Aguri Suzuki

Aguri Suzuki (8 September 1960 - Present): Japanese racing driver from Tokyo who became the first Asian driver to achieve a podium finish in Formula One, securing third place at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, making him a national hero in Japan. He competed in Formula One from 1988 to 1995, participating in 88 Grands Prix and scoring eight championship points across seven seasons with Larrousse, Zakspeed, and Ligier. Suzuki began his motorsport career in Japanese Formula Three before moving to Europe. He made his F1 debut in 1988 when he substituted for Yannick Dalmas at Larrousse, showing promise in his limited opportunities.

In 1989 with the struggling Zakspeed-Yamaha team, Suzuki failed to pre-qualify at all 16 races, one of Formula One's most difficult seasons for any driver. His fortunes changed dramatically when he returned to Larrousse for 1990 and 1991. At the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, racing in front of his home crowd, Suzuki delivered a stunning performance to finish third behind Nelson Piquet and Roberto Moreno, becoming the first Asian driver to score a podium finish in Formula One history. The achievement sent the Japanese crowd into raptures and established Suzuki as a motorsport icon in his homeland.

He finished sixth on three other occasions during this period, demonstrating consistent points-scoring ability. For 1992 and 1993 Suzuki drove for Footwork alongside Michele Alboreto and then Derek Warwick, though the team's competitiveness declined and he struggled to add to his points tally. In 1995 he shared a Ligier with Martin Brundle, but a massive crash in practice for the 1995 Japanese Grand Prix caused a serious neck injury. Missing the race, Suzuki immediately announced his retirement from Formula One.

Beyond Formula One, Suzuki achieved success in various Japanese racing series and became a respected figure in Japanese motorsport. In 2006, Suzuki founded the Super Aguri F1 team with backing from Honda, putting the new team together in just four and a half months from his initial announcement on 1 November 2005. The team made its debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix on 12 March 2006 with Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide as drivers. Super Aguri achieved their best result with sixth place at the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix, scoring four championship points.

The team also gave Anthony Davidson opportunities to showcase his talent alongside Sato. However, financial difficulties plagued the operation, and on 6 May 2008, Suzuki announced that Super Aguri would withdraw from Formula One with immediate effect, a devastating blow that ended Japan's second constructor entry. Following Super Aguri's closure, Suzuki remained active in Japanese motorsport, working with various teams and continuing to promote racing in Japan. His historic podium at Suzuka in 1990 paved the way for future Japanese drivers and remains one of the most significant achievements in Asian motorsport history.

Known for his determination, speed, and pioneering spirit, Suzuki's contribution to bringing Formula One recognition to Asia cannot be overstated, and his legacy continues through the success of contemporary Japanese drivers and teams.