F1 Mexico Grand Prix: Nine drivers replaced for FP1 including Max Verstappen

Verstappen looking disinterested in a Red Bull polo and cap with a Mexican flag-themed background — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Nine drivers replaced for Mexico Grand Prix session including Max Verstappen

This weekend's Mexican GP will see a huge number of rookie driver swaps

Originally written by Kerry Violet. This version is a translation.

Friday 24 October 2025 16:04

Formula 1 fans tuning into FP1 at the Mexico Grand Prix on Friday will see some major changes.

Nine regular drivers are set to miss the first practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, including world champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

All of this is a part of the FIA's rules, which mandate teams to provide rookie drivers with at least four sessions throughout the season. This rule was last amended back in March, increasing the required number of sessions from two to the above four.

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With just five rounds left of the 2025 campaign, teams are running out of time to meet their quota, meaning a whopping nine swaps have been planned for this weekend's FP1 session at the challenging Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

Which drivers are being replaced for FP1 at 2025 Mexican GP?

FP1 Driver	Replacing	Team
Pato O'Ward	Lando Norris	McLaren
Frederik Vesti	George Russell	Mercedes
Antonio Fuoco	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari
Arvid Lindblad	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
Luke Browning	Carlos Sainz	Williams
Ayumu Iwasa	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls
Jak Crawford	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
Ryo Hirakawa	Ollie Bearman	Haas
Paul Aron	Pierre Gasly	Alpine

Why are Sauber the only team to not field a rookie in Mexico?

The 2025 season saw four rookies thrown into full-time F1 seats for the first time, with Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto all lining up alongside experienced team-mates at the start of the year.

Off the track, a number of youngsters also took up reserve driver roles with teams, including Aron at Alpine, with the Estonian going on to take part in practice sessions for both the Enstone outfit and Sauber after being sent there on loan to help fulfill their rookie quota.

By the official FIA definition, a rookie is a driver who has taken part in two or less F1 races during their racing career, meaning Colapinto did not count as a rookie run for Alpine when they initiated a full-time swap with Doohan after just six rounds of this year's campaign.

Bortoleto on the other hand was considered a rookie for his first few outings at Sauber, which explains why only Nico Hulkenberg has had to make way for a rookie practice outing to fulfill the teams quota this season.

Whilst on loan to Sauber, Aron completed both of the minimum two rookie drives required for 2025, meaning the team do not need to field any more rookies this year if they do not wish to do so.

Max Verstappen Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix