Japanese ace Ayumu Iwasa is set to replace Max Verstappen during opening practice at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix for Red Bull.
Iwasa, 23, is part of the Red Bull setup as a Racing Bulls reserve driver.
A member of the Red Bull junior programme, the Japanese driver stepped from the FIA Formula 2 series to Super Formula last year, and leads his homeland’s premier single-seater championship after two rounds in 2025.
Iwasa previously contested FP1 sessions in Japan and Abu Dhabi last year with Racing Bulls, as well as the post-season Abu Dhabi test.
This weekend marks his debut in the Red Bull machine amid the team celebrating its final win at Suzuka with outgoing engine partner Honda.
Iwasa is a member of the Honda Formula Dream Project, and Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe is happy to see the Japanese driver granted a Red Bull opportunity.
“We hope that Iwasa will make the most of this valuable opportunity to drive the car that won the latest Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, turning these 60 minutes into a stepping stone for the future,” he said.
Iwasa will want to use this experience as a stepping stone into an F1 race seat.
Honda parting ways with Red Bull at the end of the year could muddy the waters in that regard, but if he can continue to impress in practice sessions and other opportunities, while maintaining a Super Formula title tilt, Iwasa could find himself an F1 opportunity.
Ahead of Isack Hadjar’s promotion to F1 with Racing Bulls, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko implied Iwasa was in the frame.
“We have other strong drivers in the junior team, such as Ayumu Iwasa and Isack Hadjar,” Marko wrote on Speedweek.
“They will get the chance to drive on the rookie test day after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. After that, we will see what happens.”
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