Following a new regulation for the 2022 season, teams must run a rookie driver during at least two FP1 sessions.
Over the course of the season, all ten teams are slowly completing the requirement to test new drivers during FP1 sessions this year. To complete this requirement, a rookie driver must have two or fewer F1 race starts in their career. With just six races remaining, here is a summary of where each team stands, what is being planned, and what remains to be determined.
Alfa Romeo
- 1st: Zhou Guanyu’s debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix counted toward the rule since he was a rookie.
- 2nd: TBC
- Alfa Romeo has plans to have current Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi step in for Valtteri Bottas in either Mexico or USA. Alfa Romeo could also utilize their talented F2 academy driver Theo Pourchaire.
Alpha Tauri
- 1st: F2 driver Liam Lawson drove for the Red Bull sister team in place of Pierre Gasly in Spa.
- 2nd: TBC
- The New Zealand native placed nineteenth while completing 14 laps. Unfortunately, the session ended early due to red flags and rain. Lawson is scheduled to complete another FP1 session later this season. Following the news of Yuki Tsunoda’s contract renewal, the chances of Lawson winning Alpha Tauri’s second seat are slim, unless Pierre Gasly makes a late exit to Alpine.
Alpine
- 1st: TBC
- 2nd: TBC
- Oscar Piastri was meant to undertake both sessions for Alpine, but the contract situation has forced Alpine to rethink both sessions. There is still no confirmation as to who will drive for Alpine, but the rumors point to either F2’s Jack Doohan or de Vries.
Aston Martin
- 1st: In agreement with Mercedes, Nyck de Vries took the place of Sebastian Vettel in Monza for FP1.
- 2nd: TBC
- For De Vries, he finished nineteenth in FP1 with 22 laps completed. That same weekend, F2 champion Felipe Drugovich became Aston Martin’s first junior driver and will drive for the team in Abu Dhabi. Now with Drugovich signed to a deal, Aston Martin will focus on developing the F2 champion for the foreseeable future.
Ferrari
- 1st: TBC
- 2nd: TBC
- Ferrari is yet to run a rookie this season. However, they have academy driver Robert Shwartzman to complete both of their sessions. Shwartzman is expected to step into one of the Ferraris at COTA in Austin, TX and during the final weekend of the season in Abu Dhabi.
Haas
- 1st: TBC
- 2nd: TBC
- Haas has not fulfilled the two rookie driving spots this season. Reserve driver Antonio Giovanzzi drove in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix and will do so again in Austin. His sessions were not to fulfill a requirement but to evaluate him for Mick Schumacher’s seat. Instead, reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi is rumored to complete both sessions for Haas, but no announcement has been made.
McLaren
- 1st: TBC
- 2nd: TBC
- McLaren has yet to announce who will be driving in either session. Oscar Piastri will drive for McLaren next year, and McLaren hopes Alpine allow Piastri to drive for them this season. If that is not possible, Zak Brown has his options in IndyCar drivers Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward, and Alex Palou. Brown did hint that O’Ward could drive for McLaren in Mexico.
Mercedes
- 1st: Formula E Champion and Mercedes reserve driver Nyck de Vries replaced Lewis Hamilton during the French Grand Prix.
- 2nd: TBC
- de Vries managed to finish ninth during the session after 23 laps. De Vries is set to do another session for Mercedes, but the team has not confirmed when that will be. He does not have a chance to win a seat for Mercedes as both Hamilton and Russell are under contract for next season. Although, he has drawn attention to potentially earning a contract from Williams or Alpine. If for some reason de Vries secures a new deal that would rule him out of Mercedes’ second test, junior F2 driver Fredrick Vesti is the likely candidate.
Red Bull Racing
- 1st: F2 driver Juri Vips stood in place for Sergio Perez at Barcelona.
- 2nd: TBC
- The driver from Estonia wasn’t his best during the session with Red Bull, as he finished twentieth, completing 23 laps. Following the suspension of Vips, Red Bull has yet to confirm who will fulfill the second drive. Academy driver Liam Lawson, who has already completed one session with Alpha Tauri, is likely to take the second running. Red Bull can also reach in their highly coveted junior program, with Dennis Hauger, Jehan Daruvala, or Ayumu Iwasa.
Williams
- 1st: Nyck de Vries drove for Williams earlier this year at Barcelona in place of Alex Albon.
- 2nd: TBC
- De Vries managed to run for 28 laps, finishing in eighteenth and a tenth of a second in front of Latifi. De Vries made a strong case to potentially earn a contract after he managed to score points in his first race with Williams in Monza. To complete the two mandatory sessions, F2 driver Logan Sargent will be driving for Latifi in his home race in Austin for FP1.
