BREAKING: Ferrari CONFIRMS Leclerc’s Replacement for Bahrain GP after…read more
BREAKING: Ferrari CONFIRMS Leclerc’s Replacement for Bahrain GP after…read more
Ferrari has announced that Charles Leclerc will not participate in every session during the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, as the team takes the opportunity to introduce a young talent to Formula 1. This move is part of Ferrari’s commitment to developing future stars and aligns with the FIA’s updated rookie participation rules for the 2025 season.
Leclerc, who has faced a challenging start to the year, has yet to secure a podium finish in the opening three rounds. His most recent race in China ended in disappointment after both he and his new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, were disqualified due to a technical infringement. This setback cost Ferrari valuable points in the championship and raised concerns about their consistency in the early stages of the season.
Despite this rocky start, Leclerc remains focused on turning things around. However, in Bahrain, he will be stepping aside for one session to allow a promising young driver to gain valuable experience at the top level of motorsport.
Dino Beganovic to Make His Formula 1 Debut
In an official announcement, Ferrari confirmed that Swedish driver Dino Beganovic will take the wheel of Leclerc’s SF-25 during FP1 on Friday, April 11. The 21-year-old has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020 and has steadily climbed the junior ranks, recently graduating to Formula 2.
Beganovic has shown great potential in the junior categories, winning the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship before making his move to Formula 3 and now F2. His debut in an official F1 session marks a significant milestone in his career and serves as an important opportunity to showcase his talent in front of Ferrari and the wider paddock.
New F1 Rules Open Doors for Young Drivers
Beganovic’s FP1 outing comes as part of the FIA’s revised regulations for rookie participation in Formula 1. Previously, teams were required to run a rookie in at least one free practice session per car throughout the season. However, for 2025, this requirement has been doubled, meaning each team must now allocate two FP1 sessions per car to a rookie driver.
This rule change is designed to give young drivers more exposure to F1 machinery, helping them gain experience before making a full-time step up to the grid. Ferrari’s decision to field Beganovic first suggests that the team is keen to evaluate his potential as they plan for the future.
What This Means for Ferrari and Beganovic
For Ferrari, this move is part of a broader strategy to nurture young talent while balancing their immediate championship ambitions with long-term planning. While Leclerc will return to the car for the rest of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Beganovic’s session will give Ferrari valuable data on his capabilities in an F1 setting.
For Beganovic, this is a golden opportunity to impress Ferrari’s management and make a case for himself as a future contender for a full-time F1 seat. While his immediate focus remains on his Formula 2 campaign, a strong performance in FP1 could increase his chances of securing a potential reserve role or even a seat at a Ferrari-affiliated team in the future.
As Ferrari looks to bounce back from their recent setbacks, all eyes will be on both Leclerc’s performance and Beganovic’s debut as the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend unfolds.
