The team is "dropping" Max Verstappen for the first practice session to bring in the Japanese rookie/protégé in his place.
This year’s rules require rookies to have four opportunities to gain experience in FP1, and Bahrain is the perfect place to do that. The first practice session doesn’t really matter, as this is where the most important things happen under the spotlight, and the young drivers know the track well, as it’s a well-known and respected venue in the junior series. Following this logic, Ayumu Iwasa could be in the driver’s seat for Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, creating a rare combination: a pure Japanese driver duo in a Formula 1 team.
Iwasa, at 23, is no longer a rookie, currently leading the Super Formula championship, but also competed in F2 for two years, where he was also among the frontrunners. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Yuki Tsunoda!
Photo: FML / Red Bull
