Throughout the season, all teams are required to run a rookie in at least 2 practice sessions. Many teams favour Mexico due to the tracks simplicity, and so this weekend, all teams bar Sauber will run a rookie session.
Let’s have a look at who will be joining the grid.
McLaren Racing – Pato O’Ward
Lando Norris will be stepping aside for McLaren Racing reserve and current IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward. Being proudly Mexican himself, O’Ward will be driving this weekend on home turf, making this a special session for him.
Pato O’Ward finished this year’s IndyCar season in P2, just shy of winning the championship. He has plenty of wheel experience, and this is not the first time the 26-year-old has been in a Papaya Formula 1 car. As a part of the McLaren Racing Development Programme, he has had a close connection with the team and Formula 1 since 2021. Last year, O’Ward completed his first appearance at the Mexican Grand Prix during Free Practice 1, finishing 13th.
Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 – Antonio Fuoco
29-year-old Antonio Fuoco is a part of the Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 family. He currently participates in the World Endurance Championship for Ferrari AF Corse. Fuoco has an extensive racing background. His time in the fastest motorsport category, goes back to 2015, when he first raced in an Formula 1 car for Ferrari. He then raced alongside Charles Leclerc during his 2017 Formula 2 season.
Later the Italian was named the reserve driver for Formula E’s GEOX Dragon Team in 2018/2019. In 2021 and 2024, he took part in the post-season test, and this weekend will replace Lewis Hamilton for Free Practice 1.
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 – Frederik Vesti
Frederik Vesti is a face often seen in the paddock and in the Mercedes garage. The runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 season, Vesti has been a part of the Mercedes Driver Development team for some time, participating in the post-season test in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
After being out-chosen for the second Williams Racing seat in 2024, he was promoted to Mercedes reserve that year and has continued that role this year alongside Valtteri Bottas. He has taken part in numerous free practice sessions for the team and this weekend will replace George Russell for Free Practice 1 in Mexico.
Oracle Red Bull Racing – Arvid Lindblad
A star in the making, Arvid Lindblad will replace Max Verstappen to drive the Oracle Red Bull Racing during free practice. Currently competing in Formula 2 for Campos Racing, Lindblad is already making a huge impression in the world of motorsport.
The 18-year-old is in the Red Bull Driver Development programme, and with numerous Formula 2 wins under his belt, he is a contender for an Formula 1 seat or reserve seat next season. Lindblad made his first Formula 1 appearance this year at the British Grand Prix after being granted a super licence by the FIA.
Atlassian Williams Racing – Luke Browning
Also coming from Formula 2, Atlassian Williams Racing development driver Luke Browning will take the place of Carlos Sainz this weekend. In the Formula 2 standings, he is currently P3 with 161 points. Browning has previously driven an Formula 1 car this season during Free Practice 1 in Bahrain. He finished the session in P13, the highest of the rookies in that session.
The Brit has also driven the AMR21 at the Silverstone Circuit and completed the post-season young drivers test in 2024 at Abu Dhabi. Being a part of the Atlassian Williams Racing programme, he is often the first pick for the team and is currently a reserve driver for them this season.
Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team – Jak Crawford
Driving the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll for free practice will be Jak Crawford, an Formula 2 driver racing for DAMS this season. The American is currently 2nd in the drivers’ standings, just 19 points off the leader.
In 2024, Crawford made his Formula 1 debut driving the Aston Martin at the Austrian Grand Prix and participated in the Young Drivers Test after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, completing 109 laps. His driving experience expands to Formula E, where he was named the reserve driver for Andretti during the 2024/25 season.
BWT Alpine Formula One – Paul Aron
BWT Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron is set to fill in for Pierre Gasly this weekend in Free Practice 1. The Estonian driver placed 3rd in the 2024 Formula 2 season, with countless podium finishes to his name. He has had a pretty impressive career, rising to his position now at Alpine.
Aron joined the Mercedes Junior Team in 2019 but was later dropped in 2023. His Formula 1 debut came in 2024 during the post-season test for Alpine, and he was later signed to the team as a reserve for 2025. This season, Paul Aron made his Free Practice 1 debut on loan to Sauber during the British Grand Prix and again in Hungary. This weekend will be his second appearance with Alpine this season.
MoneyGram Haas F1 – Ryo Hirakawa
Replacing Ollie Bearman for Free Practice 1 will be Ryo Hirakawa. The 31-year-old races for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the World Endurance Championship and is the reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas. His racing background is extensive, having competed in Super Formula, Super GT and the European Le Mans Series.
Hirakawa also has extensive experience in Formula 1, dating back to 2023, when he joined the McLaren Development Programme. His Formula 1 debut came in 2024, taking Oscar Piastri’s spot in Free Practice 1 during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He also participated in the post-season tests there for MoneyGram Haas. He was announced as an Alpine reserve in January 2025 but switched to MoneyGram Haas due to his strong ties with Toyota.
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One – Ayumu Iwasa
The final fresh face to take part in Free Practice 1 this weekend is Ayumu Iwasa. The Red Bull Junior Team driver will replace Isack Hadjar during the session. Iwasa competed in Formula 2 in 2022 and 2023, finishing 4th in standings during his final year. Leaving Formula 2, he returned to Japan to participate in the 2024 Super Formula season.
His Formula 1 test debut came driving the Alpha Tauri at the young driver’s test. It wasn’t until 2024 that he would make his race debut in front of his home crowd in Free Practice 1. This year, the 24-year-old continues to be a part of the Red Bull programme. As part of that Iwasa appeared in both Bahrain and Imola for the team.
Kick Sauber have not opted to include a rookie in their free practice session this weekend. This means that both Gabriel Bortoletto and Nico Hülkenberg will participate in all three sessions.