Max Verstappen is among six Formula 1 drivers, including several prominent names, who will not participate in the first practice session at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix. Teams across the grid are seizing the opportunity to field less experienced drivers during this session.
Formula 1 regulations mandate teams to allow rookie drivers to partake in a specific number of FP1 sessions per season. For the ongoing 2025 campaign, this requirement has been doubled, necessitating each team to include a rookie at least four times per season – twice in each car.
Earlier this week, Haas confirmed one such rookie session, coinciding with the news of another driver’s team switch following the Japanese Grand Prix. Haas announced the signing of Ryo Hirakawa as their new reserve driver, who will replace Oliver Bearman for FP1 in Bahrain this weekend.
Hirakawa had previously participated in one practice session this season, driving for Alpine at Suzuka before opting to join Haas after a brief stint with the team.
Ferrari has also revealed their decision to have Charles Leclerc sit out the first practice session, with Formula 2 racer Dino Beganovic set to make his official F1 timed session debut in his place.
In addition to Leclerc, Verstappen will be absent from the initial practice session, with Ayumu Iwasa taking his place. George Russell will also be sidelined, with Frederik Vesti stepping in to drive for Mercedes.
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Aston Martin reserve driver and former Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich will substitute for Fernando Alonso in FP1, while Carlos Sainz will make way for Luke Browning to gain more F1 experience with Williams.
Drivers must meet specific criteria to qualify as rookies under the rule requiring teams to rotate their drivers at least four times a year, with no age restrictions. The primary factor is the driver’s F1 experience, with competitors who have raced more than twice no longer considered rookies.
Even drivers with a race seat this year are counted, benefiting teams with racers who debuted in the current season. For instance, Kimi Antonelli’s first two races for Mercedes counted as rookie runs, allowing Mercedes to comply with the rules by replacing Russell only twice this year.