Rookie’s galore: Who is driving in FP1 in Abu Dhabi?

The final round of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign will take place this weekend in Abu Dhabi, which has been the last event on the schedule every year since 2014.

As a reminder, teams must allocate two FP1 sessions over the course of the season to a young driver, defined as someone who has participated in no more than two Grands Prix.

Seizing their final chance to replace a regular driver with a rookie, nine out of F1’s ten outfits – with AlphaTauri the odd team out – will field either a fresh talent or a familiar face making a return appearance.

So here's out comprehensive team-by-team rundown featuring those that will be in action on Friday morning.

• Read also: McLaren adds O’Ward to pool of F1 reserves for 2024

Red Bull: Jakes Dennis and Isack Hadjar

Max Verstappen and Sergio Verstappen will get an extra hour of shut-eye on Friday morning as Red Bull will entrust both drivers’ car to two of the energy drink company’s most gifted protégés.

Formula E World Champion Jake Dennis will enjoy his first official session with Red Bull wile Hitch F2 driver Isack Hadjar – who ran with Alpha Tauri in FP1 in Austin – will have a second opportunity to showcase his skills.

Ferrari: Robert Shwartzman

As a distinguished member of the Ferrar Driver Academy, Israeli-Russian charger Robert Shwartzman has already put many miles under his belt at the wheel of an F1 car, especially in private testing at Maranello. On Friday, the Scuderia junior will replace Charles Leclerc in the opening session.

Mercedes: Frederik Vesti

Lewi Hamilton will gracefully hand over his W14 to Danish rookie Frederik Vesti, who returns to the Brackley squad after sampling its machine in FP1 in Mexico last month. Vesti he also in contention this weekend for the title in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. But his 24-point gap to leader Theo Pourchaire will be hard to bridge.

Alpine: Jack Doohan

Jack Doohan will take over Esteban Ocon’s car in FP1 as the Aussie returns to the cockpit of the Enstone squad’s A523 after sampling the latter for the first time in Mexico recently.

McLaren: Pato O’Ward

Young IndyCar star Pato O’Ward who was just added to McLaren’s pool of reserve drivers for 2024, made his official F1 debut a year ago at Yas Marina. This will therefore be the Mexican’s second FP1 with team papaya.

Haas: Oliver Bearman

Ollie Bearman acquitted himself well with Haas last month in Mexico, so the talented Ferrari junior will slot into a familiar looking office space on Friday morning when he climbs onboard the US outfit’s VF-23 machine in Place of Nico Hulkenberg.

Alfa Romeo: Theo Pourchaire

It’s a big weekend for Theo Pourchaire. The current leader of the FIA Formula 2 Championship will be gunning for glory in the feeder series in Abu Dhabi while he’ll enjoy on Friday his second FP1 outing of the year with Alfa Romeo.

Aston Martin: Felipe Drugovich

Felipe Drugovich is Aston’s official reserve this year so the Brazilian knows his way well around Team Silverstone’s AMR23 which he drove in pre-season testing, when Lance Stroll was sidelined by a bicycle crash. But he also completed 24 laps at Monza in FP1.

Williams: Zak O'Sullivan

Williams junior Zak O’Sullivan will sit in for Alex Albon during the opening hour of running at Yas Marina. The Briton concluded his campaign in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in the runner-up spot and will step up to F2 in 2024. Friday will mark his official F1 debut with Williams.

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