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Antonio Fuoco to make Ferrari FP1 debut at Mexico City GP

Antonio Fuoco to make Ferrari FP1 debut at Mexico City GP

Summary
Ferrari's endurance ace Antonio Fuoco will make his F1 Free Practice 1 debut at the Mexico City Grand Prix, driving the SF-25. A Le Mans winner and a key development driver in Ferrari's simulator, this opportunity highlights his contributions and Ferrari's ongoing commitment to its rookie program. He joins a roster of young talent participating in FP1 as F1 expands opportunities for emerging drivers.

Ferrari's endurance racing star Antonio Fuoco is set to join the ranks of F1 rookies participating in Friday's opening practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The 29-year-old, a 2024 Le Mans winner with Ferrari's WEC team, will drive the Scuderia's SF-25 during Free Practice 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's decision to field Fuoco underscores the importance of its rookie driver development program, aimed at integrating talent from its broader motorsport family into Formula 1. This initiative provides crucial track time for promising drivers and allows teams to evaluate potential future contenders, all while fulfilling F1's mandated rookie sessions.

The Details:

  • Simulator to Track: Fuoco has been a pivotal development driver for Ferrari, primarily working in the simulator. His extensive experience includes official F1 tests in 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2024. His role involved providing vital feedback for car development and race strategy, especially after Mick Schumacher's promotion in 2019.
  • Ferrari's Rookie Program: Fuoco's outing continues Ferrari's season-long rookie program, which began with Dino Beganovic in Bahrain.
  • Le Mans Success: Earlier this year, Fuoco showcased his talent by winning Le Mans with Ferrari's works WEC team, highlighting his capability in high-pressure endurance racing.
  • Driver for FP1: Ferrari has not yet confirmed whether Fuoco will replace Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton for the session.
  • Other Rookie Debuts: Fuoco will be joined by several other fresh faces in FP1, including Pato O'Ward (McLaren), Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull), Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), and Luke Browning (Williams). This diverse group highlights F1's commitment to nurturing emerging talent.

The Big Picture:

F1's rookie driver mandate, introduced in 2022 and expanded in 2025, requires teams to provide significant track time to young drivers. This rule change, which now mandates two FP1 outings per car per season, doubles the opportunities for emerging talent to gain experience in a Grand Prix environment. This policy ensures a steady pipeline of new talent for the sport.

What's next:

Fuoco's FP1 session will be a key opportunity for him to demonstrate his skills on a Grand Prix weekend. Success in such sessions can pave the way for future roles within Ferrari or other F1 teams. For Ferrari, it's a chance to further assess a driver who has contributed significantly behind the scenes and now gets a well-deserved spotlight moment.

Original Article :https://f1i.com/news/551464-fuoco-set-for-ferrari-fp1-debut-in-mexico-city.html

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