Kalle Rovanperä, just 25 years old, is saying farewell to rallying. After claiming two World Rally Championship titles, the Finnish driver is now setting his sights on single-seater racing, with both Red Bull Racing and Toyota closely monitoring his next steps. Following a meteoric rise in WRC, Rovanperä plans to transition from gravel and snow to the tarmac and high-speed circuits of open-wheel racing. By 2026, he is expected to compete in Japan’s premier single-seater series, Super Formula, keeping the doors open for future opportunities in Formula 1 or the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Finland, the cradle of rallying where children grow up mastering slides on snowy roads, continues to produce world-class talent. Kalle Rovanperä has become the seventh Finnish driver to claim the top of the rallying world, joining the ranks of legendary names such as Juha Kankkunen, Tommi Mäkinen, and Marcus Grönholm. Born in Jyväskylä on October 1, 2000, Rovanperä already boasts two WRC titles from 2022 and 2023 and is currently fighting for a third championship.
While his future on gravel seems glittering with success, the 25-year-old prodigy has other plans. In 2024, his participation in the World Rally Championship was scaled back to a part-time schedule, though this did not prevent him from winning in Kenya, Poland, Latvia, and Chile. That same year, he also competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, securing three victories, and participated in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy, racing in the double Monza round.
Rovanperä: first Super Formula, then Formula 1?
Rovanperä’s departure from the WRC will become definitive in 2026. With the backing of Toyota Gazoo Racing, he will debut in Super Formula, Japan’s top-level single-seater series. While Japan may seem distant from the European and global motorsport radar, the Dallara SF23 cars used in Super Formula are much closer to Formula 1 machinery than Formula 2 cars, providing an invaluable learning platform for drivers aiming for the pinnacle of motorsport.
The Japanese series is widely regarded as a launchpad for young talent aspiring to reach Formula 1 and has been instrumental in the development of Red Bull drivers. For example, Liam Lawson, who in 2025 competed in two F1 races for Red Bull before moving to Racing Bulls, was named Rookie of the Year in Super Formula in 2023.
Last winter, Rovanperä took part in a test with Red Bull Racing, reportedly leaving a very positive impression. Additionally, the strategic partnership between Toyota and Haas adds another dimension to his potential F1 pathway. Today, imagining such a leap is extraordinary, considering his age and the lack of a traditional single-seater background. By 2027, some predict he may take a step into Formula 2 before attempting an ultimate move to Formula 1.
In a year marked by Max Verstappen’s debut in GT3 racing, it is not hard to imagine a rallying superstar like Rovanperä making the transition in the opposite direction, from the world of WRC to the highest echelon of single-seater motorsport. His journey could provide an intriguing new chapter in the Red Bull driver lineup, potentially reshaping the team’s future in Formula 1.
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