Max Verstappen is set to be replaced for the latest round of testing by Red Bull following the Japanese Grand Prix. Verstappen finished eighth in the third race of the year at Suzuka, missing out on a podium finish yet again this season.

The 28-year-old lies in ninth place in the Driver’s Championship standings after three races, which is yet to see the four-time world champion record a victory. Tuesday and Wednesday will see further testing take place at Suzuka, just days after the Japanese Grand Prix drew to a close.

Red Bull will be using the test to assess dry tyres, but it seems that Verstappen will not be involved in the session after returning to Monaco after the Grand Prix came to an end on Sunday. Instead, Red Bull will replace the four-time world champion with Yuki Tsunoda returning behind the wheel.

Tsunoda was Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull before being sidelined and listed as a reserve and test driver in December last year after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull replaced Tsunoda with Isack Hadjar, who finished 12th at the Japanese Grand Prix. It’s unclear whether the 21-year-old will be back on the track for testing this week, with two practise sessions planned in Suzuka before a long break due to the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grand Prix.

Verstappen’s future in F1 has been the subject of intense speculation over the last few weeks, with the Red Bull star offering a hint about his future.

“I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock,” Verstappen told BBC Sport on Sunday. “Privately I’m very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it’s 22. But normally 24.

“And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”

He added: “I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am. Because I also know that you can’t be dominating or be first or second or whatever, fighting for a podium every time. I’m very realistic in that and I’ve been there before.

“I’ve not only been winning in F1. But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn’t feel natural to a racing driver. Of course I try to adapt to it, but it’s not nice the way you have to race.

“It’s really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it’s just not what I want to do. And of course you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day it’s not about money any more because this has always been my passion.”