F1 newcomer is one of six drivers switching for the Austrian GP weekend after FIA clears up rules
There will be six driver changes during the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend as Formula 1 gets back into action after a two-week break.
Lewis Hamilton, who won the last race at Barcelona-Catalunya, will be aiming for back-to-back wins at the Red Bull Ring. He’s now just 41 points behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship. Antonelli had to retire from the last race because of a mechanical problem late in the race.
At Barcelona, several driver changes happened during the first Friday practice to follow an FIA rule. This rule says that each of the 11 teams must have four rookie drivers (two in each car) take part in a Friday practice session during the 2026 season.
Because of six sprint weekends and the cancellation of two Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, teams have been planning carefully when to put their rookie drivers in the cars. A rookie is a driver who has taken part in two or fewer Formula 1 Grands Prix.
For example, Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old rookie driving for Racing Bulls, doesn’t need to follow this rule since he already drove in the first two weekends of the 2026 season.
Williams was one of seven teams to announce driver changes in Barcelona. Luke Browning replaced Alex Albon for FP1 but his car had mechanical trouble, and he didn’t get on track. The FIA confirmed that Browning’s appearance still counts toward the rule because there is no minimum time or lap needed. This means Albon won’t have to skip another practice session.
In Spielberg, Ferrari’s reserve driver Dino Beganovic will take over Charles Leclerc’s car for FP1. Beganovic, from Sweden, is racing in Formula 2 and has already earned two podium finishes this season.
Haas will have Ryo Hirakawa, a Japanese driver, replace Esteban Ocon. Hirakawa fits his FP1 runs around his full-time racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Paul Aron is back with Audi for FP1, on loan from Alpine thanks to an agreement between the teams. He’ll replace Gabriel Bortoleto.
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin’s reserve driver and last year’s F2 runner-up, will drive instead of Lance Stroll for his second FP1 of the season.
Also, Ayumu Iwasa, a Japanese driver and reigning Super Formula champion, will be in FP1 this weekend replacing Liam Lawson for Racing Bulls. Iwasa is a reserve driver for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
It’s going to be an exciting weekend with these fresh faces getting their chance in the cars!