Confirmed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix FP1 rookies

The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will see several driver changes during the first hour of practice, with seven confirmed changes for the upcoming Grand prix weekend.

Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool

Formula 1 will continue this weekend at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the rebranded Spanish event marking round seven of the 2026 world championship.

Seven teams have confirmed driver changes for the opening hour of practice, meaning four teams will remain with unchanged line-ups: Aston Martin, Racing Bulls, Alpine and Haas.

So, who has been confirmed to take part in FP1 this weekend?

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: the full F1 schedule and times

Mercedes

Mercedes reserve driver, Fred Vesti, will jump into Kimi Antonelli’s championship-leading car this weekend. Vesti has previous experience driving for the Silver Arrows, having already served four outings previously for the team.

Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton will give up his seat for the opening hour of practice this weekend, replaced by Ferrari Academy driver Dino Beganovic. The Ferrari-backed driver will also be in action this weekend, in addition to his F1 appearance, as he continues to race in Formula 2.

Weather Forecast: the latest ahead of F1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix

McLaren

Leonardo Fornaroli has been confirmed to replace the reigning world champion, Lando Norris, in FP1. The Italian has been part of the team since December last year, and it will mark his first outing in the current generation of F1 machinery, after previous Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outings.

Red Bull

Japanese driver and Super Formula champion, Ayumu Iwasa, is set to jump into Isack Hadjar’s car this weekend, marking his sixth appearance in FP1.

Williams

Luke Browning, another competitor in Super Formula, will enjoy his fifth FP1 outing this weekend as he is set to take the reins of Alexander Albon’s car.

Pirelli confirm tyre compounds for Austrian and British Grand Prix

Audi

Loaned out from Alpine, Paul Aron will stand in for Nico Hulkenberg this weekend. Despite being an Alpine reserve driver, it won’t be the Estonian’s first outing with the team, having made his debut with them last season, when they were under the Sauber name.

Cadillac

Former IndyCar driver Colton Herta is set to make his F1 debut this weekend as the American is set to replace Sergio Perez in FP1. The American currently races in Formula 2, having moved series this season, and currently sits 13th overall in the driver standings.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Pirelli confirm tyre compounds for Austrian and British Grand Prix
• McLaren, Audi & Williams make FP1 changes for Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
• Writer’s Verdict: 2026 Monaco Grand Prix
• Gasly ‘heartbroken’ after Monaco Grand Prix result
• Leclerc confirms rear-brake issue led to Monaco GP crash
• Engine problem cause for Verstappen Monaco GP retirement
• Perez penalty costs Cadillac first F1 point at Monaco GP

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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.

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.