George Russell and others set to miss FP1 in Mexico
F1 News
For many young drivers, the Mexican Grand Prix will be marked by a unique opportunity. At the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, several juniors will be in action during the first free practice for the Mexican Grand Prix. Find out which F1 teams are taking advantage of their rookie test here.
Formula 1 teams are required to give two first free practice sessions to a young driver. This must be a driver with a maximum of two F1 Grands Prix behind his/her name to ensure that teams have to give opportunities to young drivers. This will be taken full advantage of in Mexico.
The world champions have yet to sacrifice any of the first free practice sessions for young drivers and will not do so in Mexico either. The Austrian racing team have decided to give up two seats at the same time during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Jake Dennis and Isack Hadjar will take over the seats from Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez during FP1 in Abu Dhabi.
Mercedes
Mercedes will put a young driver in the car in Mexico. Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti will get the chance to make his debut during an F1 session in Mexico. The Dane is second in the 2023 Formula 2 championship. Vesti will take George Russell's place.
Robert Shwartzman was already in action on behalf of Ferrari at the Dutch Grand Prix and will also account for the second free practice session this season. That will probably be Abu Dhabi, as the Ferrari protégé has not yet been announced for Mexico.
Pato O'Ward will be in for the first free practice in Abu Dhabi. Alex Palou was supposed to do the other, but he has severed ties with McLaren. McLaren has yet to decide on the second session, but given O'Ward's Mexican nationality, that looks like an obvious choice.
Aston Martin
Felipe Drugovich is Aston Martin's reserve driver, and at the Italian Grand Prix, the Brazilian already made an appearance. Drugovich is also likely to take the second test in Abu Dhabi.
Alpine
Alpine has appointed their own junior Jack Doohan will handle the two free practice sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. The Australian is fourth in the F2 championship and still hopes to make the step up to F1.
Williams have yet to declare any names for the test sessions. An appearance by a junior is, therefore not yet expected in Mexico.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo are betting on Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire. The Formula 2 championship leader is the team's designated reserve driver and may step in during FP1 in Mexico. The Frenchman is also likely to be in action in Abu Dhabi.
Haas
Haas has called on Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman for the Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The young Briton has impressed in Formula 2 this year and now gets to show himself in an F1 car.
AlphaTauri
AlphaTauri will give a place to Isack Hadjar at the Mexican Grand Prix. The talented Frenchman from the Red Bull Junior Team has yet to impress in F2 this year but will get a chance to show what he can do in an F1 car at AlphaTauri and Red Bull.