Five teams will run rookie drivers in the first practice session at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, as required by Formula 1® regulations. McLaren, Mercedes, Alpine, Haas, and Cadillac have all confirmed that their rookie or reserve drivers will take part in Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the Hungaroring, replacing their regular race drivers for the session.
The regulation mandates that each full-time Formula 1® driver must be replaced by a rookie—defined as a driver with no more than two race starts—in two FP1 sessions per season. For the Hungarian Grand Prix, this rule sees several promising talents getting valuable track time during Friday’s opening session.
McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli, who serves as the team’s reserve and development driver, will take over from Oscar Piastri in FP1. This will be Fornaroli’s second FP1 outing of the season, having previously driven in Barcelona. Mercedes will run Fred Vesti, their sole reserve driver, in place of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Vesti brings prior FP1 experience to the session, continuing his involvement in the team’s programme.
Alpine’s Paul Aron will make his first FP1 appearance of the season, replacing Franco Colapinto. Aron has previous FP1 experience with both Sauber and Alpine, adding to his familiarity with Formula 1® machinery. Haas will field Ryo Hirakawa, their test and reserve driver, in place of Ollie Bearman. This marks Hirakawa’s second FP1 session in 2026. Cadillac will run Colton Herta, their test driver, who will replace Valtteri Bottas. Herta debuted in FP1 at Barcelona and is scheduled for two more sessions this year.
These rookie drivers come from diverse motorsport backgrounds, including Formula 2 championships, endurance racing, and IndyCar experience. Their FP1 outings provide essential track time to gain familiarity with the cars and circuits, supporting their development within the Formula 1® environment. While these sessions are mandated practice opportunities, they do not guarantee race entries or future race seats.
The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend programme includes these FP1 sessions as part of the teams’ compliance with rookie driver regulations. This approach allows teams to evaluate emerging talent and provide valuable experience in race weekend conditions. The involvement of rookies in FP1 continues to be an important step in nurturing the next generation of drivers within the sport.