Oscar Piastri faces a setback in his quest for the Formula 1 championship this weekend as he is one of nine drivers who will miss the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to a new rule introduced in 2025.
The race at the Yas Marina Circuit will determine the season’s champion, with Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen competing for the top spot. A podium finish for Norris could secure him the title, but any errors could give his rivals an opportunity.
Due to the importance of the Abu Dhabi race, drivers need to maximize their practice time. Nearly half of the grid will be absent from the first hour of practice as teams are required to give rookie drivers a chance.
Teams must include a rookie driver in two free practice sessions per car throughout the season, totaling four sessions per team. As a result, several teams still need to meet their rookie session requirements, leading to the presence of new faces in FP1 this weekend.
Piastri will be substituted by Pato O’Ward in his McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton will also sit out the session, with Arthur Leclerc taking his place at Ferrari. Additionally, various other drivers, such as Arvid Lindblad, Ayumu Iwasa, and Ryo Hirakawa, will step in for their respective teams’ regular drivers.
Fans can catch all practice, qualifying, and race sessions live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering significant savings and access to around 100 TV channels, Netflix, and Discovery+ subscriptions.
Mercedes and Sauber have fulfilled their rookie practice session quotas, allowing drivers like George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto to participate in FP1 as usual.
Abu Dhabi is a popular venue for rookie sessions, especially as it marks the final weekend of the season. These sessions are crucial for young driver development, often leading to permanent race seats. Drivers like Antonelli and Oliver Bearman secured seats for 2025 after showcasing their skills in practice sessions last season.