# Formula 1 rookie driver rotations in Mexico and Brazil

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/formula-1-rookie-driver-rotations-in-mexico-and-brazil
> Updated: 2026-10-28T17:31:26.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

Formula 1 teams have announced several driver changes for the upcoming Mexico City and São Paulo Grands Prix to comply with mandatory FIA rookie requirements. 

Red Bull Racing confirmed that Ayumu Iwasa will replace Max Verstappen for the first free practice session (FP1) in Mexico. This marks Iwasa’s eighth appearance in a free practice session this season. 

Other teams participating in these rotations include McLaren, which will use Leonardo Fornaroli for FP1 in both Mexico and Brazil; Williams, with Luke Browning replacing Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz; Ferrari, featuring Dino Beganovic; Mercedes, with Fred Vesti; and Alpine, with Gabriele Minì. The sessions are intended to allow teams to evaluate emerging talent and collect technical data.

For the Mexico City Grand Prix, ten drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and George Russell, are scheduled to sit out the FP1 session to fulfill these obligations. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is noted as an ideal venue for these sessions because it is a permanent circuit and the weekend lacks a Sprint race, which reduces competitive risk. 

While Ferrari is the only team fielding both full-time race drivers during the opening session, several drivers are set to make their official Formula 1 practice debuts, including Nikola Tsolov at Racing Bulls, Freddie Slater at Audi, and Gabriele Minì at Alpine.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-28: Max Verstappen to be replaced by Ayumu Iwasa for Mexico City GP practice

Ayumu Iwasa will replace Max Verstappen in Red Bull's first practice session at the Mexico City GP as part of F1's rookie driver program.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/max-verstappen-to-be-replaced-by-ayumu-iwasa-for-mexico-city-gp-practice

### 2026-10-27: Formula 1 drivers to miss Mexico City GP opening practice

Ten Formula 1 drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, will miss the Mexico City GP first practice session as teams utilize the session to fulfill mandatory rookie driver running requirements.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/williams-confirms-luke-browning-for-two-additional-f1-practice-sessions

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Cite as: Formula 1 rookie driver rotations in Mexico and Brazil. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/formula-1-rookie-driver-rotations-in-mexico-and-brazil