Reigning Super Formula champion Naoki Yamamoto will make his Formula 1 debut during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Yamamoto, 31, will pilot the Honda-powered Toro Rosso STR14 in the opening practice session at Suzuka, assuming the place of Pierre Gasly.
The Japanese racer has spent his entire top-level career with Honda, and has participated in dual Super GT and Super Formula campaigns in his native country since 2010.
Yamamoto partnered Jenson Button to win last year’s Super GT title, having also claimed a second Super Formula championship to add to his 2013 success in the single-seater series.
Honda has been keen to evaluate Yamamoto in Formula 1 machinery; he was present with the marque during a break in his schedule at the German Grand Prix.
Japan has not had a representative on the Formula 1 grid since Toyota-affiliated Kamui Kobayashi’s final race for Caterham in 2014.
Honda has an array of young drivers on its development programme but so far only Nobuharu Matsushita has sampled Formula 1 machinery, during an in-season test with Sauber in 2017.
Formula 2 racer Matsushita took victory at last month’s round in Italy while its other leading protégé, Yuki Tsunoda, could be in line for a Formula 2 promotion next year on account of his form in Formula 3.
Yamamoto is not a contender for a 2020 Toro Rosso seat, having not raced outside of his native Japan, while his age is also understood to be a negative factor.
The team is set to field Daniil Kvyat again, and he will be partnered by whichever of Pierre Gasly or Alexander Albon is overlooked by Red Bull.
"First of all, I would like to thank Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull and of course Honda for giving me this great opportunity," said Yamamoto.
"I am delighted that I will get to drive a Formula 1 car this weekend, something which has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.
"To get this chance at Suzuka, a very important circuit for all Japanese racing drivers, in front of such a big crowd of Japanese fans, will make the experience even more special.
"I have prepared as well as possible for this, spending time as part of the Toro Rosso team at several Grand Prix weekends and I have also worked in the Red Bull simulator.
"My main aim in FP1 will be to do a good job for the team, gathering data and information which will be useful for them over the weekend.
"On a personal note, I want to enjoy the experience of driving an F1 car as much as possible and I will be trying my very best to get the most out of it.
"It will be a special moment and I’m glad I will get to share it with the fans at this amazing race track, where I first watched Formula 1 cars in action 27 years ago.”
