Ayumu Iwasa set to replace Yuki Tsunoda in Abu Dhabi GP FP1

Red Bull junior driver, Ayumu Iwasa is set to replace Yuki Tsunoda for first practice of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, completing the team’s requirement for the season. 

Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Visa Cash App RB is set to run their final rookie in the 2024 season as per the regulations which force the teams to run at least two, super-licence-holding, rookies with both of their drivers giving up their seat for the first hour of practice at least once through the season. 

This weekend, at the Abu Dhabi GP, Tsunoda is expected to give up his seat for Iwasa for the opening hour of practice. Iwasa previously replaced then-Daniel Ricciardo in Japan, for the Japanese Grand Prix, allowing Tsunoda and Iwasa time on track in the official FP1 session in their home country. 

Ahead of the grand prix, VCARB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies said:

“With the usual three hours of free practice this weekend, we will use some of the time to assess a few solutions for 2025, something that will continue at the test session here next Tuesday. 

“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!”

Who’s ready to see @ayumuiwasa_cars take the VCARB 01 for a spin in FP1 this weekend? 💨#F1 #VCARB #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/85k8HUHkjM

— Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) December 3, 2024

The French team principal has also praised the team ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi as he claims they have been ‘fighting against very strong opponents’ as they scrap amongst the mid-field runners. The truth for this is in the pudding. VCARB, after 23 of 24 races, have found themselves in a scrap for sixth in the constructors championship. 

Heading into Abu Dhabi, they trail Alpine – who holds onto sixth currently –  by 13 points but they have seventh-placed Haas to contend with too, who only sit five points behind the French manufacturer in the constructors championship. 

However, a pointless finish by both Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in Qatar, who finished 12th and 13th, would not help the teams championship aspirations.

“It’s a short hop from Qatar to Abu Dhabi, but we have come a long way in every sense of the word since the start of this 24 race season, in Bahrain in early March,” commented Mekies. “By that I mean we have evolved considerably as a team, because it wasn’t just our name that was new this year. 

“Inevitably there have been highs and lows, we have hit some of our targets and missed others. A team can only be judged in comparison to the competition and we have been fighting against very strong opponents in the midfield all year. 

“It’s true that since last Sunday at Lusail, our championship aspirations have taken a knock, but this won’t affect how we tackle this last race at a track which should better suit our car.”

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Toto Wolff pays tribute to departing Lewis Hamilton ahead of Abu Dhabi GP
• F1 Rumour: Sergio Perez to exit Red Bull after Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Alpine confirm Jack Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon for Abu Dhabi GP
• Max Verstappen ‘lost all respect’ for George Russell after Qatar GP penalty
• Esteban Ocon expected to stand down from Alpine
• Verstappen claims victory in controlled F1 Qatar GP

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.