Six Rookie Drivers Set for Austrian GP FP1 Session

Six rookies will hit the track at the Red Bull Ring during Friday's Austrian Grand Prix FP1 as teams fulfill mandatory 2026 rookie running rules. The lineup includes Ferrari's Dino Beganovic, Aston Martin's Jak Crawford, and Williams' Luke Browning, all stepping in for regular race drivers.

Why it matters:

The FIA mandates that drivers with no more than two grand prix starts get two FP1 sessions per car, giving emerging talent crucial race weekend mileage. These outings let teams evaluate their development pipelines against existing race data.

The details:

• Ferrari: Dino Beganovic, a Ferrari Driver Academy racer currently in Formula 2, steps into Charles Leclerc's SF-26. The Swede already logged FP1 time with the Scuderia in 2025.
• Aston Martin: American reserve Jak Crawford replaces Lance Stroll in the AMR26.
• Racing Bulls: Red Bull test driver Ayumu Iwasa takes over from Liam Lawson.
• Haas: 2022 Le Mans winner and TGR Haas reserve Ryo Hirakawa drives Esteban Ocon's VF-26.
• Alpine: Reserve driver Paul Aron, who also tests for Audi, replaces Gabriel Bortoleto in the R26.
• Williams: Williams Driver Academy member Luke Browning steps in for Carlos Sainz in the FW48.

What's next:

Teams still need to complete their four-session rookie quota this season, so more young driver appearances are coming. These FP1 outings serve as a vital audition window, with strong performances often influencing future reserve and race seat conversations for 2027.