At the start of 2022, the FIA approved a change to the sporting regulations that would help talented young drivers get behind the wheel of an F1 car. During two FP1 sessions this season, every team on the grid has to run a rookie.
Unfortunately, it’s not open to everyone – we can’t just jump into an F1 car tomorrow. To be qualified for this opportunity, the rookie driver can’t have taken part in more than two grand prix events and will have to have enough Super Licence points.
Despite this being a mandatory regulation, many teams on the grid still haven’t fulfilled their obligation nor shared the details of who they have lined up, and there are only eight races left!
Here’s what we know and how many teams have completed their FP1 rookie sessions so far.
TWO MANDATORY SESSIONS LEFT
Red Bull currently has the largest pool of junior drivers to choose from, but it was speculated that Liam Lawson was the favourite to be handed an outing. However, that was until he had to step up and replace an injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri. Now, he’s officially taken part in two grand prix weekends and is likely to exceed that, which isn’t allowed.
Another strong option could be Ayumu Iwasa, who has been battling for the F2 title this year.
ONE MANDATORY SESSION LEFT
Driver: Fredrik Vesti
Event: Mexican Grand Prix
Replacing: George Russell
Vesti got his first taste of an F1 car at the end-of-season young driver test in Abu Dhabi last year and will be behind the wheel of the W14 for the first time in Mexico. Mercedes are yet to confirm whether he’ll do another session later this year or if they’ll put someone else in.
ONE MANDATORY SESSION LEFT
Driver: Robert Shwartzman
Event: Dutch Grand Prix
Replaced: Carlos Sainz
Robert Shwartzman has already completed one FP1 session, but it’s expected that he’ll do another one for Ferrari, most likely in Abu Dhabi in Charles Leclerc’s car.
Driver: Pato O’Ward
Event: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Replacing: TBC
An FP1 session probably would have gone to reserve driver Alex Palou. However, tensions boiled over when Palou, who was said to have signed a contract with McLaren’s IndyCar team for 2024, announced he had no intention of joining the team despite already taking some money.
Since then, McLaren announced that Pato O’Ward will take it on instead in the final FP1 session of the season in Abu Dhabi. Since Oscar Piastri is a rookie, his first FP1 outing in Bahrain counts towards the two mandatory rookie sessions.
ONE MANDATORY SESSION LEFT
Driver: Felipe Drugovich
Event: Italian GP
Replaced: Lance Stroll
Drugovich will most likely participate in another FP1 session for the team this season, but nothing is confirmed. Felipe had stood in for Stroll during pre-season testing in Bahrain and in FP1 at Monza.
Driver: Jack Doohan
Event: Mexican GP and Abu Dhabi GP
Replacing: TBC
After already making FP1 appearances at the end of the 2022 season, Jack Doohan was the favourite to take them on again this year. Whilst the F2 title is out of the question for Doohan, he is still one of Alpine’s leading academy drivers.
ONE MANDATORY SESSION LEFT
Williams started the season with a rookie, so only has one more FP1 session to fulfil. With no Williams Academy drivers currently competing in F2, it’s difficult to say who they will choose. Though nothing is confirmed, they could be tempted to steal Fredrik Vesti from Mercedes for an FP1 outing. At the same time, they do have an extensive F3 line-up.
Another option could be Jamie Chadwick, who has just finished her season in Indy NXT.
ONE MANDATORY SESSION LEFT
Driver: Theo Pourchaire
Event: Mexican GP
Replacing: Valtteri Bottas
As part of the Sauber Junior programme and currently leading the F2 championship with one race to go, Theo Pourchaire was the obvious choice to fulfil the FP1 rookie role. Uncomfirmed for Abu Dhabi, but he’ll be eager to prove his F1 readiness as he targets a full-time drive in 2024.
Driver: Ollie Bearman
Event: Mexican GP and Abu Dhabi GP
Replacing: TBC
Well, we were wrong! We thought Pietro Fittipaldi would have most likely fulfilled the FP1 again this season, but instead, the Haas team are running Ferrari Academy driver Ollie Bearman for both of their mandated sessions. It will be his F1 weekend debut, very exciting!
Driver: Isack Hadjar
Event: Mexican GP
Replacing: Yuki Tsunoda
AlphaTauri only needed to fulfil one mandatory session due to Nyck de Vries starting the season off in Bahrain this year. With an extensive Red Bull driver pool to choose from, they’ve gone for Isack Hadjar to get his first taste of an F1 car in Mexico.
Who would you like to see get a chance? Let us know in the comments below.
