Six regular drivers will hand over their cars for opening practice in Brazil. For the replacements, getting noticed takes more than one quick lap.
Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg will sit out Friday’s opening practice at Interlagos. Ferrari academy driver Dino Beganovic replaces Leclerc, McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli takes Piastri’s car, and Audi development driver Freddie Slater steps in for Hulkenberg.
Three more teams are making changes: Williams reserve Luke Browning replaces Carlos Sainz, Alpine academy driver Gabriele Minì takes Pierre Gasly’s car, and Cadillac test driver Colton Herta replaces Sergio Pérez. These are practice assignments; the regular drivers retain their race seats.
Beganovic’s appearance will be his third FP1 of 2026 and his first experience of Interlagos. Fornaroli returns for his fourth session, completing McLaren’s mandatory rookie running. Slater and Minì get another opportunity immediately after making their practice debuts in Mexico.
They share the same session, but each arrives with a different level of experience—and a team expecting useful work.
Why so many seats are opening up
The FIA requires each team to run a driver with no more than two Grand Prix starts at two events for each car. That amounts to four required outings across its two entries, following the increase introduced in 2025.
The definition is based on race starts, so an experienced reserve can still qualify as a rookie.
Teams choose whom to run, subject to FIA licensing requirements. Academy and reserve drivers are natural candidates because they already work with the engineers. Simulator preparation, previous testing and availability help determine who gets the opportunity.
Timing matters, too. Brazil has three practice sessions, allowing regular drivers to return for FP2. On Sprint weekends, handing over the car means surrendering their only practice session. With the season nearing its end, teams also have fewer chances to complete outstanding commitments.
What earns a second look
A rookie is driving a car the team still needs to prepare for Sunday. Completing the planned tests, giving clear feedback and returning it undamaged all matter.
McLaren provides a concrete example: Fornaroli will help assess new wing and floor components in Brazil. Beganovic has identified gathering information for Ferrari’s remaining weekend as the purpose of his outing.
Fred Vesti showed how both objectives can come together in Mexico. The Mercedes reserve finished third in FP1, but trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin also highlighted his completed program and the information available when George Russell returned.
That is why a rookie’s position alone cannot tell the whole story. Different fuel loads, tires and test programs make direct comparisons unreliable.
Watch the quick laps in Brazil, but also watch who builds speed steadily, completes the running and responds to the engineers. The team is evaluating whether it can trust that driver with more time in the car.
