Robert Shwartzman will take part in the first Formula 1 practice session of the United States Grand Prix later this year, marking the first time Ferrari has ran a rookie on a race weekend since the rules to encourage teams to run young drivers were introduced. Since 2004 Formula 1 teams have been given opportunities to run younger drivers in practice sessions to gain them experience before making full race debuts. In 2022 this was stepped up to state that all teams must now run a young driver, classified as someone with "two or fewer grands prix under their belt" during two free practice sessions this year. Over the years, Ferrari has deferred to other teams it considered 'proving grounds' as part of its Young Driver Programme to run rookies. Shwartzman was planned to run in an official Free Practice session with Haas at the end of the 2020 season in Abu Dhabi, as part of Ferrari's plans to run three of its rookies in their Young Driver Academy. However due to Callum Illott and Mick Schumacher's runs at the previous Eifel Grand Prix being cancelled due to foggy conditions, Schumacher subsequently took up the spot reserved for Shwartzman.
Ferrari ends 46-year stat oddity
The running of Shwartzman also ends a 46-year statistical oddity for the team, as it will be the first time since the 1976 Italian Grand Prix that they have ran a third driver during a weekend. This was when Carlos Reutemann was ran during the weekend of Niki Lauda's comeback, following his life-threatening crash at the Nurburgring just six weeks prior. During that period F1 allowed three-car entries, so Reutemann ran alongside Lauda and Clay Regazzoni.
Most read
