Bahrain Grand Prix: spotlight on six rookie drivers during FP1

Dominika Jordan
Apr 10, 2025, 11:29 AM ET

New talents debut at Bahrain GP: Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes rookies in FP1.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

This weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix will feature an influx of fresh talent as six rookie drivers take to the track for the first practice session, stepping in temporarily for some of the grid's top stars. According to F1 regulations, teams are required to run rookie drivers—those who have competed in no more than two Grands Prix—in two practice sessions during the 2025 season. In Bahrain, powerhouse teams Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes are all set to showcase their young prospects.

Ayumu Iwasa, Red Bull

Max Verstappen will step aside during FP1 to give Ayumu Iwasa his third opportunity in an F1 car. The 23-year-old Japanese driver first debuted in F1 with Racing Bulls last year. Iwasa's credentials are impressive: he won the French F4 championship in 2020 and made a swift ascent through the ranks with notable performances in Formula 3 and Formula 2. Last season, he secured fifth place in Super Formula and currently leads this year's championship after two rounds.

Dino Beganovic, Ferrari

Making his F1 session debut this weekend is Dino Beganovic, who joined Ferrari's driver academy as a 16-year-old in 2020. The Swedish-Bosnian racer clinched the prestigious FRECA championship in 2022, and after two solid seasons in Formula 3, he has moved up to Formula 2 this year with the Hitech team. Beganovic will be driving Charles Leclerc's Ferrari in FP1, making Lewis Hamilton his temporary teammate.

Fred Vesti, Mercedes

Fred Vesti, the 2019 FRECA champion, will get his third FP1 opportunity for Mercedes. The 23-year-old Dane has an impressive racing resume, having won 11 races over four years between Formula 3 and Formula 2, where he finished second in the championship in 2023. Vesti is juggling his F1 reserve duties with a stint in the IMSA series, racing for Cadillac. George Russell will make way for Vesti during the session.

Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin

Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 Formula 2 champion, is already familiar with the F1 scene. He replaced the injured Lance Stroll in preseason testing in 2023 and has participated in three end-of-season tests and five FP1 sessions. The Brazilian driver is also trying his hand at endurance racing this season. Drugovich will take the wheel from Fernando Alonso on Friday, presenting a crucial opportunity to make an impression.

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas

Ryo Hirakawa will make another FP1 appearance, this time with Haas, just a week after participating in Suzuka for Alpine. The 31-year-old driver, a stalwart in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota, cited limited opportunities at Alpine as his reason for switching to Haas. Hirakawa also drove for McLaren in an FP1 session last year in Abu Dhabi, making it a unique experience with three different teams in four rounds.

Luke Browning, Williams

At Williams, Carlos Sainz will hand over the reins to British driver Luke Browning for FP1. The 23-year-old Browning is set to make his second FP1 appearance after debuting in Abu Dhabi last year. He won the GB3 championship in 2022 and finished third in last year's Formula 3 series. Currently, Browning is teammates with Beganovic in Formula 2.

As these six rookies take on the Bahrain International Circuit, all eyes will be on their performances, assessing whether they have what it takes to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport. The excitement is palpable as F1 fans and teams alike eagerly await the emergence of the sport's next stars.