with Kimi Antonelli, who ultimately retired on Lap 20.
Miyata did, however, enjoy better luck during the feature race. He scored his 30th point of the season after crossing the line tenth, about 3.5 seconds behind his teammate Maloney who finished P9.
Unfortunately, the Japanese driver would suffer a similarly complicated weekend in Abu Dhabi. Despite starting P3, Miyata struggled significantly during the sprint race, and though he crossed the line in a points-scoring position, he dropped to P11 due to a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins. He did, however, manage to hold on to a points-place finish in the feature race. He crossed the line 10th, just over 0.1 seconds ahead of Aron, who had had to fight his way up the field after a start from the pit lane.
Miyata to race for ART Grand Prix in 205
While the 2024 F2 season would have been disappointing for Miyata, especially after his success in the 2023 Super Formula championship and the 2024 European Le Mans Series, Miyata will have a chance to redeem himself in 2025.
In December 2025, ART Grand Prix announced that they had signed Miyata for the 2025 F2 season. Team Principal Sébastien Philippe stated that the team believed Miyata possessed “all the qualities” needed for success in F2. He added that the team was delighted to welcome Miyata into their ranks.
“We are delighted to welcome Ritomo Miyata to ART Grand Prix for the 2025 Formula 2 season. With his prior F2 experience and impressive results in single-seater racing, Ritomo has all the qualities needed to take on this challenge. We are excited to work with him and support him in achieving his goals this season.”
