The high-altitude challenge of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will host an impressive showcase of Formula 1’s next generation this Friday, with nine rookie drivers scheduled to take to the track for the opening Free Practice 1 session.
As teams rush to meet the FIA regulation requiring them to field a young driver in at least two FP1 sessions per season, Mexico City has become the venue of choice for many of the F1 programme’s most promising talents.
The session will see champions like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton stepping aside for an hour to make way for hot prospects from the F2 grid, IndyCar, and endurance racing.
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The massive rookie swap across the grid
| Team | Rookie Driver | Replacing | Feeder Series Background |
| McLaren | Pato O'Ward | Lando Norris | IndyCar (Runner-up in 2025 IndyCar Series) |
| Ferrari | Antonio Fuoco | Lewis Hamilton | WEC (24 Hours of Le Mans Winner) |
| Red Bull Racing | Arvid Lindblad | Max Verstappen | Formula 2 (Multiple wins in 2025) |
| Mercedes | Frederik Vesti | George Russell | Endurance Racing / F2 Runner-up (2023) |
| Aston Martin | Jak Crawford | Lance Stroll | Formula 2 (Second in F2 standings) |
| Williams | Luke Browning | Carlos Sainz | Formula 2 (Third in F2 standings) |
| Racing Bulls | Ayumu Iwasa | Liam Lawson | Super Formula |
| Alpine | Paul Aron | Pierre Gasly | Formula 2 (Reserve driver) |
| Haas | Ryo Hirakawa | Oliver Bearman | WEC / Super Formula |
Sauber is the only team exempt from fielding a rookie this weekend, having already completed their mandatory sessions with Frederik Vesti earlier in the year.
Home hero and F2 frontrunners take centre stage
The session will be a significant opportunity for many drivers, particularly Pato O'Ward, who gets his chance at his home circuit for the second consecutive year, replacing Lando Norris in the leading McLaren.
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The F2 crop is heavily represented: Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull), Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), Luke Browning (Williams), and Paul Aron (Alpine) all use the high-altitude run to demonstrate their readiness for a potential 2026 F1 seat.
Furthermore, WEC star Antonio Fuoco will debut for Ferrari in place of Lewis Hamilton, providing the Scuderia with crucial development feedback from a driver deeply embedded in their GT racing programme.
For the drivers and teams alike, these FP1 sessions are mandatory but invaluable, offering young talent essential mileage while allowing the main squads to focus on set-up direction for the rest of the Grand Prix weekend.
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