Iwasa will replace Verstappen in the first practice session.

      Red Bull Racing announced a replacement in the first practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Instead of Max Verstappen, Ayumu Iwasa will drive the RB21.

      For a Japanese racer, this will be the third experience of participating in an official race weekend. In 2024, Iwasa took to the track in the first practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix as part of Red Bull Racing and in the first practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix driving the RB team car (current Racing Bulls).

      "Ayumu Iwasa will pilot Max's car in the first practice session of the race weekend in Bahrain," the statement said. a short message from the Milton Keynes team.

      In Bahrain, six teams will be replaced in the first training session. Felipe Drugovich will drive Fernando Alonso's car at Aston Martin, Frederic Vesti will replace George Russell at Mercedes, Dino Beganovich will replace Charles Leclair at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz will replace Luke Browning at Williams, Oliver Berman will replace Rio Hirakawa at Haas, and Max Verstappen will replace Ayuma Iwasa at Red Bull Racing.