Nine F1 teams will drive as rookies in Mexico City FP1 | RACER

Nine of the ten Formula 1 teams will field a rookie driver during the first free practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, as part of mandatory rules to provide more track time options.

Each team must field a rookie – defined as a driver who has not yet started two or more Grands Prix – four times during a season, with each full-time driver being replaced twice. The majority of teams tend to delay the schedule, and with sprint weekends in three of the last six rounds, plus Las Vegas as a street circuit, Mexico City and Abu Dhabi remain the most common locations.

McLaren provides home favorite Pato O’Ward (photo above) with a chance to drive the title-winning MCL39, with the IndyCar star replacing Lando Norris. At Mercedes, Fred Vesti again gets the chance to drive an F1 car. He takes over from George Russell just two weeks after winning Petit Le Mans for Cadillac.

Antonio Fuoco gets an outing for Ferrari in place of Lewis Hamilton, marking the Italian’s first FP1 of the year, and the first in Mexico City, while Red Bull is once again eyeing F2 rookie Arvid Lindblad after also driving him at Silverstone. For Red Bull, Max Verstappen is the driver who has 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 compete 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 ready for another appearance in Abu Dhabi.

With Lindblad in the Red Bull, Racing Bulls will give Ayumu Iwasa his second appearance for the team this year, and his third overall after a Red Bull opportunity in Bahrain. The Japanese driver – who will replace Liam Lawson – is currently level for second in the Super Formula standings with one round remaining at Suzuka next month.

Another regular customer during the Friday training sessions this year is Paul Aron, who takes over Pierre Gasly’s car at Alpine. Aron has previously driven for Alpine 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 a rookie for the first two rounds of the season and then giving Aron two appearances in Europe.