BREAKING: Mexican GP FP1 Shake-Up: Nine F1 Stars to Be Replaced… read more
Mexican GP FP1 Shake-Up: Nine F1 Stars to Be Replaced by Rookie Drivers
By Hugo Harvey | October 24, 2025
A dramatic reshuffle is on the cards for the opening practice session of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, as nine Formula 1 teams are set to replace their regular drivers with rookies. The switch comes as part of a major regulation introduced by the FIA earlier this year, which doubled the number of mandatory rookie sessions for each team.
Under the revised rule, every F1 team must now run a rookie in both cars at least twice over the course of the season—making a total of four sessions required per team. With only five races left in the 2025 calendar, many outfits are running out of time to complete their quota, leading to a record number of changes for the FP1 session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
Among those sitting out are two of the sport’s biggest names: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Both world champions will step aside to make way for rising talents, joining seven other teams in what will be one of the most youth-filled FP1 sessions in recent memory.
Star Drivers Making Way
Following his dominant weekend at the United States Grand Prix, where he won both the sprint and the main race, Max Verstappen will not participate in Friday’s first practice. Instead, Arvid Lindblad, one of Red Bull’s promising junior drivers, will take over the RB21. Lindblad previously made his FP1 debut at Silverstone earlier this year, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, and impressed the team with his composure and pace.
Over at McLaren, home favourite Pato O’Ward is set to take the wheel of Lando Norris’s car for FP1. The Mexican driver, who recently finished second in the 2025 IndyCar championship, will enjoy another opportunity to drive in front of his home crowd. It will mark O’Ward’s second consecutive FP1 appearance at the Mexican GP, continuing his close relationship with the papaya team.
Meanwhile, both Ferrari and Mercedes—locked in a tight fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship—have chosen to rest their lead drivers. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton will hand over his SF-25 to Antonio Fuoco, a driver who helped Ferrari secure victory at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fuoco’s outing will be historically significant, as it marks the first time in 16 years that an Italian will drive a Ferrari in an official F1 session.
Mercedes have also confirmed that George Russell will sit out FP1, with reserve driver Frederik Vesti taking his place. The Danish racer, who has been part of Mercedes’ young driver program, will use the opportunity to continue building experience at the highest level.
The Full FP1 Replacement List
FP1 Driver Replacing Team
Pato O’Ward Lando Norris McLaren
Frederik Vesti George Russell Mercedes
Antonio Fuoco Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
Arvid Lindblad Max Verstappen Red Bull
Luke Browning Carlos Sainz Williams
Ayumu Iwasa Liam Lawson Racing Bulls
Jak Crawford Lance Stroll Aston Martin
Ryo Hirakawa Ollie Bearman Haas
Paul Aron Pierre Gasly Alpine
Williams have chosen Luke Browning, one of their brightest young talents and an F2 competitor, to replace Carlos Sainz. At the same time, Racing Bulls will bring in Japanese racer Ayumu Iwasa in place of Liam Lawson for FP1.
At Aston Martin, American driver Jak Crawford is set to make his F1 debut, replacing Lance Stroll, while Haas will feature Ryo Hirakawa once more, taking over Ollie Bearman’s seat. To round out the list, Paul Aron—who has already completed several FP1 sessions this season—will step in for Pierre Gasly at Alpine as he continues to make a strong case for a full-time 2026 seat.
Why Sauber Is Sitting Out
Interestingly, Sauber remains the only team not participating in the rookie shake-up this weekend. The Swiss outfit has already fulfilled its FIA rookie quota for 2025. Earlier in the year, Gabriel Bortoleto and Paul Aron (who was temporarily loaned to Sauber) both took part in practice sessions that satisfied the team’s requirements.
According to the FIA’s definition, a rookie is any driver who has competed in two or fewer F1 races. Since Franco Colapinto—who replaced Jack Doohan mid-season—has already started multiple Grands Prix, his appearances no longer count toward the rookie quota. Consequently, Sauber’s obligations were met when Bortoleto and Aron each completed two sessions, allowing the team to focus solely on performance in Mexico.
A Glimpse Into the Future
With nine new faces on the grid for FP1, the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix promises an exciting preview of Formula 1’s future. For fans, it’s a rare opportunity to see emerging stars from across the world—ranging from IndyCar and Super Formula to endurance racing—get their first taste of F1 machinery on one of the sport’s most unique and high-altitude circuits.
As the season nears its conclusion, these rookies will be eager to make a lasting impression—not just on their teams, but on the global stage of motorsport.
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