Ayumu Iwasa set to drive Verstappen’s Red Bull in FP1 at Bahrain Grand Prix

Red Bull have confirmed that Ayumu Iwasa will get behind the wheel of Max Verstappen’s RB21 during Free Practice 1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Japanese racer Iwasa already has two practice outings under his belt for sister team Racing Bulls – with these taking place in Japan and Abu Dhabi last year – and will return to action for Round 4 of the 2025 championship in Sakhir.

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Having joined the Red Bull Junior Team back in 2021 during his debut Formula 3 campaign, Iwasa made the step up to F2 in the year that followed and ended the season in fifth of the championship, a result he bettered in 2023 by taking fourth place.

The 23-year-old has since gone on to compete in Super Formula, as well as acting as a test driver for the Racing Bulls F1 team.

Ahead of his Red Bull debut during FP1 in Bahrain, Iwasa told his social media followers: “I'm very looking forward to get[ting] some new experience in the car!”

As part of the rules that state every driver on the grid must vacate their seat for a rookie for two FP1 sessions in a season, Verstappen will not be the only one handing his car over to another driver during first practice in Sakhir.

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It has already been confirmed that Fred Vesti, Felipe Drugovich and Luke Browning will be in action for Mercedes, Aston Martin and Williams respectively.