Honda keen to bring Japanese driver into F1

Honda Motorsport general management Mashashi Yamamoto has revealed that the manufacturer is hoping to bring a Japanese driver into the sport soon.

Formula Two drivers Nirei Fukuzumi and Tadasuke Makino are both backed by the company, but the pair don't have the required FIA superlicence points to compete in F1 next season.

"Obviously to have a Japanese driver on the Formula 1 grid is very important for Japan and for ourselves for the future of this motorsport in Japan," Yamamoto said in the FIA's press conference.

Makino and Fukuzumi are in 13th and 17th place in the F2 championship, respectively - with the former securing his first victory at Monza last month. 

Fukuzumi also competes in Japan's Super Formula Championship, but it seems the Japanese pair will be likely to remain in Formula Two for the 2019 season.

"Regarding the series that they run in, as you know, the teams have been working with the new regulations, a lot of changes, trying rolling starts etc... so it hasn't been a very stable series this series itself. But they are both very good drivers and we are educating them for a bright future," Yamamoto concluded.

The last time a Japanese driver took part in Formula One, was back in 2014; where Kamui Kobayashi represented Caterham.