Mexico City GP: Ten Rookies to Take Over FP1 Grid

The opening practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix will feature a massive youth movement, with 10 rookie drivers taking over the cockpit for the 60-minute outing. Almost every team on the grid is utilizing the session to fulfill mandatory rookie requirements, turning the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez into a high-stakes proving ground.

Why it matters:

Under Article B1.7.3 of the sporting regulations, teams must provide two practice sessions per car to rookie drivers annually. In the context of the 2026 season, these sessions are more than just a regulatory checkbox; they are critical auditions for teams looking to secure the next generation of talent capable of mastering the new power unit era.

The details:

• FP1 Debutants: Three drivers will make their first official F1 practice appearances: Nikola Tsolov (Racing Bulls), Freddie Slater (Audi), and Gabriele Mini (Alpine).
• Returning Prospects: Fred Vesti returns to Mercedes for his seventh FP1, while reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli steps into the McLaren for the third time this year. Ayumu Iwasa will also return to the Red Bull seat.
• The Midfield Mix: Luke Browning (Williams), Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), and Ryo Hirakawa (Haas) will all complete their required duties.
• The Super Licence Quest: Colton Herta’s outing with Cadillac is the most watched. Depending on his mileage and performance, this session could finally grant him the eligibility for a full FIA Super Licence.

The big picture:

Notably, Ferrari is the only squad that has not nominated a substitute driver for this session. This outlier status suggests a strategic preference for veteran stability or a specific technical focus for the high-altitude Mexican circuit that outweighs the benefit of rookie evaluation at this stage.

What's next:

As the 2027 driver market begins to take shape, the performance of these ten drivers—particularly the F2 champions and Herta—will be under intense scrutiny. For the debutants, the goal is clean execution; for the regulars, it is about proving they are race-ready for a permanent seat.