F1 Abu Dhabi last call: here are the nine rookies set for FP1
Nine drivers with rookie status are expected on track tomorrow at Yas Marina for the final FP1 session of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Some of the participants had been announced in advance, while others were confirmed in the last few hours.
Eight teams will field a ‘young’ driver in FP1, with Aston Martin standing out by running not one but two rookies: the anticipated Jak Crawford and 20-year-old Brit Cian Shield, who has yet to score a point in the last two seasons between F3 and F2. McLaren and Red Bull follow the expected plan, with Pato O’Ward replacing Oscar Piastri and the newly promoted Arvid Lindblad taking Yuki Tsunoda’s car on track for Red Bull Racing Bulls.
In Ferrari’s camp, it will not be Dino Beganovic but Arthur Leclerc who will drive alongside Charles, piloting Lewis Hamilton’s car. This comes as a slight surprise, as Arthur is no longer part of the Ferrari Driver Academy program aiming for a future in F1.
Racing Bulls follows its plan with Ayumu Iwasa completing its FP1 program, while Haas fields compatriot Ryo Hirakawa. Williams rounds out the rookie lineup with tester Luke Browning. Some of these young drivers are also expected to run next Tuesday for the final test of the 2025 season. The complete participant list will be officially released in the coming days.
Here are the nine FP1 rookies at Abu Dhabi
- McLaren (Oscar Piastri) – Pato O’Ward
- Red Bull (Yuki Tsunoda) – Arvid Lindblad
- Ferrari (Lewis Hamilton) – Arthur Leclerc
- Aston Martin (Fernando Alonso) – Cian Shield
- Aston Martin (Lance Stroll) – Jak Crawford
- Alpine (Pierre Gasly) – Paul Aron
- Racing Bulls (Liam Lawson) – Ayumu Iwasa
- Haas (Oliver Bearman) – Ryo Hirakawa
- Williams (Alexander Albon) – Luke Browning
Friday morning in Abu Dhabi is set to be one of the most intriguing FP1 sessions of the year.
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