Nine Rookies Take Center Stage at Mexican GP Practice as F1 Stars Watch On

Charles Leclerc set the early pace in an unusual first practice session for the Mexican Grand Prix, where nine regular F1 drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, sat out to allow rookie drivers to gain experience. This unique session saw a diverse field of new talent test their mettle on a dusty, high-altitude track.

Why it matters:

• This session provided a crucial opportunity for the next generation of F1 talent to gain invaluable experience in a Grand Prix setting, a requirement mandated by FIA regulations for teams to run rookie drivers in at least two FP1 sessions per season.
• For the teams, it's a delicate balance of gathering data, giving rookies a chance, and ensuring the cars remain undamaged for the race weekend, especially with key drivers sidelined.

The Details:

• Rookies in Focus: Nine F1 regulars—Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, and Carlos Sainz—watched from the sidelines as their cars were piloted by rookies.
• Team Participation: Sauber was the only team not to run a rookie in this session, having fulfilled their quota in earlier FP1 sessions.
• Leclerc's Pace: Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped the session with a time of 1:18.380s, a tenth faster than Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
• Track Conditions: The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, rarely used throughout the year, was notably dusty at the start of the session. The high altitude (2,238m or 7,343ft) in Mexico City means thinner air (20% less dense), leading to higher track temperatures (48°C) despite pleasant air temperatures (23°C), and demanding increased cooling for the cars.
• Rookie Performance Highlights:
  • Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli impressed, finishing second overall.
  • Red Bull's Arvid Lindblad was the leading rookie at sixth quickest, outpacing Yuki Tsunoda.

The Big Picture:

FP1 sessions with rookie drivers are a common feature of the F1 season, designed to integrate new talent into the sport and provide them with crucial track time under race weekend conditions. While sometimes disruptive to established teams' usual practice routines, these sessions are vital for driver development and future talent pipelines. The high-altitude conditions in Mexico always present unique challenges, making rookie appearances even more demanding.

What's next:

With the rookie-heavy FP1 concluded, regular drivers will return for the subsequent practice sessions to fine-tune their setups for qualifying and the race. The data gathered from Leclerc's strong performance, and the rookie runs will be crucial for teams to prepare for the specific demands of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. The focus now shifts to optimizing car performance and driver familiarity with the challenging circuit as the weekend progresses.