27/06/2025 13:51
As part of new rules to give young, rookie drivers more relevant
on-track running, F1 rules were changed ahead of the 2025 season.
Previously, teams were required to put a rookie driver in for one
FP1 session throughout the year on both cars, for a total of two
sessions. For 2025, this was changed to two times per season per
car, for four in total. To qualify, a rookie driver must have
started two or fewer grands prix, meaning some regular race drivers
actually met the requirement this season. Below is a full list of
how every team stands with its rookie driver sessions thus far,
with nine of the 10 teams having run at least one of their four
sessions coming out of the Monaco Grand Prix. LAST UPDATED:
Following the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix. This article will be
updated after every Friday FP1 session. McLaren - 1/4 McLaren used
its first young driver FP1 session in Austria, with Lando Norris
being benched in Spielberg by F2 protégé Alex Dunne. Dunne became
the first Irishman since Ralph Firman in 2003 to take part in an
official F1 session with his outing. IndyCar star Pato O'Ward will
be in for FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix in October. Ferrari -
2/4 Ferrari has used two of its four slots so far, coming in the
Bahrain and Austrian events when Dino Beganovic filled in for
Charles Leclerc. It means Leclerc has fulfilled his duties and
Lewis Hamilton is yet to step out, and has his two sessions to
meet. Red Bull - 1/4 World champion Max Verstappen put his feet up
during FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Ayumu Iwasa taking his
place. It is currently the only session Red Bull has taken, meaning
the Dutchman must step out for one more session, with Yuki Tsunoda
still yet to miss an FP1 session. Mercedes - 3/4 Mercedes has
actually already used 75% of its qouta, aided by the fact that Kimi
Antonelli had never started a race prior to his Australia debut.
It means that Antonelli's outings in Australia and China in the
first two races tick that box, with Fred Vesti taking George
Russell's W16 in Bahrain. Russell now only needs to miss one more
FP1 session this season. Aston Martin - 1/4 Aston Martin has used
one of the four slots so far, with reserve Felipe Drugovich getting
his first taste of on-track F1 action in Bahrain. He replaced
Fernando Alonso in Sakhir, meaning the two-time world champion must
miss one more session, with Lance Stroll requiring both. Alpine -
2/4 Alpine has used two drivers to meet its FP1 requirements, both
in the same car. Jack Doohan ticked one session off in Australia,
but as that was his second F1 race following his Abu Dhabi 2024
debut, no further sessions counted. Ryo Hirakawa took FP1 in Japan
in Doohan's car, but he then left for Haas. Pierre Gasly is yet to
step out for a session this season. Haas - 2/4 Ollie Bearman does
not meet the requirements for a rookie driver despite this being
his rookie season, following his three appearances in F1 in 2024.
After luring Hirakawa from Alpine, the Japanese driver stepped in
for Bearman in FP1 in Bahrain, and will do so again at the Spanish
GP for Ocon. Haas has also confirmed that Hirakawa will be in for
Bearman in Mexico and Ocon for Abu Dhabi to round out the year.
Racing Bulls - 2/4 Isack Hadjar's status as a true F1 rookie means
that two of the four slots for Racing Bulls were ticked off by the
Frenchman in Australia and China, like Antonelli at Mercedes. Liam
Lawson is not an F1 rookie and therefore, must step out for two
races sometime this year. Williams - 2/4 Luke Browning stepped in
for Carlos Sainz in Bahrain, and performed well alongside Alex
Albon. It means the Spanish racer has just one more session to
miss. As for Alex Albon, he stood down during the Spanish GP FP1
session to allow FIA F2 star Victor Martins his official F1 debut,
meaning Williams will have fulfilled half of its qouta by the end
of the Spain weekend. Stake - 2/4 Gabriel Bortoleto ticked off two
of the sessions in the same manner as Antonelli and Hadjar in
Australia and China. It means Nico Hulkenberg will be benched
twice at some point during the season.
