Beganovic to make F1 debut with Ferrari in Bahrain FP1

Ferrari has confirmed that Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic will make his official Formula 1 practice debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix next month.

The 21-year-old Swedish driver will take over Charles Leclerc’s SF-24 for the first free practice session at the Bahrain International Circuit, marking a significant step in his career.

This opportunity aligns with FIA regulations, which now require teams to replace each of their full-time drivers in FP1 at least twice over the course of the season, while relying on young drivers with fewer than two F1 race starts on their track record.

A Packed Schedule for Beganovic

At Sakhir, Beganovic will dovetail his Ferrari outing with his Formula 2 duties with Hitech, as he competes in the second round of his rookie campaign in the FIA F2 Champiosnhip.

The young Swede has been a part of Ferrari’s Driver Academy since 2020 and will become the fifth driver from Scuderia’s academy to drive a Ferrari in an official F1 session, the other four being Charles and Arthur Leclerc, Robert Schwartzman and Oliver Bearman.

Beganovic will be the second Swede to drive for the Italian outfit in Formula 1, following on from Stefan Johansson who raced with Ferrari in 1985 and 1986, finishing on the podium six times from 31 starts.

For the young gun, the FP1 session in Bahrain represents a crucial chance to showcase his potential on the biggest stage.

As he prepares to take the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car for the first time in free practice, all eyes will be on how he handles this momentous step in his motorsport journey.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.