Get ready for some rookie action at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix! This weekend, we're in for a treat with nine FP1-only rookies taking to the track. But here's the twist: one of these rookies is a Formula 1 driver-to-be, and another is a Formula 2 driver with a unique story.
The rules state that each team must give a chance to a rookie driver, someone with less than two grand prix starts, during practice sessions. And Abu Dhabi is a popular choice for this, given it's the season's end and FP1 conditions differ from qualifying and the main race.
Mercedes and Sauber have already fulfilled their rookie requirements, but the other teams are bringing out the big guns. Among them is Arvid Lindblad, the newly confirmed 2026 Racing Bulls F1 driver, who will hop into Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull for FP1. Lindblad's no stranger to practice sessions, having already participated in two this year at Silverstone and Mexico.
Fresh from his Super Formula championship win, Ayumu Iwasa will be back in an F1 cockpit at Racing Bulls, where he drove in Mexico earlier. And get this - Oscar Piastri, the championship chaser, will miss FP1, making way for IndyCar race winner Pato O'Ward to have his second practice outing of the year.
For the second year in a row, Charles Leclerc will share the track with his brother Arthur during FP1 at Ferrari. The younger Leclerc has been busy racing in the GT World Challenge series and fulfilling his simulator duties with Ferrari.
Aston Martin is bringing in their third driver for 2026, Jak Crawford, for his second FP1 appearance. But wait, there's more! Even though Crawford satisfies their 2025 rookie requirements, Aston Martin is going all out by running another rookie - Cian Shields, an F2 driver. Shields finished 30th in Formula 3 last year and has since moved up to F2, but he's yet to score any points. However, he's no stranger to Aston Martin, having completed over 500km of private F1 testing with them.
Shields, Crawford, and Luke Browning from Williams will be juggling their FP1 runs with the final weekend of their respective F2 programs in Abu Dhabi. Paul Aron, who finished third in F2 in 2024, will drive for Alpine, marking his fifth FP1 outing this season. Super Formula champion Ryo Hirakawa will also make his fifth FP1 start, this time for Haas.
So, who's ready for some rookie excitement? And this is the part most people miss - these practice sessions can be a real game-changer for these young drivers. Will any of them make a breakthrough? Only time will tell. Don't forget to share your thoughts and predictions in the comments!
Team Lineup:
- McLaren: Pato O'Ward
- Ferrari: Arthur Leclerc
- Red Bull: Arvid Lindblad
- Aston Martin: Jak Crawford, Cian Shields
- Alpine: Paul Aron
- Haas: Ryo Hirakawa
- Racing Bulls: Ayumu Iwasa
- Williams: Luke Browning
