FP1 Rookies taking part in Mexico City Grand Prix
22nd October 2025There will be eight rookies taking part in Free Practice 1 of the Mexico City Grand Prix as the Formula 1 championship title fight intensifies as it approaches the end.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
F1 heads to Mexico City for the upcoming race weekend, having travelled south and across the America-Mexico border to reach round 20 of 24 in the 2025 campaign.
Verstappen claimed a dominant victory at the Circuit of The Americas last time out, clawing back vital points from McLaren’s championship leader, Oscar Piastri. However, there will be implications this weekend as two of the three championship rivals will miss out on Free Practice 1.
Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris will be forced to step away from their cars in the opening hour of practice in Mexico City, replaced by FP1 rookies. However, they are not the only drivers to miss out. Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams, Haas, Alpine and Aston Martin are all set to use up their required FP1 rookie mandate.
As per the F1 regulations, each full-time driver on the grid is required to step away from their cars for first practice in two events each, making it four in total for all teams across the season after both drivers take their requirements.
So, who is confirmed to be participating in FP1 at the Mexico City GP so far?
McLaren – Pato O’Ward
McLaren’s reserve driver is set to make another appearance at the IndyCar driver’s home event. He is set to replace Lando Norris at McLaren for FP1, having been confirmed with the opportunity back in May.
Red Bull – Arvid Lindblad
Formula 2 driver, Lindblad will enjoy his second outing with the team, following his first at the British Grand Prix. The British driver will replace four-time world champion, Max Verstappen, in the first practice hour.
Ferrari – Antonio Fuoco
World Endurance Championship racer and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Fuoco, will replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as the Italian gets his first-ever official F1 practice outing this weekend.
Mercedes – Fred Vesti
Mercedes test and reserve driver Vesti will replace George Russell this weekend when the event gets underway in Mexico City, his fourth outing for the Silver Arrows.
Mexico City Grand Prix Preview: Title fight begins to boil in final races
Aston Martin – Jak Crawford
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll will be forced to miss the opening practice hour as F1 rookie debutant, and Formula 2 title challenger in 2025, Crawford will replace him at the team.
Haas – Ryo Hirakawa
Another WEC driver, Hirakawa, will return to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, replacing Ollie Bearman. It marks his fourth FP1 outing, having made his first debut of the year in Japan for Alpine before moving over to Haas for Bahrain and Barcelona.
Williams – Luke Browning
Carlos Sainz will miss FP1 as he will be replaced by Williams Academy driver, Browning, which will mark the Briton’s third FP1 outing in the last 12 months, having participated in FP1 in Abu Dhabi last season and then Bahrain earlier this year.
Alpine – Paul Aron
Aron will make his fourth FP1 appearance this season, having driven for Kick Sauber in Great Britain and Hungary before driving for the team in Italy, Monza. He is set to take over the reins of Pierre Gasly’s car for the opening hour.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Mexico City Grand Prix Preview: Title fight begins to boil in final races
- Mexico City Grand Prix: the latest weather report
- United States Grand Prix: 3 winners & losers in COTA
- Carlos Sainz given five-place grid penalty for Mexico City Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen dominates victory at the United States Grand Prix
- United States Grand Prix will remain on F1 calendar until 2034
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from ApexMotorsports.co.uk!
Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
