So, here we go — Red Bull’s latest move! They’re letting Ayumu Iwasa step in for Max Verstappen during the first-ever practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Yep, you read that right. Japanese driver Iwasa’s gonna take the wheel in the RB21, while Max kicks back for a moment. You know, they say it’s for the experience or whatever, but who really knows what’s brewing behind the scenes with these rookies?
Speaking of Red Bull, Johnny Herbert’s been flapping his gums about so-called ‘cracks’ in their operation. He’s talking about fundamental issues. The kind you can’t just slap a sticker over and pretend don’t exist. Their car’s been all sorts of unpredictable since mid-2024, which is wild, right? All the chopping and changing with Perez and Lawson — feels like a soap opera sometimes! Max is still holding the fort though, like a lone wolf, or maybe just stubbornly hanging on. The whatfors and whatnots aside, it’s a big ol’ mess.
Oh, and there’s this whole Alonso-versus-Hamilton saga, still simmering under the surface. Johnny Herbert, yeah — him again — thinks Fernando Alonso’s cheers for Max are coming from a place of bitter feelings against Lewis Hamilton. Can’t say I blame him, considering their past at McLaren. Those two were like oil and water (only they’re both a bit fiery). Anyway, old rivalries die hard, I guess.
On the flip side of things, the Haas team had to clear up a bit of a muddle about Trump’s tariffs. Their parent company, Haas Automation, overhauled operations ’cause of these tariffs the United States president slapped on globally. But they insist, hands in the air, that their F1 wing won’t feel any backlash. A relief, if we can believe it. Such a tangled web of politics and engines, right?
Meanwhile, over at McLaren, Andrea Stella seems kind of cautious about Max Verstappen’s chances for the rest of the season. It’s almost like she’s waiting for the dominoes to fall if Red Bull can’t sort themselves out. The RB21 needs a serious pep talk, or Verstappen might end up eating Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s dust. Not literally — that’d be dangerous — but you get my drift.
And guess what’s making a comeback noise? V10 engines. The FIA and F1 engine folks are gathering for a chinwag in Bahrain about bringing back those roarin’ beasts — sustainably, of course. The rumor mill’s been grinding overtime with chatter that the rules planned out for 2026 might just take a backseat while they keep the current ones till 2028. It’s like dusting off an old vinyl: nostalgic, but will it still hit the right notes?
Anyway, that’s all the buzzing news — mostly! Always twists and turns with F1, as unpredictable as a cat on caffeine. Who knows what’ll shake out next week?
