Top 5 Japanese F1 Drivers of all time

Despite Formula 1 being a sport with its origins in Europe, Japanese manufacturers - and later drivers - have been a part of the sports since the 1960's. Honda were the first to enter in 1964 but wouldn't have significant success until they supplied the McLaren and Williams teams during the 1980's and 90's. During this time, the first full-time Japanese F1 drivers began to filter into the sport, and while none have ever won a Grand Prix, they have made a significant impact on the series.

Unfortunately, there aren't any drivers from Japan competing in Formula 1 in 2019, but with Honda back as an engine supplier, the potential for this to change in the near future is very real. With that being said, here are the five best F1 drivers to come from the Japanese archipelago!

#5 Shinji Nakano

Nakano scored his only F1 points for the Prost team in 1997.

When your nation has only produced 20 Formula 1 drivers, some that feature on a top 5 list will probably not be the best. Unfortunately, Shinji Nakano falls into this category, but the man from Osaka was better than his record may suggest.

Nakano's rookie season was with the Prost team, partnering Olivier Panis, just a season after the Frenchman sensationally won the Monaco Grand Prix. In fairness, Panis was on another level to Nakano until the former suffered career-threatening injuries in Canada. However, Nakano did score points on two occasions in '97, not bad for what was an average car.

Nakano was replaced at Prost by Jarno Trulli for 1998, but he retained his place in F1, by driving for Minardi. While Nakano didn't score any points that year, nor did his team-mate. Had the points extended down to tenth like today's racing, Nakano would've scored on four occasions, a decent return for what was one of the worst teams that year.

#4 Satoru Nakajima

Saturo Nakajima spent the majority of his F1 career at Lotus

Satoru Nakajima is a driver that might not seem too spectacular on surface, but if you dig a little deeper, you'll uncover that he was quick on his day, if not a little inconsistent. Nakajima became the first full-time Japanese Formula 1 driver when he joined Lotus for the 1987 season.

His unenviable task was competing against Ayrton Senna in the same car, and while he was a long way off Senna, Nakajima did score points, finishing as high as 4th at Silverstone. It didn't get any easier the following year either, as defending world champion Nelson Piquet joined Lotus for 1988.

Frankly, Nakajima was outclassed by Piquet that year, and the same was true in '89 as well, although the Japanese driver did score points in a midfield car, no mean feat when the points only went down to sixth place.

Nakajima switched to Tyrrell for 1990, as Lotus' financial troubles began to rear its ugly head. However, Nakajima was again joined at the team by one of the best drivers of the era, Jean Alesi. Alesi may have outscored Nakajima in 1990 - thanks in part to the Frenchman's incredible podium in Phoenix - but Satoru did score points in the same number of races as Alesi (3). 1991 was the end of the F1 road for Nakajima, an average year for Tyrrell against Stefano Modena doing little to convince team bosses that he was worth taking a punt on for '92.

#3 Aguri Suzuki

Aguri Suzuki (right) claimed his and Larrousse's only F1 podium in 1990.

The 1990 Japanese Grand Prix is memorable for most F1 fans because of the dramatic first corner crash between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost which decided that year's driver's title. However, the natives of Japan probably laud it more because it was the first time a Japanese driver stood on the F1 podium.

Aguri Suzuki was very much big in Japan that day, as he finished ahead of both Williams drivers on pure pace to claim third place and Larrousse's best Formula 1 finish.

This was Suzuki's most famous moment in the sport, a result that helped him edge out his teammate Eric Bernard by a single point that year. Although, Suzuki did enjoy some more points finishes, his final one coming in 1995 while filling in at Ligier.

Suzuki is perhaps remembered best these days for being the owner of the Super Aguri F1 team in the late 2000's, a plucky outfit that would thrill us all on one fateful day in Montreal.

#2 Kamui Kobayashi

Kamui Kobayashi claimed his one and only F1 podium in his home race.

There weren't many drivers who thrilled us during their time in Formula 1 more than Kamui Kobayashi. If there was one thing the Amagasaki native wasn't lacking, it was bravery, as he'd regularly pull off overtakes that few would even attempt.

Many were surprised at Toyota choosing Kobayashi to replace the injured Timo Glock for the final few rounds of the 2009 season. Kamui was 16th overall in the GP2 championship (today's equivalent of F2), but he was impressive from the off in an F1 car. The Japanese driver's staunch defensive driving almost earned him a debut point in Brazil, but his outright speed won him sixth place at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP.

Toyota exited F1 for 2010, but Kobayashi remained, joining Sauber, where he'd remain until 2012. Kobayashi was a cut above his team-mates for that year - Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld - despite the pair's far superior levels of F1 experience. Kobayashi was again the fastest Sauber driver in 2011, as Sergio Perez joined for his rookie season in Formula 1. Perez would become one of the surprises of 2012, but Kobayashi was also impressive, standing on the podium for his home race in Suzuka, one of only two men to do so (the other being the aforementioned Suzuki).

Kobayashi is also the most recent Japanese F1 driver after he returned to the sport with the uncompetitive Caterham team in 2014.

#1 Takuma Sato

Takuma Sato claimed a very popular podium at the 2004 USGP.

Takuma Sato's longevity in Motorsport is very impressive, as he's still winning races in Indy-car at the age of 42. But long before his transition to American open-wheeled racing, the man from Tokyo was catching our attention in the pinnacle of motor sport. His rookie year was with Jordan in 2002, but the Irish team weren't competitive that year, although Sato did score a pair of points in his home race for fifth place.

Sato became BAR's test driver for 2003, but he'd be given a full-time drive for 2004, partnering Jenson Button. Sato was frankly blown away by Button, but Jenson did have an extremely impressive year, finishing third overall in the driver's standings. Button was a future world champion, and Sato was in his second season of F1 racing after having a year off. Takuma also got the best result of his F1 career, finishing third at the 2004 USGP, at the same circuit where he'd go on to win the Indy 500 at 13 years later.

Sato remained at BAR for another year before joining Super Aguri for 2006, a team that was run by the number 3 entry on this list. The team weren't competitive, but Sato did manage to finish sixth at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, ahead of defending champion Fernando Alonso's McLaren. That was arguably the best drive of his career.

But who do you think is Japan's best ever F1 driver? Is it Sato or another pilot? Let us know in the comments below!