Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 champion and the winner of the previous Grand Prix, Japanese GP, will not take part in the first Bahrain Grand Prix FP1, aka the first practice season. This decision is a part of Red Bull’s plan to fulfill the mandatory rookie driver sessions required by the FIA.
Formula 1 teams are not obligated to run rookie drivers in each of their cars at least twice throughout the season. The decision aims to provide young drivers with more opportunities and the necessary experience to gain momentum for their future in F1.
Who will replace Max Verstappen In The Bahrain Grand Prix FP1?
Ayumu Iwasa has been announced as the replacement for Max Verstappen in the Bahrain Grand Prix FP1. The rookie has previous experience in F1 as he participated in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi and made two FP1 appearances last season. This opportunity will be crucial for Iwasa as he seeks to impress and secure a permanent F1 seat.
Despite missing FP1, Max Verstappen will be back for the second practice session and continue with the rest of the week as usual. The Bahrain Grand Prix is known for its challenging conditions, particularly the high temperatures and tire degradation. Verstappen had earlier acknowledged that managing the Bahrain grid would be hard, quoting, “Bahrain, completely different track, very tough on tires, tires overheating as well. We still have work to do, but (the win in Japan) does show that if we really nail everything, we can be up there.”
However, since he’s returning in the second Bahrain Grand Prix FP1, he will have plenty of time to prepare for the qualifying and the main race. He came off strong at the Japanese Grand Prix, winning both the pole position and the main race. He will look forward to continuing his winning streak and potentially taking the lead from McLaren.
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Other Replacements In The Max Verstappen In The Bahrain Grand Prix FP1
Red Bull isn’t the only one to replace their main driver with a rookie in the Bahrain FP1, so here is the full list of other drivers as well.
| Rookie Driver | Regular Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Felipe Drugovich | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| Ayumu Iwasa | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| Fred Vesti | George Russell | Mercedes |
| Dino Beganovic | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| Luke Browning | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| Ryo Hirakawa | Ollie Bearman | Haas |
Also Read: Ryo Hirakawa Leaves Alpine To Join Haas As Reserve Driver
