Nine rookies set for Abu Dhabi FP1 as title fight takes center stage — with Hamilton and Piastri sitting out
The title decider’s first hour will look a little different on Friday. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and McLaren contender Oscar Piastri headline a nine-strong list of drivers stepping aside for FP1 in Abu Dhabi as teams rush to tick off their rookie quota before the curtain falls on 2025.
It’s the first time since 2021 that the championship has gone the distance, and it arrives with McLaren’s Lando Norris 12 points clear of Max Verstappen, with Piastri a further four back. A podium on Sunday seals the title for Norris after wins in Mexico and Brazil tilted the year in his favor; the small print of Friday’s plans, though, may matter for how the final weekend unfolds.
Only Mercedes and Sauber had already met the rookie running requirement this season. Everyone else had work to do, and that means some big names surrendering FP1 mileage at Yas Marina.
At Ferrari, Arthur Leclerc will take over Hamilton’s car for first practice. The younger brother of Charles gets the high-profile slot as Ferrari completes its obligations. At McLaren, it’s a familiar substitute: Patricio O’Ward climbs back into the MCL for Piastri, trimming the Australian’s prep time on a weekend where every run counts.
Aston Martin is going all-in on youth for FP1, resting both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Cian Shields and Jak Crawford get the nod there — a bold double switch at a venue that usually punishes any lack of rhythm.
Red Bull’s shuffle is the most eye-catching. Yuki Tsunoda, who’s learned he won’t have a race seat in 2026, will sit out the opening hour as newly signed Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad steps up for a taste of the big car. Over at Racing Bulls, Ayumu Iwasa will take Liam Lawson’s seat for FP1, keeping Red Bull’s junior ladder humming.
Williams, fresh off nailing down P5 in the constructors’ standings in Qatar, hands Alex Albon’s car to junior standout Luke Browning — a reward run at season’s end and a nice snapshot of the team’s pipeline. Haas will place Ryo Hirakawa in Esteban Ocon’s car, while Alpine gives reserve Paul Aron a run in place of Pierre Gasly.
For the title protagonists, the calculus is simple. Norris, still in the car for FP1, can build a base for the weekend; Verstappen will too, with Tsunoda making space at Red Bull. Piastri loses an hour he’d love to have, though McLaren’s processes are slick enough these days that the team won’t blink. Still, out of the three drivers with something to win on Sunday, only one is giving up track time on Friday.
The rookie rule — mandating at least two FP1 outings per car for drivers with no more than two grand prix starts — is meant to keep fresh talent flowing. The side effect is always the same at season’s end: a slightly chaotic final Friday, a few tight-lipped race engineers, and some kids grinning from ear to ear under the Yas Marina floodlights.
Abu Dhabi FP1 rookie roll call:
– Alpine: Paul Aron for Pierre Gasly
– Aston Martin: Jak Crawford for Lance Stroll; Cian Shields for Fernando Alonso
– Ferrari: Arthur Leclerc for Lewis Hamilton
– Haas: Ryo Hirakawa for Esteban Ocon
– McLaren: Patricio O’Ward for Oscar Piastri
– Red Bull: Arvid Lindblad for Yuki Tsunoda
– Racing Bulls: Ayumu Iwasa for Liam Lawson
– Williams: Luke Browning for Alex Albon
Mercedes and Sauber are the only teams not making changes, having already fulfilled their rookie commitments earlier in the season.
It’s a lot of moving parts for a one-hour warm-up, and no small subplot to a weekend already loaded with tension. FP1 begins at 13:30 local on Friday. After that, the rookies hand the keys back — and the championship fight goes flat-out to the flag.
