Kalle Rovanperä's Super Formula withdrawal due to health, not strength, says teammate

Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä has suspended his planned 2026 Super Formula campaign due to a worsening vertigo condition, prioritizing his health over his single-seater racing ambitions. His former Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta has publicly dismissed online speculation that the withdrawal stems from Rovanperä lacking the physical strength for formula cars, instead attributing it solely to a chronic health issue. Katsuta also hinted that data from Rovanperä's prior Formula 2 test was highly impressive.

Why it matters:

Rovanperä's switch from rallying to single-seaters was a highly anticipated career move with a clear path toward Formula 1, making his sudden withdrawal a significant setback. It highlights the physical and mental demands drivers face beyond pure talent, and how health can unexpectedly derail even the most promising transitions between racing disciplines.

The details:

• Rovanperä announced he is stepping back from his 2026 Super Formula season due to Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a condition that has worsened in recent months to a point where he cannot compete safely.
• Online speculation suggested his physique might not be suited to the high-G forces of single-seater racing, implying a lack of necessary strength.
• Takamoto Katsuta, a fellow Toyota driver and close friend, strongly refuted these claims on social media, stating the issue is "simply" a chronic health condition that unfortunately worsened at this critical time.
• Katsuta revealed that those who saw Rovanperä's performance data from a Formula 2 test last year and simulator work "would be amazed," countering any narrative about a lack of speed or adaptation.
• Rovanperä's own statement emphasized that feedback showed "good potential" in his circuit racing project and that this chapter is not finished, leaving the door open for a future return.

What's next:

Rovanperä's immediate focus is entirely on recovering his health, with no timeline given for a return to competition. The episode puts his ambitious single-seater career path on hold indefinitely. However, the strong support from Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda and the team, coupled with Rovanperä's own determination and the promising early signs of his pace, suggest a comeback remains the goal once he is medically cleared.