Majority of F1 teams push to relax rookie requirement in 2026

Each Formula 1 team is required in 2026 to have a driver with a maximum of two Grands Prix to their name participate in a free practice session four times per season. In practice, this means each regular driver must hand over their car twice per season to a (relative) rookie. The idea behind this rule is to give talents a chance to get acquainted with Formula 1 during an actual session.

However, in 2026 a majority of the teams wants to get rid of this obligation. They are running into problems complying with the rule after the Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been postponed for the time being due to the war in the Middle East. It is highly questionable whether at a later stage in the season at most one of these races can be rescheduled.

It is also not a given that Formula 1 can race in the Middle East at all in 2026. That makes the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi at the end of this season uncertain. The latter is traditionally a venue where teams field plenty of rookies during FP1.

All in all, the (for now) smaller calendar is, according to the teams, sufficient reason to drop the rookie requirement for this year. The proposal is to have a rookie drive not four but twice per team; each regular driver would therefore have to give up their car once. It will soon become clear whether the FIA agrees with the teams and makes an exception to the rule for 2026.

No rookies took part in FP1 in Monaco this week. In a week’s time in Barcelona, however, a number of young drivers are expected on track.