Mexico City GP: 10 drivers to miss first practice for rookie runs
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 29, 2026
Rookie runs reshape field
First practice this weekend will be used to satisfy Formula 1’s rookie-running requirements. The move gives teams a chance to put young or less experienced drivers into the cars for opening running at a race weekend, while regulars step aside for one session. Verstappen, Norris and Russell are among the established names set to sit out the session for Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes. The list stretches beyond those three teams and turns first practice into a broad test of depth across the grid. That kind of lineup change is built into the weekend for teams that need to complete rookie running. The session will give several drivers official practice mileage at a race weekend.
Top teams make changes
Red Bull will hand Verstappen’s car to Ayumu Iwasa, while McLaren will turn to Leonardo Fornaroli in place of Norris. Mercedes will give Frederik Vesti the first practice run in Russell’s car. Those are three of the prominent switches in the field, and each one removes a race regular from the session so the team can meet its rookie obligation. Racing Bulls will also make a change, with Nikola Tsolov set to make his Formula 1 practice debut in Liam Lawson’s car. Audi will do the same with Freddie Slater, who will make his Formula 1 practice debut in Gabriel Bortoleto’s car. Those moves put rookie talent into the cars for first practice. The roster of replacements shows how widely the rookie program reaches across the teams.
Cadillac, Aston Martin and Haas
The rookie lineup extends well beyond the headline teams. Colton Herta will take part in first practice for Cadillac. Jak Crawford will drive for Aston Martin in first practice. Luke Browning will take the wheel for Williams. Haas will use two different drivers in the session, with Gabriele Mini set to drive for the team and Ryo Hirakawa taking over in place of Esteban Ocon. Taken together, the confirmed changes show how many teams are using the weekend to spread track time beyond their usual race-day lineups.
