Oscar Piastri faces a setback in his bid for the Formula 1 championship this weekend as he is one of nine drivers who will miss the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to a regulation introduced at the beginning of 2025.
The upcoming race at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the championship winner, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen competing for the top honors of the season. While a podium finish for Norris could secure him the title, any errors on his part could provide opportunities for his rivals.
Given the significant implications in Abu Dhabi, it is crucial for drivers to maximize their practice opportunities. Nearly half of the grid will be absent from the initial hour of running due to a rule mandating teams to allocate time for rookie drivers.
Throughout the season, each team is required to include a rookie driver in two free practice sessions per car, totaling four sessions per team. Several teams still need to fulfill their rookie session obligations, resulting in a lineup of fresh faces for FP1 this weekend.
Piastri will be substituted, with Pato O’Ward taking his place at McLaren. Lewis Hamilton will also be skipping the session as Ferrari announced that Arthur Leclerc will replace him. Additionally, several other drivers, including Arvid Lindblad, Ayumu Iwasa, and Ryo Hirakawa, will step in for their respective teams.
Alpine and Sauber have already completed their rookie practice session requirements, allowing George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate as usual.
Abu Dhabi is a popular location for rookie sessions, especially on the final weekend of the season. As FP1 occurs in daytime conditions different from those in qualifying and the race, these sessions play a vital role in the development of young drivers, often leading to full-time opportunities for them in the future.
