Every Rookie to Feature in 2026 F1 FP1 Sessions

All 11 Formula 1 teams must field a rookie—defined as a driver who has started no more than one grand prix—during two FP1 sessions for each car in 2026. With the season entering its summer stretch, squads are working through this obligation at varying paces, offering junior talents rare mileage in current-spec machinery.

Why it matters:

The mandatory rookie runs serve as one of the few remaining avenues for young drivers to gain genuine grand prix weekend experience. For teams, these sessions function as extended auditions, providing a clearer picture of a prospect's ability to handle F1 pressure before any lineup decisions are made.

The details:

• McLaren has run Leonardo Fornaroli in Barcelona and Hungary, while Mercedes has utilized Frederik Vesti at the same rounds.
• Ferrari handed its car to Dino Beganovic in Barcelona and Austria.
• Red Bull has completed just one session so far, with Ayumu Iwasa driving in Barcelona.
• Racing Bulls moved early, using Arvid Lindblad in Australia and China to satisfy one car's requirement, before running Iwasa in Austria.
• Aston Martin has been busiest, giving Jak Crawford three FP1 outings across Japan, Austria, and Belgium.
• Williams planned two sessions for Luke Browning, though his Barcelona appearance was aborted.
• Haas fielded Ryo Hirakawa in Austria and Hungary.
• Audi ran Paul Aron in Barcelona and Austria, while Alpine utilized him in Hungary.
• Cadillac has twice run IndyCar convert Colton Herta in Barcelona and Hungary.

The big picture:

With most teams still needing to fulfill additional slots before season's end, the coming weekends will likely see more fresh faces in the garage. The regulation forces teams to invest in their junior programs, ensuring the sport's developmental pipeline remains active.