Ten of Formula 1’s 11 teams will field rookie drivers during the opening practice session for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lando Norris among the regular drivers stepping aside. Ferrari is the only team keeping both of its race drivers behind the wheel, allowing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to complete the full Friday programme at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The Mexican Grand Prix has become a showcase for emerging talent, with ten drivers given an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in Formula 1 machinery. The session comes on a weekend when Andrea Kimi Antonelli could secure the World Championship, creating an intriguing contrast between the sport’s established stars and the next generation hoping to join them. But who are the ten drivers taking part, and why has Ferrari chosen a different approach?
Why so many F1 rookies are driving in Mexico GP FP1
Formula 1’s sporting regulations require every team to give a rookie driver, defined as someone who has competed in no more than two Grands Prix, at least two FP1 outings in each of its cars during the season. The Mexico City Grand Prix provides an ideal opportunity to fulfil this requirement because the event takes place on a permanent circuit and does not feature a Sprint race.
However, handing over a car comes at a cost for the regular driver. With only three practice sessions available, anyone missing FP1 has just two hours of running left to prepare for qualifying. That is particularly significant at a circuit situated more than 2,000 metres above sea level, where the thinner air affects both aerodynamic downforce and cooling performance.
For Lando Norris, missing the opening session also means sitting out the period when the track surface is at its dirtiest and conditions are changing most rapidly. The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend schedule gives teams three practice sessions before qualifying, but those early laps still provide valuable information about how the cars behave at altitude.
Why Ferrari is keeping Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in their cars
Ferrari has already completed two of its four mandatory rookie practice appearances this season. Dino Beganovic drove Lewis Hamilton’s SF-26 during FP1 at Barcelona in June, finishing eighth, before taking over Charles Leclerc’s car two weeks later at the Austrian Grand Prix.
That leaves two further sessions to complete, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each required to surrender their car once more before the end of the championship. Following Mexico, the calendar still includes São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, giving Ferrari four remaining race weekends in which to schedule those two outings.
The decision therefore appears linked to Ferrari’s determination to maximise its preparation time in Mexico. Keeping both regular drivers in their cars throughout Friday should help the team study its latest aerodynamic package under conditions very different from those encountered at Austin.
That preparation is particularly important given the challenges facing Ferrari’s upgraded SF-26 in Mexico. The team has an opportunity to gather a complete set of feedback from both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, rather than sacrificing an hour of running to accommodate another rookie appearance.
Frederik Vesti, Ayumu Iwasa and Leonardo Fornaroli represent the leading F1 teams
Frederik Vesti is Mercedes’ official reserve driver and finished runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 championship. The Dane will take over George Russell’s W17 for his third FP1 appearance of the season, having already completed two sessions in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s car. “A huge thank you to George for letting me drive your car,” he said. George Russell will also have to miss another practice session during the remaining rounds.
Japan’s Ayumu Iwasa is a Racing Bulls test driver and the 2025 Super Formula champion, having secured the title at Suzuka. A member of the Red Bull development programme since 2021, he also spent two seasons competing in Formula 2. Ayumu Iwasa has already driven in FP1 for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls this year and will replace Max Verstappen in Mexico.
Leonardo Fornaroli, 21, is the reigning Formula 2 champion, having previously won the Formula 3 title in 2024. The Italian is part of McLaren’s development programme and will make his third FP1 appearance of the season. His scheduled outings in Mexico and São Paulo will complete McLaren’s remaining rookie practice obligations.
Leonardo Fornaroli is also preparing for a new challenge in 2027, when he will compete in the World Endurance Championship with McLaren’s new Hypercar team. He will combine that programme with his continuing role as a Formula 1 reserve driver.
Nikola Tsolov, Gabriele Minì and Freddie Slater prepare for their F1 opportunities
Among the younger prospects, 19-year-old Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov is attracting particular attention. Racing for Campos in Formula 2, he currently sits second in the championship, seven points behind Rafael Câmara. A member of the Red Bull junior programme since 2025, Nikola Tsolov will make his Grand Prix weekend debut in Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls.
Helmut Marko would reportedly like to see Nikola Tsolov replace Liam Lawson, while Racing Bulls has yet to announce either of its drivers for the 2027 season. The Mexico City appearance therefore represents an important opportunity for the Bulgarian to demonstrate his potential.
Italian driver Gabriele Minì, 21, is a member of the Alpine Academy and currently occupies fourth place in the Formula 2 standings with MP Motorsport. He will drive Franco Colapinto’s A526 during the opening practice session.
Freddie Slater, meanwhile, is an 18-year-old British prospect and the first driver recruited to Audi’s development programme. The Trident driver finished runner-up in Formula 3 and is set to graduate to Formula 2 with Invicta in 2027. He is also scheduled to drive Audi’s Formula 1 car again at São Paulo.
For Nikola Tsolov, Gabriele Minì and Freddie Slater, the Mexican Grand Prix marks their first appearance in an official Formula 1 practice session. All three will be looking to make a positive impression while fulfilling important development and engineering duties for their respective teams.
Ryo Hirakawa, Luke Browning, Jak Crawford and Colton Herta complete the rookie line-up
Ryo Hirakawa is Haas’ reserve driver and an established name in the World Endurance Championship, having enjoyed considerable success with Toyota, including victories at Le Mans. The Japanese driver will replace Esteban Ocon for his third FP1 appearance of the season. However, Haas has already selected Rafael Câmara for 2027.
British driver Luke Browning has progressed through the Williams Driver Academy and serves as reserve driver for Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. His previous FP1 appearance at Barcelona ended without a completed lap because of an electrical problem, making another opportunity to gain meaningful running particularly valuable.
American driver Jak Crawford is Aston Martin’s reserve and finished second behind Leonardo Fornaroli in the 2025 Formula 2 championship. He made his FP1 debut at this circuit a year ago and was the fastest driver during the Abu Dhabi tests. Jak Crawford is not currently competing in another racing series.
Perhaps the most unusual story belongs to Colton Herta, an IndyCar race winner who now works as a Cadillac test driver. The American needs just one additional point to qualify for a Formula 1 superlicence, and completing 100 kilometres in Valtteri Bottas’ car would give him the decisive point.
Colton Herta previously managed only 25 kilometres during a session at Monza after encountering a technical problem. The FIA had also rejected his request for a superlicence exemption in 2022. For the American, accumulating the required mileage will therefore matter considerably more than setting a competitive lap time.
What to watch during Mexico GP FP1 on Friday
The opening practice session for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix begins on Friday at 19:30 CET, with an unusual mixture of promising young drivers and experienced reserve competitors taking to the circuit.
Colton Herta will be focused on completing enough laps to secure his superlicence point, while Nikola Tsolov and Gabriele Minì will aim to strengthen their credentials for future Formula 1 opportunities. Leonardo Fornaroli, meanwhile, is preparing for a career that will combine Formula 1 responsibilities with McLaren’s Hypercar programme.
With so many inexperienced drivers participating, outright lap times may reveal relatively little. The more interesting story will be how each driver approaches the session, the experience they gain and the opportunities that could follow.
For Ferrari, the priorities are different. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will concentrate on understanding the SF-26 at a circuit where altitude creates unusual technical demands, including the cooling and grip concerns highlighted by Fred Vasseur. With both race drivers remaining in their cars, Ferrari will have an additional opportunity to evaluate its package before qualifying.
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