New signing for ART Grand Prix in 2025, Ritomo Miyata is gearing up for his second season racing in FIA Formula 2 after completing his rookie campaign last year.

The Japanese driver learned the ropes as he got to grips with a new car, championship and continent as well as how European race teams worked. For 2025, he feels good about his switch to ART and says he’s already felt the benefit of a year’s worth of experience along with his new team.

“First, I need to thank ART, I feel very welcome at the team. Last year was my first year racing in Europe, so it was very tough. Sometimes I had good results, but I was always struggling with the new circuits and the tyres. 80% of the races was my first time at the tracks.”

“After the races in Abu Dhabi, ART was able to give me a lot of information about how to improve a whole lot, the long run, the tyres – everything. So, I’m very thankful to ART for that.”

Going into more depth about the post-season tests around the Yas Marina Circuit last December, Miyata says that he was able to feel the difference compared to his maiden outing in an F2 car one year prior following the end of the 2023 campaign.

Miyata says he is much more comfortable after a season of F2 experience under his belt
Miyata says he is much more comfortable after a season of F2 experience under his belt

While he’s had to learn as much as possible about the F2 car on track, he’s also been able to feel much more confident out of the car. Continuously improving his English, his ability to better communicate with mechanics and engineers is paying dividends in comparison to his early days as an F2 driver.

“The test was quite good for me. The three days after running on the track and after the races. I did the test there in 2023, but it was my first time at that track and the first time driving an F2 car. Everything was new to me back then.

READ MORE: Invicta Racing 2025 Season Preview: Preparing for a double title defence

“I learned a lot of things with ART, now that I already have a season of experience in F2 and working with a European team, it was a really useful test. I can feel more confident about my career having worked with a European team and racing in Europe.

“The most difficult thing was learning the language. This year I’ll be driving for a French team but thankfully everyone speaks English. But having experienced last year, all the accents and how people talk, I’m much more comfortable with them and it’s easier to communicate with them. That’s a difference as well compared to last year.”

The Japanese driver says his switch to ART is a huge positive with their race and title-winning experience
The Japanese driver says his switch to ART is a huge positive with their race and title-winning experience

The biggest difference though for the ART driver going into the 2025 campaign is confidence levels. All of the experiences he built up in 2024 have formed a great base to learn from, and his comfort levels in and out of the car have improved his approach going into this season.

So with multiple boxes ticked off from learning the circuits on the F2 calendar, the car itself and how the Championship works along with how to best communicate in a second language, the goal for 2025 is to win.

“This will be the second year for me, so I know what I need to do going into each race weekend. English is my second language, and I’ve also had to change lifestyle compared to being in Japan, but now in this second year, I feel more comfortable which means I feel more confident.

“This season the calendar is the same as last year, so I know all the circuits which is really good for me. I can learn a lot from last season, and I can feel more confident. ART is a really good team, they’ve achieved many wins and Championships going back through GP2 and F2. I trust them and I just need the preparation in order to win races with them.”