Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa to drive at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
F1 News
Red Bull Junior driver Ayumu Iwasa will drive in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver previously made an F1 appearance at home in Suzuka earlier this year, as he took the spot of Daniel Ricciardo that time around. The 22-year-old does simulator work for the team and spent 2024 in the Japanese Super Formula Series.
Iwasa spent two seasons with DAMS in Formula 2, winning five races in the process. He finished fifth overall in 2022 and fourth in 2023. In Abu Dhabi, Yuki Tsunoda will sit out the session so that his fellow Japanese driver can rack up some more valuable Formula 1 experience.
VCARB want to 'end the season on a high'
Team principal Laurent Meikes said: "We will also be giving Honda and Red Bull junior driver Ayumu Iwasa another FP1 run in our car, following on from his drive at Suzuka earlier in the year. At Yas Marina, he will replace fellow countryman Yuki. We want to end the season on a high, and everyone in the Team will be investing every last drop of energy into doing so!”
VCARB are still battling for sixth place in the constructor's championship but had a pointless weekend in Qatar. They suffered a big blow as Alpine's Pierre Gasly finished in fifth place, taking 10 points for the French team. Alpine sit on 59 points in sixth, with Haas on 54 points in seventh. Red Bull's junior team now sits in eight on 46 points.
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