The 2026 F1 season will see teams having to give rookies a chance in FP1 sessions, view the full list here.
A driver who has not started more than two Grands Prix in Formula 1 is eligible to do a FP1 session for a team. Just like in 2025, all eleven teams must have a rookie or rookies in their car four separate times during a first practice session in 2026.
Racing Bulls have already completed two of the four mandated sessions
The 2026 F1 season has seen only one rookie join the grid: Arvid Lindblad. His ascent through the junior formulas has been rapid.
Finishing 6th in the 2025 Formula 2 season after a mixed rookie year, he was rewarded with a Racing Bulls drive for this season.
Having driven in practice sessions in Australia and China, it means Racing Bulls only need to give a different rookie two sessions across the rest of the year.
Aston Martin the first team to put a reserve rookie in
Ahead of Honda’s home race at Suzuka, Aston Martin announced that Jak Crawford would be replacing Fernando Alonso in FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
It has been a dismal start to the season for the team, with the car and engine lacking performance. There has also been serious vibrations from the Honda engine that has led to safety and health concerns for the drivers.
In 2025, Jak Crawford finished a very strong P2 in the Formula 2 championship. It was his third and final season in the category.
2026 F1 FP1 rookies: A full list
McLaren F1 Team
TBA
Mercedes F1 Team
TBA
Red Bull Racing
TBA
Scuderia Ferrari
TBA
Williams F1 Team
TBA
Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad (Australia and China)
Aston Martin F1 Team
Jak Crawford for Fernando Alonso (Japan)
Haas F1 Team
TBA
Audi F1 Team
TBA
Alpine F1 Team
TBA
Cadillac F1 Team
TBA
*This article will be updated





