In his quest for the Formula 1 championship, Australian driver Oscar Piastri faces a setback this weekend as he, along with eight other drivers, will miss the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to a regulation introduced at the beginning of 2025.
The upcoming race at the Yas Marina Circuit is poised to determine the season’s champion, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen contending for the top honors. A podium finish for Norris could secure him the title, although any errors on his part could create opportunities for his rivals.
Given the significance of the Abu Dhabi race, it is crucial for drivers to maximize their practice time. Nearly half of the grid will be excluded from the initial hour of running due to a rule mandating teams to provide chances for rookie drivers.
Throughout the season, each team must include a rookie driver in two free practice sessions per car, totaling four sessions per team. Multiple teams still need to fulfill their rookie session requirements, leading to the inclusion of several new faces in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri is one of the drivers being substituted, as Pato O’Ward will take his place at McLaren. Lewis Hamilton will also be absent from the session, with Ferrari opting for Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of his teammate Charles Leclerc, to step in.
Arvid Lindblad, set to join Racing Bulls next season, will replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull, while Ayumu Iwasa will take over from Liam Lawson at the sister team RB. Ryo Hirakawa is slated to substitute Esteban Ocon at Haas.
Alex Albon will sit out the session, with Williams academy member Luke Browning filling in. Aston Martin will provide opportunities for two rookies in FP1, with Cian Shields and Jak Crawford taking the places of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll respectively.
Alpine will field Paul Aron for his fifth FP1 outing this season, replacing Pierre Gasly. Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive Sky coverage of Formula 1.
Sky offers coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race during the season, as well as exclusive broadcasts of the Premier League, EFL, darts, and golf.
Mercedes and Sauber have already met their rookie practice session requirements, allowing George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to proceed as usual.
Abu Dhabi is a popular choice for rookie sessions, especially as it marks the season’s finale. FP1 occurs in daytime conditions that differ from qualifying and the race. These sessions are crucial for young driver development, often paving the way for full-time opportunities. Young talents like Antonelli and Oliver Bearman secured seats for 2025 after participating in practice sessions last season.