Drivers participating in FP1 on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will embrace a number of F1 debutants, as groups look to finish their necessary allocation on the ultimate race of the season.
Method 1’s sporting laws state each staff should run a rookie driver — who has began not more than two grands prix — on a minimum of two events in the course of the season. Every race driver has to overlook one FP1 every, though groups are additionally allowed to exceed the overall if they need.
With Abu Dhabi marking the ultimate spherical of the season and a venue the place there isn’t any Dash race, FP1 is usually utilized because of the climate circumstances. FP2, qualifying and the race all happen at sundown, whereas FP1 and FP3 are within the warmth of the day and fewer consultant.
The highest three groups within the constructors’ championship are all working rookies on Friday, with present chief McLaren giving a debut to Ryo Hirakawa. The 30-year-old Toyota-backed driver has been a part of the McLaren driver growth program and served as reserve this yr, and also will drive for Haas — that has a Toyota partnership — within the post-race take a look at.
Ferrari will present a singular alternative because it provides one other first probability to considered one of its driver academy members within the type of Arthur Leclerc. Because the youthful brother of Charles (pictured center, above, with Arthur Leclerc at proper) and with the Monegasque taking up Carlos Sainz’s automotive, it should mark the primary time two siblings have run as teammates in F1.
At Pink Bull, Isack Hadjar will get one other probability to impress as he replaces Max Verstappen for FP1. Hadjar has had one outing thus far this yr, and this second one comes with the Pink Bull reserve simply half some extent behind championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto heading into the Method 2 title decider. Hadjar can be anticipated to race for RB subsequent season if Pink Bull replaces Sergio Perez with one of many present RB drivers.
Aston Martin is as soon as once more giving reserve driver Felipe Drugovich an look, with the 2022 F2 champion changing Lance Stroll, whereas one other returnee is Ayumu Iwasa at RB. Iwasa drove in his dwelling race weekend in Japan earlier this yr and can full his second FP1 session rather than Yuki Tsunoda.
There’s a 3rd debutant on present on Friday in Abu Dhabi, too, with Williams giving a primary FP1 run to younger driver Luke Browning. The 22-year-old raced in Method 3 this yr — ending third within the championship — after which took over fellow Williams younger driver Zak O’Sullivan’s seat in F2 for the ultimate three rounds.
