Max Verstappen is "dumped" by the team to make way for a Japanese newcomer/defender.
According to this year's rules, it is necessary to give newcomers four opportunities to gain experience in FP1, and Bahrain is the most suitable place for this. The first practice session does not matter much, considering that the really important things take place under the spotlight on this circuit, on the other hand, the youngsters know the track well, as it is a well-known and established place for development series. Following this logic, Ayumu Iwasa can take Max Verstappen's place in the Red Bull car, and thus a rare configuration is formed: a pair of all-Japanese drivers in a Formula 1 team.
Iwasa, at 23, is no longer considered a rookie, currently leading the Super Formula championship, but he also competed for two years in F2, where he was also part of the elite of the competition. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Yuki Tsunoda!
Photo: FML / Red Bull
