Mexico City GP trend continues: Verstappen and Russell also affected
Photo: Race Pictures
Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
A total of 10 rookie drivers will feature during the first free practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
The Mexico City Grand Prix is usually one of the weekends when teams give rookie drivers an opportunity. This year is no different, as every team except Ferrari will field a rookie in one of their cars to kick off the weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Mercedes: George Russell is replaced by Frederik Vesti
Mercedes' reserve driver, Vesti, is set for his third FP1 appearance this season. He previously drove for the German team in Barcelona and at the Hungaroring in 2026. This will be the first time Russell has to sit out a session this year, meaning he will have to skip another one in the coming rounds.
Red Bull Racing: Max Verstappen is replaced by Ayumu Iwasa
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Iwasa is set for his fourth FP1 appearance this year, having driven for Red Bull twice and Racing Bulls once. He serves as a reserve driver for the latter team. Moreover, Iwasa competes in the Super Formula series, where he won the title last year. He is currently second in the standings. This will be the second time Verstappen has given up his seat to Iwasa for an FP1 session in 2026.
Photo: Race Pictures
McLaren: Lando Norris is replaced by Leonardo Fornaroli
Leonardo Fornaroli, last year's Formula 2 champion, is McLaren's current reserve driver and will also race for the team in the WEC Hypercar category next year. He is set for his third free practice session this year and will take part in another FP1 session in São Paulo. On this occasion, he will replace Norris.
Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson is replaced by Nikola Tsolov
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Tsolov has impressed so far in Formula 2 this season, where he currently sits second in the standings. The young Bulgarian will get his first opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car during a Grand Prix weekend on Friday.
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Alpine: Franco Colapinto is replaced by Gabriele Mini
MP Motorsport's Formula 2 driver and Alpine Academy junior Gabriele Mini is set for his first FP1 session in Formula 1 this weekend. The 21-year-old Italian currently sits fourth in the Formula 2 standings.
Haas: Esteban Ocon is replaced by Ryo Hirakawa
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Toyota's WEC driver will take part in his third FP1 session this year, having previously driven for Haas in Austria and Hungary. He currently leads the WEC Hypercar standings with Toyota and has won at Imola, Fuji and Barcelona this year.
Audi: Gabriel Bortoleto is replaced by Freddie Slater
After finishing second in the Formula 3 championship last year, the British talent will compete in Formula 2 next year. Moreover, he is set to take part in his first-ever FP1 session in Mexico.
Williams: Alex Albon is replaced by Luke Browning
Williams' reserve driver gets another opportunity to drive the team's car this weekend in Mexico City, replacing Alex Albon. This will be Browning's fourth FP1 session, and he is set to take part in another one later this season, because in Barcelona, he was unable to complete a single lap due to an electrical failure.
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Aston Martin: Lance Stroll is replaced by Jak Crawford
Aston Martin's reserve driver will take part in his fourth FP1 session of 2026, this time replacing Lance Stroll. After finishing second in the Formula 2 standings last year, the American is not competing in any other series while carrying out his reserve driver duties.
Cadillac: Valtteri Bottas is replaced by Colton Herta
Herta will take part in his fifth FP1 session this year. According to Cadillac's calculations, driving the required number of kilometres in this session will earn the American enough points to qualify for an FIA Super Licence.
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