Every new F1 driver in Mexico GP practice: Will they make the most of their shot?
Ten of F1’s 11 teams will be putting some fresh, rookie drivers behind the wheel during this weekend’s Mexico City GP Free Practice One. We’ll see up-and-coming British stars, talented Americans, and top F2 racers all trying to make a name for themselves. This is all because of F1’s rule that each team has to let a rookie with two or fewer grands prix experience drive in two FP1 sessions per car. But among all these hopefuls, who really has a shot at making it to the big leagues? Let’s take a closer look.
One standout is Christian Vesti, not just any rookie but a Mercedes junior since 2021 and now their third driver. This will be his seventh FP1 session. After winning seven F2 races and finishing second in 2023, he also races in the IMSA Sportscar Championship. Even with five years around Mercedes, a race seat seems unlikely since teams often stick with their own juniors rather than picking from rivals.
Ayumu Iwasa, who won five F2 races between 2022-2023, has moved on to the Japanese Super Formula series. He’s been with Red Bull since 2021 and had nine FP1 sessions over three years with Red Bull and their sister team, Racing Bulls, but an actual F1 seat seems a long shot.
Timing is everything in F1. Take 2024 F2 champion Gabriel Bortoletto, who secured an Audi seat for next year, or current series leader Rafael Camara, who’s landing at Haas. Meanwhile, Leonardo Fornaroli missed out on an F1 spot and ended up with McLaren’s Le Mans Hypercar team — though he still gets a few FP1 runs.
Nikola Tsolov might actually have a real chance. He’s been stealing the show in F2 with Red Bull watching closely. Liam Lawson, now a bit older, has been a solid points scorer for Red Bull’s Racing Bulls team this season. Will teams go for the steady points collector or take a gamble on a rising star?
Gabriele Mini took 33 F2 races to win his first round and another 14 to get his second, so it’s clear this path isn’t easy. His chances of reaching the F1 grid look slim for now.
Then there’s 32-year-old Ryo Hirakawa, a racing veteran with big wins like Le Mans 24 Hours in 2022 and three World Endurance titles. Despite his success, his F1 dream seems over, even though Toyota paid $3.5 million for him to get an FP1 run in Abu Dhabi 2024. With Haas picking Rafael Camara for their next race seat, Hirakawa’s opportunity has faded, though he still gets FP1 priority thanks to Toyota.
From the UK, keep an eye on the Warwickshire-born driver who’s been lighting up the junior ranks — narrowly missing the F3 title this year but expected to take over from Nico Hulkenberg at Audi down the road.
18-year-old Slater was a hot prospect, winning multiple junior titles before choosing Audi to advance his career last year.
Luke Browning, who won British F4 in 2020 and GB3 in 2022, came fourth in F2 in 2025. But his progress has stalled with a so-so year in Super Formula. With Williams set on long-term deals for their current drivers, Browning, part of their academy since 2023, may need to look elsewhere for his next steps.
North Carolina’s Jak Crawford had a strong junior career, finishing second in last year’s F2 championship after three attempts. But with younger stars like Fornaroli on the rise, it’s tough to see him knocking top drivers like Alonso or Stroll off their seats at Aston Martin. Maybe IndyCar is a better fit.
Colton Herta has been a puzzling case since moving to F2 this year. A former IndyCar star and fan favorite, he gave up a lot to chase his F1 dream with Cadillac. But 2026 has been rough, with trouble adapting to the F1-style Pirelli tyres. He needs one more FP1 session to get enough Super Licence points for F1, but will Cadillac pick him over the steady yet slower Valtteri Bottas?
It’s a tough road, but these rookies are doing their best to shine in F1’s spotlight this weekend!