McLaren appoints reserve drivers for FP1 and post-season test in Abu Dhabi
F1 News
- GPblog.com
McLaren announced on Monday afternoon which drivers will be in action at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on behalf of the team for FP1 and for the post-season test. This includes one driver making his debut in a Formula One weekend.
McLaren FP1 driver in Abu Dhabi
Ryo Harikawa will be the one who will be in action for McLaren during the first free practice session in Abu Dhabi. He has been a reserve driver with the British team since September 2023. This session will be his first participation in a Formula One weekend in his career for the World Endurance Championship driver.
The Japanese driver will take a seat in Oscar Piastri's car. All Formula 1 teams are required to put two 'rookies' in the car each season. Lando Norris' car has already been used once, so it is Piastri's turn to skip a practice in Abu Dhabi.
O'Ward will drive in the Young Driver test
For the Young Driver test after the Formula 1 season, Pato O'Ward will take a seat in the McLaren. He too is a reserve driver for the team. Furthermore, he has been driving for the Arrow McLaren team in IndyCar for many years. During the race weekend in Mexico, he made his debut in a Formula 1 weekend, where he also drove during the first free practice in Norris' car.
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!