Nine of the 10 Formula 1 teams will be running a rookie driver during FP1 for the Mexico City Grand Prix, as part of the mandatory rules to provide more track time opportunities.
Each team has to run a rookie – defined as a driver who hasn’t started two or more grands prix – on four occasions during a season, with each full-time driver being replaced twice. The majority of teams tend to backload the schedule, and with Sprint weekends in three of the final six rounds, plus Las Vegas being a street track, that leaves Mexico City and Abu Dhabi as the most-used venues.
McLaren will provide home favorite Pato O’Ward (pictured above) with a chance to drive the title-winning MCL39, with the IndyCar star replacing Lando Norris. At Mercedes, Fred Vesti gets another chance to drive an F1 car, taking over from George Russell just two weeks after winning Petit Le Mans for Cadillac.
Antonio Fuoco is getting an outing for Ferrari in place of Lewis Hamilton, marking the Italian’s first FP1 of the year, and first in Mexico City, while Red Bull is having another look at F2 rookie Arvid Lindblad, having also run him at Silverstone. For Red Bull, Max Verstappen is the driver to step aside.
Williams will give F2 title contender Luke Browning a third FP1 run – and second this year – in Carlos Sainz’s car, and a rival for that title – Jak Crawford – will make his FP1 debut for Aston Martin in place of Lance Stroll.
A familiar face at Haas is Ryo Hirakawa, who will take part in his third FP1 for Haas and fourth overall having also appeared for Alpine at Suzuka earlier this year. Hirakawa will replace Oliver Bearman, and is also set for a further outing in Abu Dhabi.
With Lindblad in the Red Bull, Racing Bulls will give Ayumu Iwasa his second appearance for the team this year, and third drive overall after a Red Bull chance in Bahrain. The Japanese driver – who will replace Liam Lawson – is currently level on points with second place in the Super Formula standings with one round still to run at Suzuka next month.
Another regular in Friday practice sessions this year is Paul Aron, who will be taking over Pierre Gasly’s car at Alpine. Aron has run for Alpine previously at Monza, but also appeared for Sauber at both Silverstone and the Hungaroring. Sauber is the only team to have completed its mandatory allocation by naming Gabriel Bortoleto as its rookie for the first two rounds of the season, and then giving two outings to Aron in Europe.