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Why Honda's best F1 hope won't be leaving Japan

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Honda now has a highly-rated protege with enough superlicence points to get a Formula 1 chance, but who is unlikely to ever be seen on a grand prix grid

When Team Kunimitsu clinched the Super GT title in a thrilling season finale last month at Motegi, it was 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button who grabbed the headlines. But the man he shared the #100 Honda with is deserving of even more praise for his performances in 2018.

Winning a first GT500 crown alongside Button capped off a pretty special year for Naoki Yamamoto, who two weeks earlier earned his second Super Formula title by coming out on top in a tense fight with title rival Nick Cassidy at Suzuka.

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