Red Bull Racing has opted to leave reigning world champion Max Verstappen on the sidelines for the opening session of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, handing his RB to Japanese prospect Ayumu Iwasa for Free Practice 1. The decision, while surprising on the surface, is part of a regulatory requirement for all Formula One teams to field at least two rookie drivers – defined as having competed in no more than two Grands Prix – in free practice throughout the season.
Bahrain, with its unique schedule and climatic conditions, is often the preferred venue for such rookie appearances and Red Bull is one of several teams choosing to fulfil part of the rookie requirement at Sakhir.
The first free practice session in Bahrain takes place in the heat of the afternoon, with qualifying and the race taking place in the cooler, floodlit evening. This scheduling discrepancy reduces the competitive value of FP1 and makes it an ideal time to give young drivers seat time without compromising team strategy.
Verstappen steps aside for Iwasa debut
In a rare move, Red Bull will leave Max Verstappen out of Friday’s first 60-minute session to give Iwasa his first official run in the championship-winning RB chassis.
A long-standing member of the Red Bull Junior Team, the 23-year-old Japanese driver is currently competing in Japan’s premier single-seater series, Super Formula, where he leads the championship standings. His growing résumé also includes prior Formula 2 experience, a role as a reserve driver for the Red Bull family and free practice outings with VCARB last season.
This will be the first time that Iwasa takes the wheel of a Red Bull Racing car during a Grand Prix weekend. While he has previously tested Formula One machinery with the team’s sister outfit, this run in RB’s main challenger marks a significant milestone in his career. Iwasa’s promotion to Verstappen’s seat for the session underlines Red Bull’s confidence in his abilities and provides him with a golden opportunity to showcase his talent at the highest level.
All-Japanese Red Bull line-up for FP1
With Iwasa stepping into Verstappen’s car and Yuki Tsunoda remaining in his usual seat at Red Bull’s sister team, VCARB, Red Bull Racing will field an all-Japanese driver line-up across its two entries in Friday’s first practice session. It’s a remarkable sight in modern Formula One, where Japanese representation on the grid has traditionally been limited.
Tsunoda, now in his fourth season in F1, has become a respected and increasingly consistent performer, and his presence alongside Iwasa offers Japanese motorsport fans a rare moment of national pride.
The decision to give Iwasa the spotlight this weekend appears to be as much a strategic move as it is symbolic. While Verstappen’s absence from FP1 is certainly unusual given his stature, Red Bull clearly believe that the session – run under unrepresentative conditions – is best used for development rather than direct performance. It also gives Iwasa vital experience of the team’s systems, personnel and car behaviour, which could prove crucial if he is ever called upon to serve in a more prominent role.
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Rookies take centre stage in Bahrain
Iwasa won’t be the only fresh face at the opening practice session in Bahrain. Several other teams are also taking the opportunity to fulfil their rookie obligations and test their future prospects. Among them is fellow Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, who is set to take part in FP1 with Haas. Hirakawa, like Iwasa, has strong ties to Japanese motorsport and has built his profile through performances in Super Formula and endurance racing.
Ferrari will run Swedish youngster Dino Beganovic, while Mercedes will field Frederik Vesti, the Danish driver who finished as runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 season. Williams have opted for Luke Browning, an up-and-coming British talent, and Aston Martin have given a session to Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 Brazilian F2 champion who joined the team’s testing programme last season.
This influx of young drivers reflects the growing emphasis within Formula One on nurturing future stars. With more structured development programmes and increased pressure from the FIA to integrate new talent, these FP1 opportunities are becoming an important stepping stone for drivers hoping to secure full-time seats in the years to come.
Alpine leads the way in rookie integration
While some teams have postponed their rookie sessions, Alpine is one of those teams that are ticking the boxes early. The French outfit gave one of their own young riders a run at last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, a move that gives them more flexibility in how they approach the rest of the season. With limited sessions available and fierce competition within the team for track time, the early integration of rookies can be a tactical advantage.
It’s not yet confirmed whether McLaren, VCARB, Sauber or Ferrari’s sister team will also be running rookies in Bahrain. Each team must balance long-term development priorities with the more immediate goal of optimizing car setup and driver familiarity with evolving race conditions.
Given how little FP1 in Bahrain reflects the qualifying and race trim environment, it remains an attractive slot for experimentation.
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A calculated risk or a glimpse of the future?
Red Bull’s decision to rest Verstappen for FP1 is unlikely to have any tangible impact on their competitive prospects for the weekend. The Dutchman, who has dominated the last two seasons and shows no signs of slowing down, will have plenty of time to get up to speed in FP2 and beyond. Still, it is a rare occasion when Red Bull, a team focused on short-term success, openly prioritises long-term talent development during a race weekend.
For Iwasa, the session will be a crucial audition. Even if a full-time F1 seat remains a distant goal, strong performances in these opportunities can shape careers and open doors in the wider world of motorsport. Red Bull, known for its aggressive promotion and quick judgement, will no doubt be watching closely.
Ultimately, Bahrain’s FP1 session will serve as a window into the future of the sport. With six rookies expected to take to the track, fans and teams alike will get a glimpse of the next generation. For now, the spotlight shines on Ayumu Iwasa, who takes the wheel of a championship-winning car in the deserts of Sakhir, if only for a single hour.
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The new and greener Formula One calendar has seen the start this campaign return to Melbourne before heading logically to China and again to Japan which is also in the Pacific rim. Interference from Ramadan last year saw the first two Grand Prix take place on Saturday’s in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, this year F1 is returning to the Middle East, kind of on its way back home to Europe via Miami.
One advantage of this shift in the calendar is while fans in Europe on the whole sleep, two of the least entertaining circuits are already out of the way for the year. China and Japan often host processional affairs as it turned out the year in both Shanghai and Suzuka.
In fact in the last ten Japanese Grand Prix, only three times has the race been won from pole and on two of those occasions it was a Mercedes’ driver beating the other dominant Mercedes car. There was promise of rain for Sunday and whilst the track was moist when the hit lane opened, come the start of the race there was little water to trouble the drivers who were all on slick tyres….. READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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Have you not noticed that Tsunoda is in the Red Bull team?