F1 star set for session absence as FiA announce driver s… read more
F1 star set for session absence as FiA announce driver s… read more
A Formula 1 driver will be sitting out of a session at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, as a young talent is given the chance to make his on-track debut in the sport. The final race of F1’s current triple-header takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and brings several changes, including a new technical directive from the FIA that introduces stricter testing measures for flexible front wings. In addition to these technical adjustments, some teams will also make changes to their driver line-ups during the Free Practice 1 (FP1) session.
Among the new faces appearing on track will be Ryo Hirakawa, who has been confirmed as Esteban Ocon’s replacement for the FP1 session at Haas. This is not Hirakawa’s first experience in a Formula 1 car, having previously taken part in FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he drove for Alpine in front of his home fans, and also having filled in for Ollie Bearman at Haas during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Now, Williams Racing has also announced a temporary driver change for the upcoming session. Rising French talent Victor Martins, a member of the Alpine Academy and a Formula 2 driver, will take the place of Alex Albon during FP1. This marks Martins’ first appearance in an official Formula 1 session, although he has already gained valuable experience through simulator work and through participation in Williams’ Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program.
Martins expressed his excitement and gratitude following the announcement. “I’m super happy to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the first time in Barcelona,” he said. “It will be an incredible experience to drive for the team. I’m working hard to prepare as much as possible to maximise my time in the car and make it a valuable session for myself and the team. I’m hugely grateful to everyone at Atlassian Williams Racing for giving me this opportunity and I’m looking forward to enjoying every second of it!”
The reason behind these driver substitutions is not due to scheduling conflicts for Ocon or Albon, but rather a requirement set by Formula 1 regulations. All F1 teams are now required to run a rookie driver in at least two FP1 sessions per season for each of their two cars. This is a change from the 2024 rule, which required just one rookie appearance per car. The goal is to give up-and-coming drivers more track time and experience in current F1 machinery as part of their development.
With these FP1 outings, both Hirakawa and Martins are gaining valuable exposure at the pinnacle of motorsport. For Martins especially, this marks a significant milestone in his career as he gets the chance to demonstrate his potential on a full F1 race weekend. Meanwhile, the teams use these sessions not only to evaluate young drivers but also to gather important data on their cars during a busy race weekend.
