Fuoco set for Ferrari FP1 debut in Mexico City

Ferrari’s endurance ace Antonio Fuoco is the latest name to join the roster of F1 rookies that will take part in Friday’s opening practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old, a winner at Le Mans with Ferrari’s works WEC team in 2024, will get behind the wheel of the Scuderia’s SF-25 for Free Practice 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Ferrari has yet to confirm whether Fuoco will be subbing in for Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton, but his outing will mark the continuation of the team’s rookie driver programme for the season, and which began in Bahrain with Dibo Beganovic.

From Simulator to Spotlight

Fuoco is no stranger to Ferrari’s Formula 1 ecosystem, having played a key role behind the scenes in Maranello as a development driver.

His first official F1 test dates back to 2015 at the Red Bull Ring, and he has since logged laps in the 2020 Young Driver Test and post-season sessions at Yas Marina in 2021 and 2024.

The Italian became a vital part of Ferrari’s Driver Academy infrastructure after Mick Schumacher’s promotion in 2019, taking over as one of the lead sim drivers and providing invaluable feedback for both car and race strategy.

Now, Fuoco’s opportunity to take the stage in front of the Mexican fans marks a return to the spotlight – and a well-earned reward for his contributions over the years.

• Read also: Lindblad to replace Verstappen in FP1 in Mexico City

Fuoco won’t be the only fresh face on track in FP1. He’ll be joined by Pato O’Ward (McLaren), Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull), Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), and Luke Browning (Williams) – a diverse crop of young guns taking part under F1’s rookie driver mandate.

Since 2022, each team has been required to run two rookies in FP1 sessions, but a 2025 rule change doubled the requirement to two outings per car per season, expanding opportunities for emerging talent.

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