Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will sit out the opening practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, with Red Bull Racing confirming that rookie driver Ayumu Iwasa will take his place in the RB21 car for Free Practice 1 (FP1). The announcement, made earlier today, fulfills Red Bull’s first mandatory rookie driver requirement of the 2025 season.
Verstappen, fresh off a commanding victory at the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend, will step aside for the session as part of the team’s compliance with FIA regulations, which mandate that each team provide at least two FP1 sessions per season to drivers with fewer than two Grand Prix starts. Iwasa, a 23-year-old Japanese talent and member of Red Bull’s junior program, will make his official FP1 debut at the Sakhir circuit, giving fans an early glimpse of the team’s future prospects.
Red Bull Racing took to social media to confirm the news, stating, “In the RB21 for FP1
@ayumuiwasa_cars
will drive Max’s car for the first session of the #BahrainGP weekend .” The move comes as no surprise to F1 insiders, with teams often scheduling their rookie sessions early in the season at circuits like Bahrain, known for its technical layout and favorable testing conditions.
Verstappen’s absence from FP1 does not signal any concerns over his fitness or availability for the rest of the weekend. The Dutch driver, currently just one point behind McLaren’s Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship standings, is expected to return to the cockpit for FP2 and remain Red Bull’s spearhead in their bid to close the gap to McLaren in both the drivers’ and constructors’ battles. His recent performance at Suzuka, where he secured pole position with a lap time of 1:26.983 and went on to claim his fourth consecutive Japanese GP win, underscored his status as one of the grid’s top talents.
For Iwasa, the opportunity marks a significant step in his burgeoning career. A standout in Formula 2 and a product of the Honda-backed Red Bull junior system, he has been tipped as a potential future teammate for Verstappen. His performance in FP1 will be closely watched, especially after teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s solid but ultimately pointless debut for Red Bull at the Japanese GP, where he finished 12th. Iwasa will aim to impress the team brass and provide valuable data as Red Bull continues to refine the RB21, a car that has shown flashes of brilliance but still lags behind McLaren in outright pace.
Team principal Christian Horner commented on the decision, saying, “Max has been phenomenal, but this is a great chance for Ayumu to get behind the wheel and show what he’s capable of. Bahrain’s a fantastic track for a rookie to learn, and we’re excited to see how he performs.” Horner also expressed confidence in Verstappen’s ability to adapt quickly upon his return, noting the Dutchman’s familiarity with the Sakhir circuit, where Red Bull has historically performed well.
The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, set for April 11-13, marks the fourth round of the 2025 season and the second leg of a triple-header following Japan. With temperatures expected to soar and tire management a key factor under the floodlights, Red Bull will look to build on their momentum from Suzuka. Verstappen himself tempered expectations earlier this week, acknowledging McLaren’s edge: “Bahrain’s a completely different challenge—tough on tires, overheating. We’ll need to maximize everything we’ve got.”