F1 team set to hand debut to newly-signed driver at Spanish Grand Prix weekend

A newly-signed young driver is set to make his debut for his new team at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.

Formula 1's European triple-header arrives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend, with teams facing a new technical directive from the FIA over controversial front wing flexibility rules.

There will also be a couple of driver changes in Spain, as rookie drivers step up for FP1 with Ryo Hirakawa already announced as Esteban Ocon's replacement at Haas for the session.

Now, Williams have confirmed that junior star Victor Martins will fill in for Alex Albon during the session on Friday.

“I’m super happy to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the first time in Barcelona," he said following the announcement.

"It will be an incredible experience to drive for the team. I’m working hard to prepare as much as possible to maximise my time in the car and make it a valuable session for myself and the team.

"I’m hugely grateful to everyone at Atlassian Williams Racing for giving me this opportunity and I’m looking forward to enjoying every second of it!”

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Why do F1 teams replace their drivers for FP1?

Hirakawa and Martins’ FP1 opportunity at the Spanish GP is not because Ocon and Albon have commitments elsewhere, but is instead part of an F1 rule.

It is mandatory for all 10 F1 teams to run a rookie driver in FP1 at least twice in each of their cars in a season, which means on four occasions we will see a driver swap for free practice.

Hirawaka previously got behind the wheel of the Alpine in front of his home crowd at the Japanese GP, and took over from Bearman at Haas for FP1 at the Bahrain GP.

The Spanish GP marks Martins' first outing in an F1 car on track, with his work behind the scenes in the simulator and TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] programme rewarded.

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