Ferrari Replaces Lewis Hamilton for Abu Dhabi GP FP1 with Arthur Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton will skip the first free practice session at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Ferrari adheres to F1 regulations by fielding rookie driver Arthur Leclerc, Charles Leclerc's brother, in the SF-25. This move, part of a mandate for teams to give young drivers track time, sees other established drivers like Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso also making way for rookies.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will not participate in the first free practice session (FP1) at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Ferrari confirming that Arthur Leclerc, brother of Charles Leclerc, will take his place.
Why it matters:
Formula 1 regulations mandate that each team must field a rookie driver (one with at most two Grand Prix starts) in two free practice sessions per season. This initiative aims to provide opportunities for young talent to gain crucial F1 experience and showcase their skills on a Grand Prix weekend. For Ferrari, fulfilling this obligation with Arthur Leclerc not only meets the requirement but also provides valuable track time to a driver closely linked to their current star, Charles Leclerc, potentially grooming future talent within the Ferrari family.
The details:
- Lewis Hamilton will sit out FP1 for the second time in the 2025 season. He previously missed FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- Arthur Leclerc will drive Hamilton's SF-25 during this session. This marks a significant opportunity for the young driver to demonstrate his capabilities in a top-tier F1 car.
- Rookie Driver Rule: The F1 sporting regulations stipulate that 'Each Competitor must use a driver who has not participated in more than two (2) F1 World Championship races in at least two (2) free practice sessions during a Championship.' This rule ensures a steady influx of new talent into the sport.
- Other Teams' Rookie Participation: Hamilton is not the only high-profile driver to make way for a rookie in Abu Dhabi. Oscar Piastri will be replaced by Pato O'Ward at McLaren, and Fernando Alonso will hand his AMR25 over to Cian Shields at Aston Martin.
- This marks a significant moment for Arthur Leclerc, offering him a chance to impress Ferrari and potentially other teams as he seeks to advance his career in motorsport. His brother, Charles Leclerc, also sat out FP1 sessions in Bahrain and Austria earlier in the 2025 season to accommodate rookie drivers.
What's next:
Arthur Leclerc's performance in Abu Dhabi FP1 will be closely watched by Ferrari and the wider F1 paddock. A strong showing could further his prospects within Ferrari's driver development program or attract interest from other teams looking for promising young talent. For Hamilton, this is a standard procedural absence, allowing him to focus on the remaining sessions while the team fulfills its regulatory duties and nurtures future prospects. The data collected by Arthur Leclerc will also be crucial for the team's final preparations for the qualifying and race sessions.