Ferrari to Run Beganovic in Mexico FP1, Forcing Hamilton or Leclerc Out

Summary

In the opening practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc set a commanding pace with a lap time of 1m 18.128s, leading the field by a significant margin. The session was notable not only for Leclerc's performance but also for the presence of 10 rookies making their F1 debuts, including Kimi Antonelli and Fred Vesti, who finished second and third respectively. This influx of new talent could signal a changing dynamic in the sport as these drivers gain experience on the track.

The Full Story

Ferrari is set to field rookie driver Beganovic in the first practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix, a move that will require either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton to sit out FP1. This decision follows the trend of teams using FP1 to give track time to young drivers, with ten teams already running rookies in Mexico City’s opening session. Ferrari, until now, was the only team to keep its regular race drivers in FP1, but the upcoming change signals a shift in their approach.

Leclerc topped FP1 on Friday with a 1m18.128s lap, nearly seven-tenths clear of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, as reported by Motorsport Week. Hamilton, meanwhile, struggled to set a competitive time on soft tyres, his session hampered by a mistake in the stadium section. The presence of so many rookies, including Mercedes reserve Fred Vesti and Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov, has made the FP1 order unusually mixed, with little clear indication of race pace from the session.

The decision to run Beganovic in FP1 aligns with the broader strategy teams are employing to develop their junior drivers and prepare them for potential race seats. Ferrari’s move is notable because Leclerc is a championship contender and Hamilton a seven-time world champion, making it unusual for one of them to miss out on valuable track time. Motorsport Week and Formula 1’s official site highlight that Ferrari had been the sole team to maintain their race drivers in FP1 until now, underscoring the significance of this change.

Mexico City’s high altitude and dusty track surface create unique challenges, with many drivers sliding off track or locking up during FP1. Leclerc’s strong pace on soft tyres contrasts with Hamilton’s difficulties, emphasizing the fine margins at play. Rookie drivers have been given extensive running, with teams keen to gather data in these tricky conditions. Audi’s Freddie Slater and Cadillac’s Colton Herta made their FP1 debuts but faced technical issues and limited running time.

The move to put Beganovic in FP1 will allow Ferrari to assess their young talent under race weekend conditions, but it also raises questions about how the team will manage their championship campaign with Leclerc potentially losing practice time. Hamilton’s limited FP1 performance suggests that if he is the one to sit out, it may not significantly impact his preparation, but the decision will be closely watched by rivals and fans alike.

As the weekend progresses, attention will turn to how Ferrari balances rookie development with championship ambitions, especially with Antonelli poised to clinch the title if he finishes in the top nine on Sunday. The FP2 and qualifying sessions will reveal whether missing FP1 affects Leclerc or Hamilton’s performance and how Beganovic’s debut impacts Ferrari’s long-term plans.