Red Bull could now use any Max Verstappen ban to test ‘perfect’ driver for F1 and it’s not Arvid Lindblad

Red Bull have requested a Formula 1 superlicence exemption from the FIA for Arvid Lindblad, but he may not be in their plan for if Max Verstappen receives a race ban.

The Milton Keynes team are now having to hatch a plan for in case the four-time reigning F1 champion has to miss a round after Verstappen hit 11 penalty points. Any F1 driver who hits 12 points on their superlicence in a 12-month period automatically receives a one-race ban.

Red Bull fear Verstappen could get a ban for the Austrian Grand Prix on June 27-29, as even one penalty point across the Canadian Grand Prix on June 13-15 will rule the 27-year-old out of their home race. Verstappen will not lose a penalty point before he drops two on June 30.

Fears that the Dutchman may be unable to enthral his fans at the Red Bull Ring are rife after Verstappen’s penalty for driving into George Russell in the Spanish Grand Prix. The stewards dealt a 10-second penalty plus three penalty points, and he will sit on nine until October 27.

Red Bull now see Max Verstappen’s race ban threat as a chance to ‘test’ Ayumu Iwasa for an F1 seat

Red Bull would be in a somewhat fortuitous position if it comes to them possibly needing to replace Verstappen for the Austrian GP or the British Grand Prix on July 4-6, however, given they boast a junior F1 team in Racing Bulls and a stable of reserve drivers who could step in.

Also, Red Bull have asked the FIA for an F1 superlicence exemption for Lindblad, who would not be eligible to debut in Formula 1 – either in a race or in an FP1 session – until the Briton turns 18 years old on August 8. Red Bull will learn the FIA’s decision on Lindblad next week.

But Red Bull’s request came before fears about Verstappen’s possible race ban and Lindblad may still not step up if the FIA grants his F1 superlicence. Instead, Motorsport-Magazin now reports that Red Bull could gift Ayumu Iwasa his F1 debut if Verstappen does get a race ban.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa? Everything you need to know

Unlike Lindblad, Iwasa already has an F1 superlicence and has taken part in FP1 sessions for Red Bull and Racing Bulls. The 23-year-old stepped in for Racing Bulls at the 2024 Japanese and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, and Iwasa replaced Verstappen in FP1 for the 2025 Bahrain GP.

Red Bull might now exploit Iwasa’s existing F1 experience and place him at Racing Bulls for a full round, with Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar replacing Verstappen. Red Bull view the threat of Verstappen’s ban as a chance to ‘test’ Iwasa in an F1 seat ‘without serious consequences’.

Ayumu Iwasa has already impressed Racing Bulls with the Red Bull junior’s F1 FP1 outings

Iwasa joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2021 and he competed in Formula 2 over the 2022 and 2023 campaigns with their support, before switching to the Japanese Super Formula in 2024. He sits fourth in the 2025 Super Formula standings and will not have a calendar clash.

READ MORE: Every 2025 F1 driver’s penalty points with Max Verstappen now close to a ban

The Austrian GP and British GP are both before the next Super Formula round at Fuji on July 18-20. So, Red Bull would not have to force Lindblad for example to give up their F2 seat to debut in F1, with the Briton now third in the standings after he won the Spain Feature Race.

Iwasa impressed Racing Bulls more than Lawson during a private F1 test at Imola last year, as well, as his sensitive abilities and the detail of his feedback stood out. He did not try to prove his potential like Lawson did, too, which could also prove valuable if required for an F1 race.

Also, Racing Bulls sporting director Alan Permane called Iwasa ‘perfect’ after doing FP1 for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix in Daniel Ricciardo’s car. He settled into a baptism of fire on home soil at Suzuka with a tidy session, which could help his case if Verstappen gets a ban.