It will be Ayumu Iwasa to take Daniel Ricciardo's place in FP1 of the Japanese GP next week. Following a rather difficult start, the Australian driver will be replaced in the first free practice session in Japan, in Suzuka, by the driver of the Red Bull Junior program. In this circumstance, although we are only at the beginning of the season, Racing Bulls has already chosen to respect the obligation on the part of each team to field a rookie at least twice during the free practice session.
Iwasa in place of Ricciardo in FP1 of the Japanese GP: the choice of Racing Bulls
Generally, this is an option that is always carried out at the end of the season, when many teams no longer have any objectives they can achieve. Precisely for this reason, the choice of Racing Bulls is surprising. The arrival of Iwasa in place of Ricciardo in FP1 of the Japanese GP, in fact, sounds like a signal towards the Australian, with his place seriously at risk in view of next season.
Helmut Marko speaks
Helmut tells the story and explains the choice to bring Iwasa, who will be Yuki Tsunoda's teammate - albeit for a session - onto the track Marko, Red Bull advisor. “On Friday free practice in Suzuka – says Marko – we will use Iwasa as driver instead of Daniel Ricciardo. Let's talk about our young man on probation. We hope he can feel good on the Japanese track which seems to adapt particularly well to the characteristics of our car."
Uphill weekend for Ricciardo
For Ricciardo, therefore, the Japanese GP will begin with the second session on Friday. A weekend that number #3 on the grid obviously won't be able to miss. We will need to react and try, at least, to get closer to the levels of tsunoda, fresh from a super seventh place in the Australian GP. It won't be easy but for Ricciardo it will be essential to get back into the game as soon as possible to be able to return to being the Australian who, only less than a year ago, dreamed of the seat in Red Bull by Sergio Perez.
