Matsushita: Winning in F2 was harder than in Super Formula

Having spent four seasons in GP2/F2 as a Honda junior, and then funding an additional campaign with his own money, Matsushita scored a total of seven wins in the Formula 1 feeder series, two of which came in feature races - including his final victory at Barcelona in 2020.

The 28-year-old has been a mainstay of the Super Formula grid since losing his F2 drive with MP Motorsport midway through the 2020 season, joining the minnow B-Max Racing team and delivering the squad a long-awaited first victory in the championship last month in wet conditions at Suzuka.

He therefore joins current AlphaTauri F1 racer Pierre Gasly and Stoffel Vandoorne in an exclusive club of drivers to have won races in both categories.

But despite having to wait until his fourth season in Super Formula to stand on the top step of the podium, Matsushita admitted that he feels his feature race wins in F2 are bigger achievements.

"Winning in F2 was everything for me," Matsushita told Autosport. "I don’t want to say Super Formula is easy, of course it’s really tough, but winning a feature race in F2 is more difficult for sure.

"Everyone is more aggressive, and personally for me it was a bigger thing."

Asked about his apparent lack of emotion after his Suzuka win compared to other recent first-time winners, Matsushita replied: "I won a few times in F2…

"It’s better to be like this [relaxed], showing so much emotion is not my way. I don’t like this kind of drama. But if I win the championship… I don’t think I will cry, but maybe… let’s see!"

Matsushita's Suzuka win came on a day characterised by a slowly-drying track and a need to take care of the delicate Yokohama wet tyres, with the rain negating the need for a mandatory pitstop.

Some drivers suffered a