Sakon Yamamoto

Sakon Yamamoto (山本 左近) (9 July 1982 - Present): Japanese racing driver and politician from Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Competed in Formula 1 for Super Aguri (2006-2007), Spyker (2007), and HRT (2010), making 21 starts with no points scored. After beginning karting in 1994 at the Suzuka Circuit Racing School, Yamamoto finished 4th in the 2001 Japanese Formula 3 Championship with TOM's. He joined Super Aguri in June 2006 as test and third driver, then raced for them in 2006-2007, finishing the 2006 season strongly with three consecutive finishes after four retirements.

On 26 July 2007, Spyker hired him from Super Aguri for the remainder of 2007, with 12th in his home race his best finish despite monsoon conditions. After serving as Renault test driver in 2008, he replaced Bruno Senna at HRT for the 2010 British Grand Prix onwards and became Marussia Virgin Racing's reserve driver for the opening three races of 2011. Post-F1, Yamamoto concentrated on a career in medicine and social welfare, serving as a member of Japan's House of Representatives from 2021 to 2024, representing Tōkai PR for the Liberal Democratic Party.