From the Philippines' Bianca Bustamante to India's Kush Maini: Asia's rising F1 stars
Yuki Tsunoda (Japan)
The star has defied expectations, rising quickly from Japanese F4 to Formula 1 in just three years. He's become a fan favourite due to his flamboyant driving style and outspoken personality. In 2025, he became the first Japanese driver to race for Red Bull Racing, joining a championship-winning team and marking a significant milestone in Asian motorsport.
Bianca Bustamante (Philippines)
She has redefined what women can achieve in motorsport. After impressing in the F1 Academy, she was the first female driver to join McLaren's Driver Development Programme. With significant Filipino support and a strong social media presence, she has increased Asian women's prominence in racing. Bustamante's ascension demonstrates how skill, branding, and representation can transform Formula One's traditionally exclusive landscape.
Alex Albon (Thailand)
He is Thailand's first Formula One driver in nearly seven decades, and has become the face of one of the sport's most successful comebacks. After losing his place at Red Bull in 2020, he returned to Williams in 2022 and emerged as the team's driving force. While his two podium finishes are Thailand's only in Formula One, his leadership at Williams has been equally influential. With his easygoing personality, he continues to excite fans and usher in a new era of Thai motorsport ambitions.
Zhou Guanyu (China)
In 2022, he made history as China's first Formula One driver to win championship points, fulfilling his childhood dream. At the age of 12, he relocated to the United Kingdom to train in Europe's motorsport scene, which led him to Formula One racing. After surviving a devastating crash at Silverstone in 2022, Zhou has become a symbol of fortitude. In 2025, he joined Ferrari as a reserve driver, keeping his Formula One hopes alive.
Kush Maini (India)
He is on the verge of entering F1, becoming the third Indian driver to join an official F1 program as Alpine's test and reserve driver in 2025. During his 2024 F2 season, he earned five podium finishes and a breakthrough win in Hungary, demonstrating his skill at the young level. Unlike his predecessors, who entered Formula One through rare opportunities, Maini's continuous ascension through Europe's racing levels indicates a new, systematic path.
Ayumu Iwasa (Japan)
He is Red Bull's rising Japanese star and a vital figure in Honda's future F1 generation. With a French F4 title, many F2 victories, and a fourth-place finish in the 2023 F2 standings, he already has an impressive resume. Iwasa, who is now participating in Super Formula, is honing his racing skills in preparation for a future F1 seat. He is supported by both Red Bull and Honda and remains focused on his ultimate ambition of becoming Japan's first Formula One world champion.
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