Several rookies will prepare to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car this weekend during the opening practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
From McLaren to Haas, nine teams will replace one of their full-time drivers with a rookie in FP1, as per F1 regulations.
Every full-time driver is required to give up their seat to a rookie in two practice sessions across the season.
A rookie is defined as a driver who has participated in no more than two Grands Prix. This is an increase from the one session mandated last year.
McLaren
For McLaren, Pato O’Ward will be getting behind the wheel of the MCL39, replacing Oscar Piastri.
The Mexican driver is getting the opportunity to drive an F1 car in his home race for the second year in a row.
O’ward currently races full-time in IndyCar but does reserve and test driver work for McLaren. In 2025, he closed out the NTT IndyCar season in second place.
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton will be replaced by WEC driver Antonio Fuoco.
Currently, Fuoco competes in the World Endurance Championship while serving as a development driver for the Ferrari F1 team.
Fuoco was part of the team that took Ferrari to its 24 Hours of Le Mans win in 2024, alongside scoring their first pole position in the top class of the championship.
Fuoco has a long history with the F1 team, taking part in his first test with the Prancing Horses at the Red Bull Ring after the Austrian Grand Prix in 2015.
He went on to participate in the young driver test in 2020 and the post-season test in both 2021 and 2024.
Mercedes
Mercedes is bringing in Frederik Vesti for FP1, replacing George Russell.
The session will mark Vesti’s second outing this season, which he does in tandem with his sim work for the Silver Arrows.
Alongside his duties as a test and development driver, Vesti is currently competing in IMSA, where he recently took back-to-back victories in the championship.
Red Bull
Arvid Lindblad will be stepping into the RB21 for the weekend, stepping in for Max Verstappen in his second FP1 session of the year.
His first session was in FP1 at his home race, the British Grand Prix. This came after rumours of Lindblad’s future in F1 coming as early as 2026.
Currently, the Red Bull junior sits seventh in his maiden Formula 2 campaign, with three podiums, including two wins in the 2025 season.
Williams
Carlos Sainz is set to give up his seat at Williams for FP1, handing over the responsibility of the FW47 to Luke Browning.
Browning currently races in Formula 2, where he sits third in the championship, within striking distance of the title with two rounds left.
Mexico will mark Bronwing’s third FP1 outing, the first two coming in Abu Dhabi in 2024 and Bahrain at the beginning of the 2025 season.
Aston Martin
Making his F1 debut in Mexico will be American Jak Crawford. The DAMS driver moved into second in the F2 championship after an impressive weekend in Baku.
Crawford will be taking Lance Stroll’s place. The junior has participated in extensive testing of the AMR22, AMR23, and AMR24.
The 20-year-old holds four wins in F2, hunting down Leonardo Fornaroli, who currently leads the championship.
Haas
Ryo Hirakawa will be stepping into Oliver Bearman’s Haas for FP1.
Hirakawa took part in FP1 for Alpine back in April. However, he joined Haas, where he took part in practice sessions in Bahrain and Barcelona.
Marking his fourth outing in 2025, it won’t be the Japanese driver’s last either. Haas has already announced that he will be taking part in FP1 in Abu Dhabi.
Racing Bulls
For Racing Bulls, Ayumu Iwasa is taking part in FP1, replacing Liam Lawson.
Iwasa has no shortage of FP1 experience for both Racing Bulls and Red Bull. He drove for Red Bull in Bahrain earlier this year and raced for Racing Bulls twice in 2024.
Alongside his reserve driver duties with the Red Bull family, Iwasa competes in the Japanese Super Formula series. He currently sits third in the standings.
Alpine
Finally, Alpine will see Pierre Gasly trade places with Paul Aron for FP1 of the Mexico City GP.
Last year, the Estonian driver caught Alpine’s attention after an impressive F2 campaign, during which he finished third after leading the championship throughout the year.
As part of his newer role as an Alpine reserve and test driver, Aron has completed three FP1 sessions this year, two coming with Sauber back in Silverstone and Hungary.
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