Red Bull select a new replacement for Verstappen during F1 test

GPblog understood that Tsunoda would do the test, but the struggling F1 team have decided to use Hadjar for the two-day running after disgruntled Max Verstappen flew home after the Japanese GP.

The Japanese fans are as passionate as ever and came to the circuit on a rainy day to watch the cars run in the hope of seeing their hero Tsunoda.

In the morning session, heavily limited the running, while the afternoon was a bit drier. The test continues on Wednesday, April 1.

Racing Bulls have also fielded a car during the test, with Liam Lawson getting the opportunity to log some extra miles.

Check out some footage below of the Red Bull cars on a soaking wet Suzuka.

Verstappen had essentially already had his share of wet-weather running before the Japanese Grand Prix, as he got to drive a Nissan Z NISMO GT500 for Red Bull Japan at Fuji Speedway.

He hopped from one GT car to another and clearly enjoyed it. The four-time world champion is now gearing up for the 24H Nürburgring Qualifiers, namely NLS4 and NLS5.

These are the so-called “qualifying races” for the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife, but those races have their own morning qualifying sessions and nothing is decided yet for the starting grid of the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring.

However, the “Qualifiers” are an intense weekend, because there is racing on both Saturday and Sunday. It’s the dress rehearsal for the teams that will compete in the 24-hour race in May. That weekend, of course, pole position will be contested across different classes.

Verstappen has been outspoken in his criticism of the new era of F1 regulations and will no doubt relish competing in the GT class during the five week break in the schedule following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi F1 GPs.