Ayumu Iwasa to drive Verstappen Red Bull

Ayumu Iwasa is due to take over Max Verstappen’s Red Bull for first practice at Monza on Wednesday, September 2, in the latest rookie-session outing tied to Formula One’s 2026 rules cycle. Iwasa signaled the appearance in a post on X, and the session comes on the opening day of the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Formula 1 lists Monza as Round 13 of the 2026 season, with the race scheduled for Sunday, September 6. ### Why is Ayumu Iwasa in Verstappen’s car? Formula One teams are required to hand practice mileage to less experienced drivers during the season, and Red Bull has used Iwasa in that role before. Red Bull’s website has already published video from Iwasa’s Bahrain FP1 appearance in Verstappen’s car earlier in 2026, describing it as his FP1 debut in the world champion’s machine. (formula1.com) September 2 posts around the Monza session identified the run as part of Red Bull’s rookie program. Iwasa’s own X post was the clearest public sign from the driver side that he had been called up for the session. ### What is Iwasa’s place in the Red Bull system now? Iwasa has remained part of Red Bull’s broader junior and reserve structure even as the senior team’s 2026 race lineup changed. (redbullracing.com) Formula 1 and Red Bull announced in December 2025 that Isack Hadjar would partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull for 2026, replacing Yuki Tsunoda in the race seat. Yuki Tsunoda moved into a reserve role for Red Bull and Racing Bulls for 2026, according to Formula 1’s reserve-driver guide and a March feature on his season. That left Red Bull with multiple drivers available for non-race duties, including practice appearances and standby work. (redbullracing.com) ### Where does Tsunoda fit into the Monza weekend? Yuki Tsunoda had already returned to race action at the Dutch Grand Prix in late August after Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar was ruled out with a wrist injury. Formula 1 reported on August 20 that Liam Lawson stepped up to the senior Red Bull team while Tsunoda filled the Racing Bulls vacancy alongside Arvid Lindblad. (formula1.com) September 2 social posts said Tsunoda was confirmed again for the Monza race weekend. That means Red Bull’s Monza plans cover both strands at once: Tsunoda in the active race-weekend picture and Iwasa in the rookie-session slot in Verstappen’s car. (formula1.com) ### Why does Monza make this notable? Monza is one of Formula 1’s fastest circuits and remains a high-profile venue for any practice appearance. Formula 1’s event page says the 5.793-kilometre track hosts the Italian Grand Prix over 53 laps and remains one of the calendar’s landmark races. A first-practice run at Monza also gives a reserve or junior driver meaningful mileage in a compressed, visible session rather than a private test. (formula1.com) For Red Bull, that means Iwasa will be gathering data in one of the team’s headline weekends while Verstappen sits out only the opening practice. That final point is an inference based on standard FP1 substitution practice and the team’s prior use of rookie sessions. (formula1.com) ### What happens next once FP1 is over? The Italian Grand Prix weekend continues at Monza through Sunday, September 6, with Formula 1’s official timetable listing the full track schedule for the event. Verstappen is expected back in the car after the rookie outing, while Tsunoda remains part of the weekend lineup already in place after his Dutch Grand Prix return. (formula1.com) (redbullracing.com)