Oscar Piastri faces a setback in his quest for the Formula 1 championship this weekend as he joins several other drivers in missing the first practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A rule introduced in 2025 will keep a total of nine racers off the track during FP1.
The competition at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the season’s champion, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen in contention for the top spot. While a podium finish for Norris could secure him the title, any errors on his part could provide opportunities for his rivals.
Given the significance of the Abu Dhabi race, it is crucial for drivers to maximize their practice time. However, nearly half of the grid will be absent from the initial hour of running due to the regulation requiring teams to give rookie drivers a chance.
Throughout the season, each team must include a rookie driver in two free practice sessions per car, totaling four sessions per team. As a result, several teams still need to fulfill their rookie session requirements, leading to new faces participating in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri is among those being substituted, with Pato O’Ward taking over his McLaren. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton will not participate in the session as Ferrari announced that Arthur Leclerc will replace him.
Arvid Lindblad, who is set to join Racing Bulls next season, will step in for Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull, while Ayumu Iwasa will take Liam Lawson’s place at sister team RB. Ryo Hirakawa will replace Haas regular Esteban Ocon.
Alex Albon will be replaced by Williams academy member Luke Browning for the session. Aston Martin will field two rookies, Cian Shields and Jak Crawford, in place of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll respectively.
Alpine will have Paul Aron in his fifth FP1 outing of the season, taking over from Pierre Gasly. Mercedes and Sauber have fulfilled their rookie practice session allocations, allowing George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate.
Abu Dhabi is a popular location for rookie sessions, especially as it marks the end of the season. FP1 occurs in daytime conditions, differing from qualifying and the race. These sessions are vital for the progression of young drivers, with many earning full-time seats after participating. Drivers like Antonelli and Oliver Bearman secured spots for 2025 after taking part in practice sessions last season.
Formula 1 fans can enjoy live coverage of every practice, qualifying, and race with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which includes access to around 100 TV channels, along with free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.