by Alex Johnston
This week for the season finale, a number of teams must complete their rookie driver quota for the season - the rule that says teams must run a rookie in each car at least once(one per car) in the season. With this we're going to see 10 drivers we're not used to seeing take part in the Free Practice 1 session at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi.
Included amongst these drivers are the current Formula E champion, the reigning Formula 2 champion, the two drivers challenging for this year's Formula 2 title, an IndyCar favourite and the Formula 3 runner up from this year, among others. Let's get into it!
Red Bull
Jake Dennis
The reigning Formula E champion, Jake Dennis will make what will feel like a long awaited F1 session debut at the age of 28. Dennis has a long association with Red Bull having worked as a development driver for the Milton Keynes team since 2019.
He'll be keen to impress, and could potentially throw his hat into the ring for an F1 drive in 2025 with one Red Bull and two Alpha Tauri seats potentially up for grabs. He'd represent an experienced and fast option if Red Bull were impressed although the team will be mindful of the how last driver to switch from Formula E to F1 got on...
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull are giving both regular drivers the morning off in Abu Dhabi, meaning Isack Hadjar, currently racing in F2 will make his second FP1 appearance having sat in the Alpha Tauri car in Mexico.
Hadjar comes with great promise and is admired greatly by the big bosses at Red Bull for his calm, methodical but naturally driving style not dissimilar to his compatriot Alain Prost or of course current driver Max Verstappen. He's only 14th in F2 but has shown flashes of why Red Bull have such faith in his ability and why they've selected him for this task.
Mercedes
Frederik Vesti
Danish driver Vesti is now well known by most F1 fans as the team's official junior drivers. He's going to Abu Dhabi with a chance of still winning the F2 championship with PREMA but has work to do as he starts behind Theo Pourchaire in the standings.
He'll share duties with George Russell on track in Lewis Hamilton's car.
Ferrari
Robert Shwartzman
Former F3 champion Robert Shwartzman is the team's current reserve driver who already sat in the car for one session earlier in the season. He challenged for the title both years he was in Formula 2 but left the series at the end of 2021 to be Ferrari's test driver.
He'll be in the car in place of Carlos Sainz, with Leclerc having sat out during Shwartzman's first session of the season at Zandvoort
McLaren
Pato O'Ward
Pato O'Ward was actually tipped for an F1 drive before the team picked up the so far impressive Oscar Piastri. Currently racing in IndyCar, he's an early favourite for the title in 2024 in what'll be his fifth year with Arrow McLaren.
This'll be his second FP1 session with the team having run with them at Abu Dhabi last year. He's likely to be in Lando Norris's car, as Piastri is actually McLaren's other rookie driver.
Aston Martin
Felipe Drugovich
The reigning F2 champion will again jump in the car having been featured at the track plenty this year as Aston's official test and reserve driver.
He's sat in for Lance Stroll already this season: both at pre season testing after Stroll's cycling accident and at FP1 at Monza, so will replace Fernando Alonso.
Alpine
Jack Doohan
Another F2 driver, Jack Doohan will again step in to the A523 having taken part in the session at Mexico City. He had a less than desirable start to the season but his clawed his way back to fourth overall, but has revealed he won't be in F2 next year and is expected to continue as Alpine reserve.
He'll take the place of Ocon.
Williams
Zak O'Sullivan
Another FP1 debutant, teenager O'Sullivan is one to watch in this session. He's the first Formula 3 level driver to take part in an F1 session since George Russell in 2017. He was runner up in the F3 series this year for PREMA Racing and at 18 is very much one for the future, and will be in F2 next year with ART Grand Prix.
As Logan Sargeant is a rookie this year, O'Sullivan will run in the car of Alex Albon.
Alpha Tauri
As the Faenza team have run Nyck De Vries, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar already at various stages of the season, they have no requirement to run a rookie in this FP1 session.
Alfa Romeo
Theo Pourchaire
The current Formula 2 championship leader will run again for the team after figuring in Texas in 2022 and more recently in Mexico. He's being linked with a move to Super Formula once the season ends so it'll be interesting to see if Alfa Romeo retain his services ahead of the 2025 season being likely to bring a host of driver changes
He replaced Zhou at Mexico, so will run next to Bottas for this season.
Haas
Oliver Bearman
Ferrari Driver Academy star Bearman is potentially Britain's brightest talent. He's racing in F2 just now for PREMA Racing, and sits sixth, but could end the year third - results willing. Not bad for a rookie.
He's sat in with Haas already at Mexico and will replace Nico Hülkenberg in Abu Dhabi.
FP1 gets underway this Friday and it'll be an interesting watch.
📸 Formula Motorsport Limited, ABB FIA Formula E, Scuderia Alpha Tauri, Ferrari, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, Theo Pourchaire, PREMA Racing.
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