Ferrari announced on Monday (20) that Italian Antonio Fuoco will take over Lewis Hamilton’s car in the first free practice session of the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, scheduled for Friday (24) at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The move complies with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) requirement, which mandates at least two sessions with rookie drivers per team per season. Fuoco, 29, will make his debut in an official F1 weekend, after years as a Ferrari development driver.
Other teams are following the same protocol. Red Bull will field Briton Arvid Lindblad in place of Max Verstappen, while McLaren has chosen Pato O’Ward to replace Lando Norris. These changes come amid the championship’s final stretch, with five races remaining and a tight battle for the drivers’ title.
The FP1 session, set for 1:30 PM (Brasília time), will feature nine rookies on track. This concentration of substitutions reflects the tight calendar, with sprint events in Qatar and Brazil limiting options for mandatory sessions.
Fuoco’s journey with Ferrari
Antonio Fuoco joined Ferrari’s young driver program in 2014, competing in Formula 2 and conducting private tests. In 2018, he left the junior program but remained tied as a simulator driver.
The Italian won the 24 Hours of Le Mans title in 2024 with Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship. His experience in prototypes makes him valuable for feedback on aerodynamic setups.
Other confirmed substitutions
Nine teams will make changes in FP1 at the Mexico GP. Aston Martin has selected Jak Crawford to replace Fernando Alonso, and Williams has opted for Luke Browning, substituting for Alex Albon.
- Red Bull: Arvid Lindblad for Max Verstappen;
- McLaren: Pato O’Ward for Lando Norris;
- Mercedes: Frederik Vesti for George Russell;
- Alpine: Paul Aron for Pierre Gasly;
- Racing Bulls: Ayumu Iwasa for Yuki Tsunoda;
- Haas: Ryo Hirakawa for Nico Hülkenberg.
These choices prioritize drivers with fewer than two Grand Prix starts, per FIA rules.
Williams and Sauber complete the list with Browning and Robert Shwartzman, respectively. The focus on rookies aims to evaluate talent for 2026, a year with new technical regulations.
FIA regulation boosts rookies
The FIA rule, introduced in 2022, requires two FP1 sessions with rookies per car. In 2025, the Mexico GP concentrates 50% of the pending slots due to urban circuits like Las Vegas.
Teams avoid losses on high-speed tracks. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, at 2,200 meters altitude, tests engine and brake adaptations.
Season data shows 18 rookie sessions so far. Ferrari meets the quota with Fuoco, after Dino Beganovic replaced Charles Leclerc in Bahrain and Austria.
The rule promotes diversity on the grid. In 2025, 30% of drivers are full-season rookies, including Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber.
Expectations for the weekend
Lewis Hamilton will return to the cockpit from FP2 on Friday (24) at 5:00 PM. The seven-time champion has 285 points in the championship, trailing Oscar Piastri (leading with 325).
The Mexico GP starts at 5:00 PM on Sunday (26), with 71 laps. Verstappen, third with 280 points, is pushing for the constructors’ vice-leadership.
Ferrari aims for a podium at Leclerc’s home race, where he won in 2022. Hot conditions and thin air challenge rear wing setups.
McLaren’s history favors them, with three wins in the last five Mexico GPs. The FP1 session will provide initial data for suspension adjustments.
Highlights of the remaining calendar
Four races follow Mexico. Brazil and Qatar feature sprint formats, reducing free practice sessions.
Abu Dhabi closes the season in December. The title race has 141 points at stake.
Ferrari has 452 points in the constructors’ championship, behind McLaren (510). Substitutions do not affect the main schedule.
Rookies like Fuoco contribute fresh perspectives. His session marks the 20th GP of 2025.