Rookie Lineups Confirmed for Barcelona Practice as Hamilton and Antonelli Sit Out

Formula 1 teams are preparing to rotate their primary lineups for the opening practice session at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Under the 2026 regulations, each driver is required to vacate their seat for a rookie during two practice sessions per season, making this weekend a critical evaluation point for reserve talent.

Why it matters:

With the 2026 season introducing a complete regulatory overhaul, these sessions are more than just a formality. Teams are using the Barcelona circuit—the same track used for pre-season testing—to gauge how their young prospects handle the new machinery under competitive conditions, potentially influencing future seat allocations and contract extensions.

The Details:

• High-Profile Rotations: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) will both sit out. Dino Beganovic steps in for Hamilton, while Fred Vesti takes over for Antonelli.
• The Talent Watch: McLaren's Leo Fornaroli, a former F2 and F3 champion, makes his F1 practice debut replacing Lando Norris. Given McLaren's history of promoting young stars, Fornaroli is expected to be a focal point for the paddock.
• American Ambitions: Colton Herta will replace Sergio Perez at Cadillac. As a former IndyCar standout currently in F2, Herta remains one of the most anticipated drivers to prove his consistency in the F1 environment.
• Other Changes: Ayumu Iwasa replaces Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, Luke Browning fills in for Alex Albon at Williams, and Paul Aron takes the wheel for Nico Hulkenberg at Audi.

What's next:

While the majority of the grid is rotating, Alpine, Racing Bulls, Haas, and Aston Martin have opted to run their standard driver pairings for all sessions. The data gathered from these FP1 runs will provide a benchmark for the reserves as teams refine their strategies for the mid-season stretch.