Oscar Piastri, along with eight other drivers, will miss the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend due to a rule change implemented at the beginning of the 2025 season. The race at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the championship winner, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen competing for the top spot. Norris could clinch the title with a podium finish, but any errors could give an advantage to his rivals.
The high stakes in Abu Dhabi highlight the importance of maximizing practice opportunities for drivers. Nearly half of the grid will be absent from the initial hour of running as teams are required to provide chances for rookie drivers. Throughout the season, each team must allocate two free practice sessions per car to a rookie driver, totaling four sessions per team. Consequently, numerous newcomers will participate in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri will be substituted by Pato O’Ward in his McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton will also sit out the session as Ferrari announced that Arthur Leclerc will take his place. Various other drivers, including Arvid Lindblad, Ayumu Iwasa, and Ryo Hirakawa, will replace regular drivers in different teams for the first practice session.
Additionally, Alex Albon will be replaced by Williams academy member Luke Browning, and Aston Martin will give opportunities to two rookies, Cian Shields and Jak Crawford, to drive in FP1 in place of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alpine will have Paul Aron driving in FP1, taking over from Pierre Gasly.
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Mercedes and Sauber have already met their rookie practice session requirements, allowing George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate as usual. Abu Dhabi is a popular location for rookie sessions, especially as it marks the end of the season. These sessions are crucial for the development of young drivers who may progress to full-time roles in the future, as seen with drivers like Antonelli and Oliver Bearman in previous seasons.