Verstappen steps aside as Iwasa takes Red Bull seat for Mexico FP1

Max Verstappen will not take part in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with Red Bull handing his RB22 to Ayumu Iwasa as the team completes its mandatory rookie running obligations for the 2025 season.

F1 regulations require every team to give drivers classified as rookies — those who have started two or fewer grands prix — at least four FP1 outings across the season, with that quota divided into a minimum of two sessions per race-contracted driver. Iwasa’s Mexico run will be his third appearance in the Red Bull car this year, having previously driven at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Monza, and his fourth overall after stepping into the Racing Bulls car in Austria.

The 23-year-old Japanese driver is no stranger to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, having run there for Racing Bulls in 2024. Friday’s session will mark his eighth FP1 outing in total across his F1 career.

Verstappen and Red Bull head to Mexico in improved form. The four-time world champion has secured back-to-back victories at Singapore and Sepang and added a podium at last weekend’s United States Grand Prix. Despite that upturn in results, the team continues to wrestle with persistent issues around race starts and radio communication, problems that have affected both Verstappen and team-mate Isack Hadjar.

Mexico’s opening practice session is shaping up to be one of the most rookie-heavy of the season. George Russell will also stand down, with Mercedes giving Fred Vesti a run in the W16 — a weekend that carries added significance given team-mate Kimi Antonelli could become Formula 1’s youngest world champion before it is over. Elsewhere, Gabriele Mini and Freddie Slater will make their F1 debuts for Alpine and Audi respectively, Haas will run reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, and Luke Browning returns to a Williams cockpit.