Oscar Piastri faces a setback in his bid for the Formula 1 championship this weekend as he joins a group of drivers skipping the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to a regulation introduced at the beginning of the 2025 season.
The upcoming race at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the title, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen contending for the season’s top honors. A podium finish for Norris could clinch the championship, but any errors could create opportunities for his rivals.
With the stakes high in Abu Dhabi, it’s crucial for drivers to maximize their practice time. Nearly half of the grid will miss the initial hour of running as teams are required to provide chances for rookie drivers.
Throughout the season, each team must include a rookie driver in two free practice sessions per car, totaling four sessions per team. Some teams still need to meet their rookie session quota, leading to several new faces in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri is among those being substituted, with Pato O’Ward taking over his McLaren for the session. Lewis Hamilton will also be absent as Ferrari announced that Arthur Leclerc will replace him. Additionally, other drivers like Arvid Lindblad, Ayumu Iwasa, and Ryo Hirakawa will step in for their respective teams during FP1.
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Mercedes and Sauber have already fulfilled their rookie practice session requirements, allowing drivers like George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate as usual.
Abu Dhabi is a popular venue for rookie sessions, especially on the final weekend of the season. These sessions play a vital role in the development of young drivers, often leading to full-time opportunities. Up-and-coming drivers like Antonelli and Oliver Bearman have secured positions for the upcoming season after showcasing their skills in practice sessions last year.
