Arthur Leclerc to Replace Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi FP1
Arthur Leclerc will step into Lewis Hamilton's car for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix FP1, marking his second consecutive appearance and providing a unique sibling dynamic with Charles Leclerc on track. This move underscores Arthur's ongoing development role with Ferrari, as the team aims to conclude a challenging season on a high note while looking towards future talent development.
Charles Leclerc's younger brother, Arthur Leclerc, will replace Lewis Hamilton in the first free practice session (FP1) for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking the second time the siblings share a Formula 1 track. This move highlights Arthur's continued involvement with Ferrari as a development driver.
Why it matters:
Ferrari's decision to field Arthur Leclerc in FP1 for the second consecutive year demonstrates their commitment to nurturing young talent within their development program, even after he officially left their driver academy. It also provides valuable track time and data for a promising young driver, reinforcing the Scuderia's long-term strategy.
The details:
- Arthur Leclerc will drive Lewis Hamilton's car during FP1 at the Yas Marina circuit, repeating his appearance from the previous year.
- Last year, Arthur finished P18 in FP1, 1.858s slower than his older brother Charles, marking the first time siblings participated in a Formula 1 session together.
- Development Driver Role: Despite leaving Ferrari's official driver academy in 2023, Arthur remains a key development driver for the team. This year, he balanced this role with competing for AF Corse in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.
- Simulator Work: Charles Leclerc previously praised his brother's exceptional work on the simulator, emphasizing its importance for correlation with real-world track data.
- Season-Ending Test: Arthur will not participate in the post-season test. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will split driving duties for the 2026 tire testing, while Dino Beganovic will drive the SF-25 for the Young Driver Test. Beganovic has already completed two FP1 sessions this year, replacing Charles Leclerc in Bahrain and Austria.
The big picture:
Ferrari enters the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix guaranteed to finish fourth in the Constructors' Championship, trailing Red Bull by 44 points with only 43 remaining. Team Principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the season has been challenging, with the Scuderia yet to secure a Grand Prix win. The team aims to conclude the season on a positive note.
What's next:
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will mark the end of a difficult season for Ferrari. The team will be focused on gathering final data and pushing for a strong finish. The post-season test will immediately follow, with a keen eye on 2026 tire development and further assessing young talent like Beganovic, as Ferrari looks to rebound in the upcoming seasons.