The team will "leave" Max Verstappen out of the first practice session so they can field a Japanese rookie/player in his place.
Under this year's rules, rookies must already be given four opportunities to gain experience in FP1, and the most suitable venue for this is Bahrain. The first practice session doesn't carry much weight, as the really important things happen under the spotlight at this circuit. On the other hand, the youngsters also know the track well, as this environment is a familiar and common location for training series. Following this logic, Ayumu Iwasa could be slotted into Max Verstappen's Red Bull, creating an unusual lineup: a pair of Japanese drivers in a Formula 1 team.
Iwasa, at 23, is no longer considered a rookie. He currently leads the Super Formula championship, but he also competed for two years in F2, where he was also among the best. It will be interesting to see how he compares to Yuki Tsunoda!
Photo: FML / Red Bull
