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Which rookies to watch in Bahrain GP first free practice?
Six rookies will take part in Bahrain FP1, each stepping in as part of the teams’ young driver obligations.
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Frederik Vesti
Frederik Vesti, the runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship, will be making his third FP1 appearance for Mercedes. The Danish driver already drove for the team during practice sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last year. As a long-standing member of the Mercedes Junior Programme, Vesti continues to build valuable F1 experience while waiting for a chance at a full-time seat.
Felipe Drugovich
Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin’s reserve driver, returns to action in Bahrain, which is a track he knows well. The Brazilian, who won the Formula 2 title in 2022, filled in for Lance Stroll during pre-season testing at the same circuit in 2023. The 24-year-old has also taken part in five FP1 sessions and three end-of-season tests for the team, making him one of the most experienced non-race drivers currently in the paddock.
Luke Browning
Williams Academy driver Luke Browning is currently racing in his first full season of Formula 2 with Hitech GP. Bahrain will mark his second FP1 appearance, after he made his Formula 1 debut with Williams during practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of 2024. At just 22 years old, Browning is already gaining important F1 mileage early in his career.
Ayumu Iwasa
Ayumu Iwasa, a member of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2021, returns for another FP1 outing, this time with Red Bull Racing in Bahrain. The Japanese driver has previously driven in FP1 for Racing Bulls in Japan and Abu Dhabi in 2024. After finishing 5th in the 2022 F2 season and improving to 4th in 2023, he moved on to compete in Super Formula and took on the role of F1 test driver for Red Bull’s sister team.
Ryo Hirakawa
Ryo Hirakawa brings a wealth of experience from across motorsport to his new role as Haas reserve driver. The 2022 Le Mans winner and two-time Hypercar World Champion with Toyota has already driven in various F1 test and practice sessions, including for McLaren and Haas. He’ll be taking part in four FP1 sessions with Haas in 2025, starting in Bahrain, as he continues to contribute both his skill and technical knowledge across disciplines like Super Formula and Super GT.
Dino Beganovic
Dino Beganovic will make his official Formula 1 debut in Bahrain FP1, stepping into Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari as part of the team’s rookie driver programme. The Swedish driver, who races in Formula 2 with Hitech TGR, joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2020. He won the Formula Regional European Championship in 2022 and has since raced in both F3 and F2. With podium finishes already under his belt, Beganovic now becomes the fifth FDA driver to take part in an official F1 weekend.
