Marino Sato

Japanese racing driver

Marino Sato

Sato in 2022

Nationality|  Japanese
Born|  (1999-05-12) 12 May 1999 (age 24)
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan[1]
FIA Formula 2 Championship career
Debut season| 2019
Racing licence|  FIA Gold
Car number| 4
Former teams| Campos Racing, Trident, Virtuosi Racing
Starts| 81 (82 entries)
Wins| 0
Podiums| 0
Poles| 0
Fastest laps| 0
Best finish| 21st in 2019, 2021
Previous series
2019
2017-18
2015-16| Euroformula Open Championship
FIA Formula 3 European Championship
Italian F4 Championship
Championship titles
2019| Euroformula Open Championship

Marino Sato (佐藤万璃音, Satō Marino, born 12 May 1999) is a Japanese racing driver who is currently set to compete for United Autosports in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He most recently competed for United in the European Le Mans Series, and is best known for winning the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship before competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2019 to 2022.

He is not related to former Formula One driver Takuma Sato.

## Early career[edit]

### Formula 4[edit]

In 2015, Marino Sato competed in the 2015 Italian F4 Championship for Euronova Racing/Vincenzo Sospiri Racing.[2] He finished on the podium once and came 10th in the final standings. Sato would remain with the team for the 2016 Italian F4 Championship. However, even when he won a race at Imola, he only finished 18th in the driver's championship.

### FIA Formula 3 European Championship[edit]

#### 2017[edit]

Sato progressed to the 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship to drive for Motopark. He scored one point during the season and finished 19th in the standings.[3]

#### 2018[edit]

Sato racing during the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship

Despite having been the second-lowest driver in the standings to compete at every event, he was retained for the 2018 season. His performance improved compared to 2017, and he finished 16th in the championship.

### Euroformula Open[edit]

He moved to the Euroformula Open Championship in 2019. He dominated the championship, winning it with nine victories and helped Motopark to win the team championship.[4]

### FIA Formula 2 Championship[edit]

#### 2019[edit]

In the Summer of 2019, Sato progressed to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, replacing Arjun Maini at Campos Racing from the round at Spa-Francorchamps onwards. However, after the fatal accident of Anthoine Hubert,[5] the Japanese racer would not officially make his F2 debut until the Monza feature face, finishing twelfth overall. He improved to eleventh in the sprint, before having a point-less pair of races in Sochi. Sato would briefly challenge for points in the season finale in Yas Marina, albeit it was not enough to earn him a points finish. Despite this, he took part in the post-season test on the week after the final race, driving for Trident.[6]

#### 2020[edit]

In 2020 he signed for Trident Racing to partner Roy Nissany in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.[7] Sato only managed to score one point at Mugello, and eventually finished 22nd in the standings, four points and three positions behind Nissany.

Sato at the 2021 Silverstone Formula 2 round

#### 2021[edit]

Despite this, the Japanese driver was kept on by Trident for the 2021 season.[8] In the second race of the first round he equalled his best ever F2 result, finishing eighth and scoring one point. However, this would end up being the only points finish for Sato, as he ended up 21st overall.

#### 2022[edit]

Sato driving the Dallara F2 2018 during the 2022 Spielberg Formula 2 round

Sato remained in the series in 2022, this time joining Virtuosi Racing alongside Jack Doohan.[9] A point-less opening weekend in Bahrain was followed up by his first points finish of the year, as Sato ended up eighth in the sprint race at Jeddah, after which he praised the team for the strong pace.[10] After a pair of rounds that failed to yield any points, the Japanese driver managed to score a point in Monaco with a tenth place finish, and managed to finish eighth in the subsequent feature race in Baku, having managed to steer clear of trouble in a race of attrition.[11] The following rounds brought with them a heap of bad luck, with Sato experiencing multiple mechanical issues, as well as having a wheel falling off after a pit stop in Zandvoort, a race in which he had fought for points. Having failed to score points in the second half of the season, the Japanese driver finished 22nd in the drivers' standings.

Sato was replaced by Amaury Cordeel at Virtuosi for the 2023 season.

### Formula One[edit]

Sato drove in the end of season Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi for Scuderia AlphaTauri, alongside fellow countryman Yuki Tsunoda (who would soon become an AlphaTauri race driver).[12] He ended the session with the 13th fastest time (1:38.495), reflecting on that day as one that "made [him] visualise more what [his] dream is".[13]

## Sportscar career[edit]

### 2023: ELMS debut[edit]

For the 2023 season, Sato transitioned into sportscar racing, drving for United Autosports in the LMP2 category of the European Le Mans Series alongside Philip Hanson and Oliver Jarvis.[14]

### 2024: FIA World Endurance Championship[edit]

Following his performances in the European Le Mans Series, Sato was announced to be remaining with United Autosports to make his international sportscar racing debut in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, driving in the newly established LMGT3 class in a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.[15]

Sato was also originally announced to be competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the LMP2 class for 2024, racing alongside former Formula One driver Paul di Resta, but he later withdrew from the IMSA programme after an upgrade in his FIA driver categorisation to "focus fully on the WEC challenge ahead."[15][16] In December 2023, United would announce that Sato had signed on for a sophomore season in the ELMS, partnering Ben Hanley and Filip Ugran.[17]

## Karting record[edit]

### Karting career summary[edit]

Season  | Series  | Team  | Position

|
|
|

2011  | Asian Karting Open Championship — Formula 125 Junior Open  |  | 12th
2012  | Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals — Junior  | Eiko Japan  | 28th
SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Junior  | Phil Giebler Racing  | 13th
Asia-Pacific Championship — KF3 | Simon Racing Team  | 2nd
2013  | German Karting Championship — Junior  |  | NC
WSK Master Series — KFJ | Praga Kart Racing  | 38th
IAME International Final — X30 Junior  | 16th
Rotax International Open — Junior  | 32nd
WSK Final Cup — KFJ | 32nd
CIK-FIA World Championship — KFJ |  | 66th
2014  | South Garda Winter Cup — KF | Praga Kart Racing  | 19th
WSK Champions Cup — KF | 21st
Rotax Euro Challenge — Senior  | 89th
WSK Super Master Series — KF | 37th
CIK-FIA European Championship — KF | 49th
CIK-FIA World Championship — KF | NC
WSK Final Cup — KF | 25th

## Racing record[edit]

### Racing career summary[edit]

Season  | Series  | Team  | Races  | Wins  | Poles  | F/Laps | Podiums  | Points  | Position

|
|
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2015  | Italian F4 Championship | Vincenzo Sospiri Racing | 21  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 62  | 10th
2016  | Italian F4 Championship | Vincenzo Sospiri Racing | 21  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 42  | 18th
2017  | FIA Formula 3 European Championship | Motopark | 30  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 19th
Macau Grand Prix | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | N/A  | DNF
2018  | FIA Formula 3 European Championship | Motopark | 30  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 31.5  | 16th
Macau Grand Prix | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | N/A  | DNF
2019  | Euroformula Open Championship | Team Motopark | 16  | 9  | 6  | 5  | 11  | 307  | 1st
FIA Formula 2 Championship | Campos Racing | 6  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 21st
2020  | FIA Formula 2 Championship | Trident | 24  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 22nd
2021  | FIA Formula 2 Championship | Trident | 23  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 21st
2022  | FIA Formula 2 Championship | Virtuosi Racing | 28  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 6  | 22nd
2023  | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | United Autosports USA | 6  | 3  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 100  | 2nd
2024  | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 | United Autosports |  |  |  |  |  |  |
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

### Complete Italian F4 Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Entrant  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | DC  | Points

|
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|

2015 | Vincenzo Sospiri Racing | VLL

7 | VLL

7 | VLL

9 | MNZ

13 | MNZ

9 | MNZ

8 | IMO1

4 | IMO1

Ret | IMO1

13 | MUG

14 | MUG

18 | MUG

16 | ADR

6 | ADR

2 | ADR

14 | IMO2

13 | IMO2

21† | IMO2

15 | MIS

Ret | MIS

4 | MIS

5 |  |  | 10th  | 62
2016 | Vincenzo Sospiri Racing | MIS

27 | MIS

11 | MIS
3 | MIS

22 | ADR

13 | ADR
2 | ADR

4 | ADR

8 | IMO1

11 | IMO1

21 | IMO1

16 | MUG

15 | MUG

17 | MUG

12 | VLL

19 | VLL

15 | VLL

Ret | IMO2

7 | IMO2

8 | IMO2

1 | MNZ

Ret | MNZ

10 | MNZ

Ret | 18th  | 42

### Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Entrant  | Engine  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30  | DC  | Points

|
|
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2017 | Motopark | Volkswagen | SIL

16 | SIL

12 | SIL

18 | MNZ

13 | MNZ

11 | MNZ

12 | PAU

14 | PAU

Ret | PAU

13 | HUN

16 | HUN

16 | HUN

15 | NOR

13 | NOR

16 | NOR

13 | SPA

15 | SPA

11 | SPA

14 | ZAN

15 | ZAN

18 | ZAN

17 | NÜR

16 | NÜR

Ret | NÜR

12 | RBR

14 | RBR

16 | RBR

10 | HOC

18 | HOC

19 | HOC

16 | 19th  | 1
2018 | Motopark | Volkswagen | PAU

9 | PAU

18 | PAU

10‡ | HUN

15 | HUN

13 | HUN

16 | NOR

8 | NOR

7 | NOR

13 | ZAN

19 | ZAN

10 | ZAN

4 | SPA

7 | SPA

15 | SPA

16 | SIL

12 | SIL

17 | SIL

14 | MIS

15 | MIS

12 | MIS

Ret | NÜR

Ret | NÜR

Ret | NÜR

18 | RBR

14 | RBR

13 | RBR

21 | HOC

19 | HOC

14 | HOC

16 | 16th  | 31.5

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

### Complete Macau Grand Prix results[edit]

Year  | Team  | Car  | Qualifying  | Quali Race  | Main race

|
|
|
|
|

2017 |  Motopark | Dallara F317 | 15th  | 14th  | DNF
2018 |  Motopark | Dallara F317 | 7th  | 11th  | DNF

### Complete Euroformula Open Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year  | Entrant  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | DC  | Points

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2019 | Team Motopark | LEC

5 | LEC

1 | PAU

3 | PAU

6 | HOC

1 | HOC

2 | SPA

1 | SPA

1 | HUN

1 | HUN

1 | RBR

1 | RBR

1 | SIL
1 | SIL
2 | CAT

10† | CAT

5 | MNZ

1 | MNZ

5 | 1st  | 307

### Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year  | Entrant  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | DC  | Points

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2019 | Campos Racing | BHR
FEA | BHR
SPR | BAK
FEA | BAK
SPR | CAT
FEA | CAT
SPR | MON
FEA | MON
SPR | LEC
FEA | LEC
SPR | RBR
SPR | RBR
SPR | SIL
FEA | SIL
SPR | HUN
FEA | HUN
SPR | SPA
FEA
C | SPA
SPR
C | MNZ
FEA
12 | MNZ
SPR
11 | SOC
FEA
16 | SOC
SPR
15 | YMC
FEA
18 | YMC
SPR
16 |  |  |  |  | 21st  | 0
2020 | Trident | RBR
FEA
Ret | RBR
SPR
17 | RBR
FEA
16 | RBR
SPR
Ret | HUN
FEA
Ret | HUN
SPR
20 | SIL
FEA
20 | SIL
SPR
12 | SIL
FEA
17 | SIL
SPR
17 | CAT
FEA
15 | CAT
SPR
21 | SPA
FEA
14 | SPA
SPR
Ret | MNZ
FEA
20 | MNZ
SPR
13 | MUG
FEA
14 | MUG
SPR
8 | SOC
FEA
13 | SOC
SPR
15 | BHR
FEA
20 | BHR
SPR
11 | BHR
FEA
17 | BHR
SPR
16 |  |  |  |  | 22nd  | 1
2021 | Trident | BHR
SP1
15 | BHR
SP2
8 | BHR
FEA
14 | MCO
SP1
19† | MCO
SP2
Ret | MCO
FEA
14 | BAK
SP1
18 | BAK
SP2
13 | BAK
FEA
15 | SIL
SP1
NC | SIL
SP2
16 | SIL
FEA
19 | MNZ
SP1
NC | MNZ
SP2
20 | MNZ
FEA
Ret | SOC
SP1
14 | SOC
SP2
C | SOC
FEA
14 | JED
SP1
Ret | JED
SP2
13 | JED
FEA
18 | YMC
SP1
19 | YMC
SP2
16 | YMC
FEA
17 |  |  |  |  | 21st  | 1
2022 | Virtuosi Racing | BHR
SPR
16 | BHR
FEA
11 | JED
SPR
8 | JED
FEA
17 | IMO
SPR
16 | IMO
FEA
11 | CAT
SPR
17 | CAT
FEA
19 | MCO
SPR
15 | MCO
FEA
10 | BAK
SPR
17† | BAK
FEA
8 | SIL
SPR
Ret | SIL
FEA
15 | RBR
SPR
Ret | RBR
FEA
16 | LEC
SPR
9 | LEC
FEA
Ret | HUN
SPR
15 | HUN
FEA
15 | SPA
SPR
12 | SPA
FEA
15 | ZAN
SPR
19 | ZAN
FEA
Ret | MNZ
SPR
11 | MNZ
FEA
11 | YMC
SPR
19 | YMC
FEA
15 | 22nd  | 6

† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.
* Season still in progress.

### Complete European Le Mans Series results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Entrant  | Class  | Chassis  | Engine  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | Rank  | Points

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2023 | United Autosports USA | LMP2  | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 V8 | CAT
6 | LEC
7 | ARA
1 | SPA
5 | POR
1 | ALG
1 | 2nd  | 100
2024 | United Autosports | LMP2  | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8  | CAT | LEC | IMO | SPA | MUG | ALG |  |

### Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Entrant  | Class  | Car  | Engine  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | Rank  | Points

|
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|

2024 | United Autosports | LMGT3  | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8  | QAT | IMO | SPA | LMS | SÃO | COA | FUJ | BHR | *  | *

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Profile - Marino Sato Official Web Site". Retrieved 2023-10-28.
2. ^ David, Gruz (2015-02-22). "Euronova sign Mauricio Baiz, Marino Sato for Italian F4". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
3. ^ Allen, Peter (2017-02-14). "Motopark adds Marino Sato to European F3 line-up". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
4. ^ Wood, Ida (2019-09-21). "Marino Sato seals EF Open title at Barcelona as Liam Lawson wins". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
5. ^ "Statement: Incident during FIA Formula 2 Feature Race, Spa-Francorchamps". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
6. ^ "Abu Dhabi FIA F2 post-season-test day 3 classification - Mazepin and Schumacher on top - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
7. ^ "Trident sign Sato for 2020". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
8. ^ "Trident Motorsport and Marino Sato remain together for the 2021 FIA F2 Championship - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
9. ^ Allen, Peter (2021-12-13). "Doohan and Sato to race for Virtuosi in F2 in 2022". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
10. ^ "Virtuosi 'strong straight from the go' in Jeddah, praises Sato". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
11. ^ "Sato happy with points finish in Baku after staying out of trouble". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
12. ^ "Marino Sato joins AlphaTauri for Abu Dhabi F1 test". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
13. ^ "Maiden wins and confidence builders: moments that made Marino Sato". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
14. ^ Autosports, United. "European Le Mans Series LMP2 challenge unveiled". United Autosports. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
15. ^ a b "WEC: Sato set for McLaren LMGT3 programme subject to entry confirmation". United Autosports. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
16. ^ "IMSA: Goldburg, Sato and di Resta team up for 2024 season". United Autosports. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
17. ^ "Sato & Ugran Added To United ELMS LMP2 Squad". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.

## External links[edit]

* Official website (in Japanese)
* Marino Sato career summary at DriverDB.com

Sporting positions

Preceded by

Felipe Drugovich

|  Euroformula Open Championship
Champion
2019 | Succeeded by

Yifei Ye

* v
* t
* e

Teams and drivers that are set to compete in the LMGT3 class of the 2024 World Endurance Championship

| Heart of Racing Team| Team WRT| Vista AF Corse| United Autosports

|
|
|

* 27\. Ian James / Daniel Mancinelli / Alex Riberas

* 31\. Augusto Farfus / Sean Gelael / Darren Leung
* 46\. Ahmad Al Harthy / Maxime Martin / Valentino Rossi

* 54\. Francesco Castellacci / Thomas Flohr / Davide Rigon
* 55\. François Heriau / Simon Mann / Alessio Rovera

* 59\. Nicolas Costa / James Cottingham / Grégoire Saucy
* 95\. Josh Caygill / Nico Pino / Marino Sato

| Iron Lynx| Iron Dames| Proton Competition| Akkodis ASP Team

|
|
|

* 60\. Matteo Cressoni / Franck Perera / Claudio Schiavoni

* 85\. Sarah Bovy / Michelle Gatting / Doriane Pin

* 77\. Ben Barker / Ryan Hardwick / Zacharie Robichon
* 88\. Dennis Olsen / Mikkel O. Pedersen / Giorgio Roda

* 78\. Timur Boguslavskiy / Kelvin van der Linde / Arnold Robin
* 87\. Takeshi Kimura / José María López / Esteban Masson

| TF Sport| Manthey EMA| Manthey Pure Rxcing| D'Station Racing

|
|
|

* 81\. Rui Andrade / Charlie Eastwood / Tom van Rompuy
* 82\. Sébastien Baud / Daniel Juncadella / Hiroshi Koizumi

* 91\. Richard Lietz / Morris Schuring / Yasser Shahin

* 92\. Klaus Bachler / Alex Malykhin / Joel Sturm

* 777\. Erwan Bastard / Marco Sørensen / Clément Mateu

Other drivers:
*[Best finish]: Best finish in the championship
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template