Oscar Piastri faces a setback in his quest for the Formula 1 championship as he, along with eight other drivers, will be absent from the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend due to a new regulation introduced in 2025.
The upcoming race at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the season’s champion, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen in contention for the top spot. While a podium finish for Norris could secure him the title, any errors on his part could give his rivals an opportunity.
Given the critical nature of the Abu Dhabi race, it is crucial for drivers to maximize their practice time. However, almost half of the grid will miss out on the initial hour of running because teams are required to provide rookie drivers with practice opportunities.
Throughout the season, each team must allow a rookie driver to participate in two free practice sessions per car, totaling four sessions per team. As a result, several teams still need to fulfill their rookie session requirements, leading to the inclusion of new faces in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri will be substituted by Pato O’Ward in his McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton will also skip the session as Ferrari announced that Arthur Leclerc will take his place. Additionally, other driver replacements include Arvid Lindblad for Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull, Ayumu Iwasa for Liam Lawson at RB, and Ryo Hirakawa for Esteban Ocon at Haas.
Moreover, Alex Albon will be replaced by Williams academy member Luke Browning, and Aston Martin will give opportunities to rookies Cian Shields and Jak Crawford in place of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, respectively.
Alpine will feature Paul Aron for his fifth FP1 appearance of the season, taking over from Pierre Gasly. Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include various streaming services and 135 channels, offering extensive coverage of Formula 1 and other sports events.
Mercedes and Sauber have already fulfilled their rookie practice session requirements, allowing George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate as usual. Abu Dhabi serves as a prime location for rookie sessions, especially given its status as the final weekend of the season, providing valuable experience for young drivers looking to secure full-time positions in the future.