Formula 1 drivers to miss Mexico City GP opening practice

Ten Formula 1 drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and George Russell, will sit out the first practice session (FP1) of the Mexico City Grand Prix to fulfill mandatory rookie-running obligations.

Under FIA sporting regulations, teams must provide eligible rookie drivers with practice opportunities during the season. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is considered an ideal venue for these sessions because it is a permanent circuit rather than a street track, and the weekend does not include a Sprint race, which reduces competitive risk for teams.

Ferrari is the only team that will field both of its full-time race drivers during the opening session. Other notable substitutions include Ayumu Iwasa replacing Verstappen at Red Bull, Leonardo Fornaroli replacing Norris at McLaren, and Frederik Vesti replacing Russell at Mercedes. Three drivers, Nikola Tsolov (Racing Bulls), Freddie Slater (Audi), and Gabriele Minì (Alpine), are set to make their official Formula 1 practice debuts.