Oscar Piastri faces a setback in his quest for the Formula 1 championship this weekend, as he is one of several drivers who will miss the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A new regulation introduced in 2025 mandates that a total of nine racers will be sidelined from FP1.
The race at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the season’s champion, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen competing for the top honors. While a podium finish for Norris could secure him the title, any errors on his part could provide opportunities for his rivals.
Given the high stakes in Abu Dhabi, drivers must maximize their practice time. However, almost half of the grid will be excluded from the initial hour of running due to the rule requiring teams to give rookie drivers a chance.
Throughout the season, each team must include a rookie driver in two free practice sessions per car, totaling four sessions per team. As a result, several teams still need to meet their rookie session requirements, leading to the inclusion of new faces in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri will be replaced by Pato O’Ward in his McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton will also sit out the session, with Ferrari’s Arthur Leclerc taking his place. Additionally, other driver changes include Arvid Lindblad stepping in for Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls and Ayumu Iwasa replacing Liam Lawson at sister team RB. Ryo Hirakawa is set to substitute for Haas regular Esteban Ocon.
Moreover, Alex Albon will be absent from the session, with Williams academy member Luke Browning filling in. Aston Martin will provide opportunities for two rookies in FP1, with Cian Shields and Jak Crawford taking over from Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, respectively.
Alpine will feature Paul Aron in his fifth FP1 outing of the season, replacing Pierre Gasly. Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, now including HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive coverage of Formula 1.
Mercedes and Sauber have already met their rookie practice session requirements, allowing George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate as usual.
Abu Dhabi is an ideal setting for rookie sessions, especially given its position as the season’s final weekend. FP1 occurs under daytime conditions, differing from those in qualifying and the race. These sessions play a vital role in nurturing young drivers, with many progressing to full-time seats based on their performance. Notably, drivers like Antonelli and Oliver Bearman secured positions for 2025 after showcasing their talents in practice sessions last season.
