This episode punched me in the face right away. Haruka is with Belsorriso? What? Belsorriso first driver, Satsuki Harunaga, got into a terrible accident in episode 6. Ever since then, the team immediately put his partner, Toshiki Tokumaru, to replace him.

At first, the team put some younger drivers as Toshiki’s second driver. However, in this episode, Belsorriso actually wants to take Haruka in. This is a big decision. That means Haruka has to leave Komaki Motors that has been supporting him all these times, and drive for its rival.

Obviously, it drives every one in Komaki Motors into a dilemma. But, do you know who is getting the shortest end of the stick here? Satsuki Harunaga. Throughout this episode, he is still trying his best to recover fast, not knowing Belsorriso is already looking for a replacement.

I’m Not James Hunt, But Niki Lauda

Alright, I’ve stated how Satsuki came off as annoying at first. His overly positive personality made me think that he was such a one-dimensional character. However, in this episode, we see how his desperation to go back to racing propels his determination.

When Aris visits him in this episode, she spots him curling weight on his chair. She then discovers that the weights he is using are too heavy for rehab activity. She can clearly see how Satsuki is dying to come back to Belsorriso and the track.

I like how he is self-aware that he might be at the top of the race standings, but still is vulnerable to how things work. Drivers who got into an accident must undergo a period of recovery, even though it may take a long time. Also, Satsuki also knows he has to get back to Belsorriso to keep his career.

However, Aris reminds him about how Niki Lauda got back to racing despite his burn injury. I like how this little further progress the romance between the two. Turns out she has been paying a close attention whenever Satsuki recalls James hunt and Niki Lauda. With this in mind, he is determined to relive what Lauda did and return to his team.

Toshiki Is Under Pressure

In the meantime, let’s get on with the surprise at the beginning of the episode. I mean, come on, this episode starts with Haruka wearing a Belsorriso racing suit. To say I was stunned is kind of an understatement.

To potentially replace Satsuki, Belsorriso is scouting for a good driver as Toshiki’s wingman. Seeing a potential in Haruka, they actually offered Haruka to try out their car. But, before getting into Haruka’s side of the story, I want to put a spotlight on Toshiki first.

Toshiki Tokumaru was originally the second driver for Belsorriso, he got his current position to replace Satsuki as their first driver after the unfortunate accident. Throughout his career as a second driver, he is actually a solid team player.

Toshiki The Wingman

Toshiki always played by the book and for the team efforts, willing to give his position for Satsuki when needed. If he didn’t, it would cause a bit of a drama in the team, like what happened with Verstappen and Perez in the 2022 Sao Paulo GP.

However, when the two are practicing slipstream, Toshiki felt an uncanny pressure. Haruka keeps a close distance behind him, minimizing the effect of dirty air. But, when they return to the pit, Toshiki lashes out at Haruka, saying he shouldn’t put unnecessary pressure on a teammate.

At this point, Haruka realizes that he has been driving alone this whole time. So, it’s going to take time for him to learn to drive as a team. On the other hand, Toshiki has an extensive experience of being a supporting driver. Yet, he got into an angry fit about how Haruka is driving. Being at the front turns out not like he imagined.

Having a driver to support another is a somewhat common strategy in racing. After all, the team wants to secure scores. The matter of who scores them is second in the priority list. Belsorriso seems to be very clear about their stance on team orders. Although it has its own controversy, implementing team orders has its advantages for the team.

The Big Dilemma

Alright, let’s get it on with the big question. Will Haruka leave Komaki Motors to join Belsorriso. As a professional racer, moving up to the big team is a great career step. We know that Komaki Motors is a small private team. On the contrary, Belsorriso is a giant in racing competition. To top it off, F4 isn’t even a top priority for them because they are essentially a GT racing team.

However, all of this negotiation is on a friendly ground. Mr. Komaki is actually a good friend of Belsorriso owner, Mr. Ena. They were in the same team with Haruka’s father as well. This is actually a great chance for Haruka to really show his talent. Mr. Komaki and Kotaro are also in support of this. Although, Kotaro already misses Haruka, despite Haruka hasn’t come to his decision.

Drivers moving to a more well-funded and more established is nothing uncommon. When a great young racer has proved his merit, the big kingpin of the championship might keep an eye on him.

Same thing with what George Russel did in 2022. Leaving Williams for Mercedes was a huge deal for him professionally. Although it means he had to leave everyone he knows at Williams, it would be questionable to decline an offer from Mercedes.

Well, Haruka has the same dilemma. Leaving Komaki Motors means leaving Mr. Komaki and Kotaro. But, professionally, it would be a great opportunity for him to drive for Belsorriso. But, how about Satsuki? If he hasn’t known about what his team is doing, well I’d say it wouldn’t end up good for him. In any case, I’d like to see how the story unfold in the next episode.