This weekend`s Bahrain Grand Prix will feature six rookie drivers eager to make a strong impression during the first practice session. These young talents are stepping in for some of the sport`s biggest names, offering them a valuable opportunity on the Formula 1 stage.
Formula 1 regulations mandate that teams must utilize rookie drivers (those with no more than two Grand Prix starts) in at least two practice sessions throughout the 2025 season. Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes are among the leading teams set to showcase their promising young drivers in Bahrain.
Here`s a closer look at the rookies participating in FP1:
Ayumu Iwasa, Red Bull
Iwasa, a Red Bull junior driver, will take over Max Verstappen`s RB21 for FP1. This marks his third opportunity in a Formula 1 session, following two previous outings with Racing Bulls last year.
The 23-year-old Japanese driver`s career highlights include winning the French F4 championship in 2020. After securing a race victory in Formula 3 in 2021, he progressed to Formula 2, finishing fifth and fourth in his two seasons. Iwasa, supported by Honda, achieved fifth place in Super Formula last season and currently leads this year`s championship after two rounds.
Dino Beganovic, Ferrari
Beganovic will make his first appearance in a Formula 1 session this weekend for Ferrari. He joined Ferrari`s driver academy at the young age of 16 in 2020.
Hailing from Sweden and Bosnia, Beganovic notably won the FRECA championship in 2022. He then competed in Formula 3 for two seasons, securing sixth place in both, before moving up to Formula 2 this year with Hitech.
Beganovic is set to drive Charles Leclerc`s Ferrari during FP1, which means he will briefly be teammates with Lewis Hamilton.
Fred Vesti, Mercedes
Vesti, another former FRECA champion (2019), will have his third FP1 session with Mercedes.
The 23-year-old Danish driver boasts a strong racing record, with 11 victories across four years in F3 and F2. In 2023, he finished as runner-up in the F2 championship. Vesti combines his role as an F1 reserve driver with IMSA racing for Cadillac, and for this session, he will be replacing George Russell.
Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin
Drugovich, the 2022 Formula 2 champion, is no stranger to Formula 1. He previously substituted for the injured Lance Stroll during preseason testing in 2023 and has participated in three end-of-season tests and five FP1 sessions.
The Brazilian driver is currently involved in endurance racing this season but has a significant opportunity to impress this Friday, stepping in for Fernando Alonso.
Ryo Hirakawa, Haas
Just a week after participating in FP1 for Alpine in Suzuka, Hirakawa gets another FP1 opportunity, this time with Haas.
The 31-year-old, a prominent figure in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota, mentioned limited opportunities at Alpine as the reason for his switch to Haas. He also drove for McLaren in an FP1 session in Abu Dhabi last year. This marks his third team in just four rounds!
Luke Browning, Williams
Browning will replace Carlos Sainz at Williams, marking the British driver`s second FP1 session. His first was in Abu Dhabi last year.
The 23-year-old Browning`s achievements include winning the GB3 championship in 2022 and finishing third in last year`s Formula 3 series. He is currently Dino Beganovic`s teammate in Formula 2 this season.
