'Without Trying, You Change Nothing’: Juju Noda’s Rise to Super Formula

The first time I read about Juju Noda was on a Forbes article titled, “Girl Power: Could This 11-Year-Old Become The First-Ever Woman F1 Winner?” I still remember the intrigue when I read that title. I had never seen a major publication tip off an 11-year-old to become a Formula 1 driver. And even more fascinating  - a female F1 driver - something still not a reality in 2025!

Eight years later, the girl who once redefined precociousness has graduated into something far more potent: the female Super Formula driver and arguably Japan’s most hopeful talent export in global motorsport today.

"I'm a competitor. So I'm never satisfied.”

“I want to be better and better,” Juju told me, leaning into the call with the kind of quiet yet firm intensity. “I became the youngest ever Super Formula driver and the first female Japanese driver. So with that, I suppose I'm doing okay.”

Doing okay is, frankly, an understatement. At just 18, Juju has not only broken records but done so in an impressive manner and against a backdrop of skeptical pitlanes. Her win in the Euroformula Open -beating one of Europe’s top teams while racing for her own family-run outfit - wasn’t just historic. It was a statement.

“That’s the moment I really motivated to beat one of the best teams in Europe,” she said. “It was a huge challenge for me, but it was really fun to work with my family and my friends.”

But the rapid climb hasn’t been without valleys.

“The lowest low was joining the W Series,” she admitted. “I was invited to race there, but I couldn’t control anything in the team… I didn’t have anyone I could trust. I was still 16. That was difficult.”

On being a role model

Despite the headlines and historic firsts, Juju’s journey is remarkably unfiltered. She isn’t trying to be a poster girl for Japanese motorsport - yet, in many ways, she already is.

“Usually people think driving a race car is a male-dominated sport. And yeah, it is right,” she said. “But without challenging this difficult adventure and without trying, you will change nothing.”

When I asked if being a role model for young girls adds pressure, she smiled. “No, I am very happy. Sometimes, a little girl comes to me and says, ‘I want to be like you.’ That makes me really motivated.”

“It’s not a family team, family-run team”

Unlike most young drivers climbing the motorsport ladder, Juju isn’t just driving cars, she’s building her team around her. The 2025 season in Super Formula, and her second year in the highest open-wheel series in Asia, is with Triple Tree Racing - a team founded by her family. Yet she isn’t under any misconception that it comes with any free passes on professional commitment.

“Super Formula is very, you know, professional team. So, in the team, you have so many people, like 30 people. So, you cannot run Super Formula just as a family team. Of course, my father is involved in this team. And my mother is helping my team. But having said that, there's almost 30 people involved in this team.”

What might be an advantage to have a team built around oneself isn’t always so straightforward; it’s a lonely but formative battleground. “My goal is to build this team up to top class,” she said. “I’m still learning for myself. I cannot rely on teammates. It’s not easy, but it is demanding. But I and the team members are very motivated.”

Eyes on the future, roots in the now

When asked about Formula One, her response was tempered but honest: “It’s too early to say. But I’m still young. I’d like to try Formula 1, WEC, IndyCar… why not, if I have the opportunity?”

It’s easy to get carried away when the bar is set so high and the spotlight never seems to wane from the most impressive youngster in racing. But from the short conversation, I see her chase growth, the raw thrill of racing, and the craft of becoming better - all that feeds into results and performances, the language the motor racing world understands a bit too well.

Catch Juju live in action at this weekend’s Super Formula round 5 in Autopolis on 18th May on Motorsport TV.

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PS: I can only hope that the 11-year-old girl from the Forbes headline will become the first-ever woman F1 winner. But I do know this: she’s already changed the game and she’s here to play.