Verstappen to sit out Bahrain FP1

The Dutchman secured his first victory of the new season in Japan last weekend, holding off McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to close to within a point of the Briton in the drivers' standings.

But Verstappen won't take part in the first session of the weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Ayumu Iwasa instead driving his car.

Teams are obliged to run rookies in each of its cars twice, meaning four times in total across a season - an increase from just once per car last term.

Iwasa will join Yuki Tsunoda on track to make it two Japanese drivers in the same team with a Japanese power unit.

Other rookies already confirmed to be driving are Ryo Hirakawa at Haas, Frederik Vesti at Mercedes, Felipe Drugovich at Aston Martin and Luke Browning at Williams.

Verstappen will return to the RB21 for second practice, then completing the weekend.

Iwasa currently competes in the Japanese Super Formula but was previously a contender in the F2 championship on F1's support programme.

He has F1 experience under his belt already, taking part in Abu Dhabi post-season testing as well as two FP1 appearances last season with the sister RB [now Racing Bulls] outfit in Japan and Abu Dhabi.