Formula 1 teams will give five rookie drivers valuable track time at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri are among the regular drivers who will miss FP1.
Formula 1 rules require every team to run a rookie driver in each car at least twice during the season.
The Hungarian Grand Prix gives several teams a chance to complete one of those mandatory sessions.
Antonelli and Piastri among regulars missing FP1
Mercedes will give Frederik Vesti the chance to drive Antonelli’s car.
McLaren will also replace Piastri for the opening practice session.
Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will take Piastri’s seat at the Hungaroring.
Fornaroli has already impressed McLaren during previous outings.
He will now gain more Formula 1 experience during FP1.
The session could also help Fornaroli as he continues to attract interest from Haas.
Haas will run Toyota-backed driver Ryo Hirakawa instead of Oliver Bearman.
Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron will also get a chance to drive.
Aron will replace Franco Colapinto during the opening practice session.
Meanwhile, former IndyCar star Colton Herta will drive Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac.
Important experience for Formula 1’s future stars
The mandatory rookie sessions play an important role in Formula 1.
They give young drivers valuable experience in current F1 machinery.
The sessions also help teams assess their future talent.
For the five rookies, Friday offers another chance to impress team bosses.
A strong performance could also improve their chances of securing future race seats.
The five regular drivers will return for FP2 later on Friday.
Therefore, they should not face a major disadvantage before qualifying.
They will also have the rest of the weekend to prepare for Sunday’s race.
The Hungarian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, July 26.
It will also mark the final race before Formula 1’s annual summer shutdown.
Teams will want to enter the break with a strong result.
Championship leader Antonelli will aim to extend his advantage in the standings.
Piastri and the rest of the field will also look to finish the first part of the season strongly.
The Hungaroring remains one of Formula 1’s most technical circuits.
That should make the rookie FP1 sessions an important test for the five young drivers.
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