Six rookies set for Austrian GP FP1 as teams meet 2026 obligations
Six rookie drivers will take part in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring on Friday, as Formula 1 teams continue working through their mandatory young-driver running requirements for the 2026 season.
Under the current FIA rules, every team must field a rookie â defined as a driver with no more than two grand prix starts â in two FP1 sessions per car across the campaign. That means each team must complete four rookie practice appearances in total, a regulation designed to give emerging drivers meaningful mileage during official race weekends rather than limiting them to private or simulator work.
Six changes for Friday practice
Ferrari will place Dino Beganovic in Charles Leclercâs SF-26, giving the Swedish Ferrari Driver Academy member another opportunity to build on his Formula 1 practice experience. Beganovic, who is currently racing in Formula 2, already completed FP1 outings with the Scuderia in 2025, and his latest run follows Ferrariâs earlier confirmation of his Austrian GP programme, covered in detail here: Ferrari confirms Dino Beganovic will replace Leclerc for Austrian GP FP1.
Aston Martin will also make a change, with American reserve driver Jak Crawford taking over Lance Strollâs AMR26. At Racing Bulls, Ayumu Iwasa will replace Liam Lawson, adding another official weekend session to his role as test driver within the Red Bull programme. That move sits alongside the teamâs previously outlined plan for the session, including Lawsonâs absence from FP1: Liam Lawson to sit out Austrian GP FP1 as Racing Bulls field Ayumu Iwasa.
Valuable mileage at the Red Bull Ring
Haas will run Ryo Hirakawa in place of Esteban Ocon. The 2022 Le Mans winner and TGR Haas reserve driver will drive the VF-26, adding another name to a busy rookie roster at Spielberg. His appearance was also confirmed separately ahead of the weekend: Ryo Hirakawa to drive for Haas in Austrian GP FP1.
Alpine reserve Paul Aron, who also has a testing arrangement with Audi, will drive the R26 in place of Gabriel Bortoleto. Williams, meanwhile, will hand its FW48 to Luke Browning, with the teamâs reserve and Driver Academy member replacing Carlos Sainz for the session.
For the teams, these sessions are more than a regulatory checkbox. FP1 at a grand prix weekend places young drivers directly into the operational rhythm of Formula 1: limited time, live traffic, evolving track conditions and immediate feedback demands. With the season still requiring further rookie appearances across the grid, Fridayâs six-driver intake is unlikely to be the last major rotation of the year.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.