Verstappen in Abu Dhabi likely to be sidelined during free practice

The season is slowly coming to an end. After Mexico, only the races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar. Max Verstappen will basically not drive all the sessions that remain, it has become clear this weekend.

Every team is obliged this season to have a rookie - a driver with less than two Grands Prix behind his name - take part in free practice 1 twice. Red Bull has not yet complied with this rule. As a sprint race awaits in Brazil and qualifying is immediately after free practice 1, Red Bull will not field a rookie then. The only remaining option then is Abu Dhabi.

Obvious

Although nowhere in the regulations it says that a team has to replace both regular drivers once, it looks obvious that Verstappen will have to give up his seat in the Middle East. Sergio Perez was already sidelined once in Barcelona (at Vips' expense) and it would probably cause quite some friction if the Mexican had to move again. Moreover, he is in full battle with Charles Leclerc for the second spot in the championship. Sidelining him for an hour would not make sense. Who replaces Verstappen then, by the way, is unclear. The obvious choice is Liam Lawson.

Not only Red Bull Racing has yet to comply with the regulations in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari also has to use a rookie there. Leclerc already gave up his place once, Carlos Sainz not yet. Robert Schwartzman is eager to step into the Ferrari again.