Verstappen, Russell, Norris to Miss Opening Practice at Mexico GP; Rookies Take Wheel

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Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Lando Norris will all sit out the first practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, as their teams deploy rookies in compliance with Formula 1’s mandatory rookie running rules for the 2026 season. A total of 10 rookie drivers will take part in Friday’s opening session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, marking one of the largest rookie turnouts in recent years.

Red Bull will field Ayumu Iwasa in place of Verstappen. Iwasa, a familiar face in FP1 sessions for Red Bull this year, has previously driven in Barcelona, Monza, and Austria, and this will be his second time at the Mexico circuit. The Japanese driver’s FP1 outings are part of Red Bull’s strategy to give their junior drivers valuable track time while Verstappen rests ahead of the race.

Mercedes will hand the wheel of George Russell’s car to their reserve driver Frederik Vesti. The Danish driver, who also supports the team in the simulator, has already made two FP1 appearances this year, substituting for Russell in Barcelona and Hungary. Vesti’s continued involvement signals Mercedes’ commitment to grooming their backup talent under race conditions.

McLaren’s Lando Norris will be replaced by Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli. Fornaroli, McLaren’s reserve driver, has already made FP1 appearances this season in Barcelona and Hungary and will also run in the subsequent Brazilian GP practice. His presence in Mexico continues McLaren’s approach to integrating emerging talent into the F1 environment.

Racing Bulls, the only team yet to announce their 2027 driver lineup, will give Formula 2 title contender Nikola Tsolov his FP1 debut, replacing Liam Lawson. Tsolov, currently second in the F2 standings, has impressed this season and is seen as a strong candidate for promotion to Formula 1. His FP1 outing in Mexico represents a crucial opportunity to make an impression on the Racing Bulls management.

Alpine will introduce Gabriele Mini for his first FP1 session, taking over from Franco Colapinto. Mini, a 21-year-old Italian and Alpine Academy member, finished runner-up in the 2024 Formula 3 season and has shown strong form this year in Formula 2, including two race wins and fourth place in the standings. His debut in F1 practice is a significant step in his development.

The Mexico City circuit’s layout, not being a street track nor hosting a Sprint race, offers an ideal environment for teams to fulfill the rookie running requirements without compromising their race preparations. Ferrari stands out as the only team running both their full-time drivers in FP1, highlighting their focus on race weekend consistency.

This rookie deployment is part of Formula 1’s regulations mandating each team to run two rookie sessions per car during the season, aimed at developing the sport’s future talent pool. With the championship battles intensifying, teams are balancing the need for driver development with race weekend performance.

Friday’s first practice session will be closely watched to assess how these rookies adapt to the F1 machinery and the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez’s unique demands. Their performances could influence driver lineups and team strategies heading into the 2027 season.