Every FP1 rookie driver in the 2026 F1 season

As part of the rules to give young, rookie drivers more relevant on-track running, changes were made ahead of 2025. 

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.

Below is a full list of how every team stands with its rookie driver sessions thus far in 2026.

LAST UPDATED: Following the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix. This article will be updated after every Friday FP1 session where an FP1 driver has stepped in. 

McLaren - 4/4

Reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli completed all four FP1 sessions for McLaren.

He took over Lando Norris's car in Barcelona and Mexico City and deputised for Oscar Piastri in Hungary and Sao Paulo.

Mercedes - 3/4

Mercedes used its first mandatory session for Fred Vesti during FP1 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. 

He replaced Kimi Antonelli, who then again stepped out in Hungary with George Russell missing his first in Mexico City, again for Vesti. 

Vesti will be in for Russell's sole remaining session, which is likely to be in Abu Dhabi. 

Red Bull - 3/4

Red Bull's first FP1 session of the year came for Ayumu Iwasa in Barcelona when he deputised for Isack Hadjar. 

Max Verstappen stepped out at the Italian Grand Prix and then again at the Mexico City Grand Prix, leaving Hadjar with just one session left.

Ferrari - 3/4

Like most teams, Ferrari took its first FP1 session in Barcelona, with Dino Beganovic getting the nod in place of Lewis Hamilton.

Beganovic got a second outing in Charles Leclerc's SF-26 at the Austrian GP, and then again in Sao Paulo, meaning Hamilton has one more session to miss.

Williams - 5/4

Williams has outlined its plan for its FP1 sessions with Luke Browning.

He was due to replace Alex Albon in FP1 in Barcelona, but car problems ruined the run, before Browning moving over to take Carlos Sainz's FW48 in Austria. 

Albon then stepped out in Italy and again in Mexico City for Browning's fourth official appearance, but after the Barcelona run was ruined, Sainz was stood down in Sao Paulo to give Browning his fifth outing. 

Racing Bulls - 4/4

With Arvid Lindblad the only rookie on the 2026 F1 grid, he completed his two FP1 sessions in Australia and China as he had not started more than two grands prix. 

Liam Lawson missed his first session of the year at the Austrian GP, where Ayumu Iwasa deputised. 

Lawson's second session came in favour of Nikola Tsolov at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Aston Martin - 4/4

Aston Martin was the first team to complete an FP1 session, with this coming in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. 

Jak Crawford stepped in for Fernando Alonso, and the American was back in the AMR26 in Austria, this time taking over Lance Stroll's car.

Crawford took over Alonso's car once again in FP1 at the Belgian GP, leaving only Stroll with one more FP1 session to step out for, which was fulfilled by Crawford in Mexico City.

Haas - 4/4

Esteban Ocon completed the first of his sessions at the Austrian GP, with Ryo Hirakawa jumping into his car.

Oliver Bearman completed his first session in Hungary, leaving both drivers with one more to miss each - with Ocon completing his second in favour of Hirakawa in Mexico City.

After Ocon was let go by the team following events in Mexico City, Rafael Camara, the team's 2027 driver was called up for the Sao Paulo GP, but this does not count for Bearman's tally, meaning he has one more session to miss.

Audi - 4/4

Paul Aron took over for Nico Hulkenberg at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which was Audi's first session of the year. 

Gabriel Bortoleto handed over duties in Austria, with the team deciding to give Freddie Slater his F1 weekend debut in Mexico City, in favour of Bortoleto.

Slater then took Hulkenberg's car in Sao Paulo. 

Alpine - 4/4

Alpine's first session of the year came with Franco Colapinto being benched for Paul Aron in Hungary. He must miss one more session. 

Pierre Gasly missed the first of his two sessions in Italy, again for Aron. 

Colapinto stepped out in Mexico City to hand Gabriele Mini his weekend debut, with Gasly doing so in favour of Mini in Sao Paulo. 

Cadillac - 6/4

In Barcelona, Colton Herta finally made his F1 weekend debut, taking Sergio Perez's MAC-26 for a drive.

Perez stepped out for the second time in Italy, with Valtteri Bottas, who handed over his car to Herta in Hungary, again doing so in Mexico City. 

Herta was given the nod for the United States FP1 session, but in Perez's car for the third time, with Herta being given Perez's FP1 in Sao Paulo for a sixth session - and the fifth to qualify for a superlicence point - which he finally achieved in São Paulo.