Why are there so many rookies practicing at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
In this weekend's Free Practice 1, there may be some unfamiliar names on the time sheet. This is because nine out of ten teams are running one of their four required rookie runs. Each driver must give up their car for two FP1 sessions, an increase from years past where they were only required to miss one session over the course of the season.
The main reason for these rookie runs is for rookies to gain more experience in a proper F1 environment rather than experience through the other series they may participate in. These sessions are also helpful for teams as they are given the opportunity to evaluate drivers for the future and they are able to gather new data on their car outside of their drivers.
This weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix is a popular track for these rookie runs for multiple reasons. One reason is the track, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, is a permanent track, which allows for more room for error than street circuits do. Another reason is the challenges that this track presents due to the high altitude of Mexico City. The thinner air that comes with high altitude reduces downforce and makes the car feel less grippy, thus challenging the rookies in environments they may not be used to, especially in an F1 car. A third reason is that the Mexico GP takes place later in the F1 season, meaning the cars are more developed and most of the upgrades have already been implemented making missing one session less critical than earlier in the season.
So who are the rookies participating in this rookie session? Mclaren has Indycar driver and their reserve driver Pato O’Ward replacing Lando Norris. Fred Vesti, Mercedes reserve driver, is replacing George Russell. Antonio Fuoco, Ferrari developmental driver, WEC driver, and 2024 Le Mans 24 hour race winner, is replacing Lewis Hamilton. Arvid Lindblad, F2 driver and on Redbulls Junior Team, is replacing Max Verstappen. Paul Aron, Alpine reserve driver, is replacing Pierre Gasly. Ayumu Iwasa, Super Formula Championship driver. Jak Crawford, F2 driver, is replacing Lance Stroll. Ryo Hirakawa, WEC driver, is replacing Ollie Bearman. Lastly, Luke Browning, F2 driver and apart of the Williams Driver Academy, is replacing Carlos Sainz for the session.
Sauber is the only team not running a rookie this weekend as they completed a session with Fred Vesti earlier this season. It will be interesting to see how that works out for the team long term.