How deserving every 2025 FP1 rookie is of a Formula 1 seat in their career

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Formula 1 have been looking to give more opportunities to rookie drivers in the sport. A key way of doing that has been through free practice sessions.

In 2024, the 10 teams had to use one rookie in each of their cars during FP1 sessions. In 2025, this was increased to two rookies per car, totalling four across the season.

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15 drivers were given appearances in F1 machinery during these sessions. Some of them drove for multiple teams, some struggled, some impressed, and one of them is even on the grid in a full-time seat in 2026.

The drivers range from young talent to endurance racing stars, but how likely are they to land an F1 seat in the future? F1 Oversteer has assessed their chances.

Alpine – Paul Aron

Alpine had a turbulent season in 2025, with Jack Doohan losing his seat to Franco Colapinto after just six races. Reserve driver Paul Aron took part in three FP1 sessions in Monza, Mexico and Abu Dhabi.

While Colapinto struggled to extract performance from the A525, Flavio Briatore was considering bringing in Aron midway through 2025. The Estonian completed numerous TPC tests in preparation, but no driver swap was made.

Colapinto will keep his seat in 2026, but will be under pressure to deliver results. Aron is clearly in consideration for a seat at Alpine, and if the Argentine cannot perform next season, he stands a strong chance of landing a drive, provided he can show strong pace in tests and in the simulator.

Sauber – Paul Aron

Different team, same driver. Aron was used by Sauber at Silverstone and Budapest after agreeing on a loan deal with Alpine, as they did not have an eligible driver to fulfil the rookie requirement.

Here, the Estonian stands much less of a chance of racing in F1, as Sauber will become Audi in 2026. The German manufacturer are likely to be looking at other options for their project.

Haas – Ryo Hirakawa

Two-time WEC champion Ryo Hirakawa joined Haas from Alpine in 2025, given his strong connections to the team’s partners, Toyota. Driving in Bahrain, Barcelona, Mexico and Abu Dhabi, he racked up significant mileage in 2025, but overall pace left something to be desired.

Haas might have a seat available in 2027 if Oliver Bearman is poached by Ferrari, and his Toyota links could give him the upper hand. But at 31 years old, one can only wonder why the team should be looking at stronger and more youthful options than Hirakawa.

READ MORE: All to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari and Toyota ties

Aston Martin – Felipe Drugovich, Jak Crawford and Cian Shields

Felipe Drugovich has been on the doorstep of Aston Martin since he won the F2 title in 2022. Now racing in Formula E with Andretti, his chance in F1 may have passed, but his talent and testing mileage more than warrant a chance, which could come in 2027 if Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll make way.

2025 F2 runner-up Jak Crawford could also be in the conversation with his test and reserve duties in 2026, with the American proving his credentials at a junior level and in F1 machinery.

However, Cian Shields, who took part in his first FP1 session in Abu Dhabi, is miles away from an F1 seat. He was almost two seconds off the pace of Lando Norris that weekend, and he is yet to score a point in F2.

Racing Bulls – Ayumu Iwasa

Ayumu Iwasa was deserving of an F1 seat in 2026, having won the Super Formula title this season and provided significant mileage for Red Bull and Racing Bulls. His experience is getting stronger every year, and he should be considered if the Faenza team make a reshuffle for 2027.

Williams – Luke Browning and Victor Martins

Luke Browning has been making excellent progress in the junior categories, finishing third in F3 in 2024 and fourth in F2 in 2025. FP1 appearances in Bahrain, Mexico and Abu Dhabi this season will go a long way for his development, and could make him a bright talent for Williams in the future.

The Grove outfit picked up Victor Martins after he departed Alpine and made one appearance for the team in Barcelona. The Frenchman certainly has talent, but his P11 in F2 this season does not make for good reading – Browning is a step ahead of him.

Ferrari – Dino Beganovic, Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc

Dino Beganovic is the only junior driver Ferrari used in 2025, and the Swede has been slowly proving his worth. Finishing seventh in F2 this season, more mileage in F1 machinery and more progress in F2 could put him in line for a full-time seat in Maranello, but right now, he is low in the pecking order.

Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc hail from sports cars, with the former having been part of the F1 programme since 2015. However, having been in WEC and GT racing respectively for many years, their chances of an F1 seat may be non-existent – Ferrari should focus on other talent.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Red Bull – Ayumu Iwasa and Arvid Lindblad

As aforementioned, Iwasa was deserving of a seat with Racing Bulls in 2026. However, even with some appearances for Red Bull, including one in 2025 in Bahrain, a promotion straight into the main team is probably too far for the Japanese driver.

Meanwhile, Arvid Lindblad was the only FP1 rookie in 2025 to make it onto the grid in 2026, ironically, with Racing Bulls. His F2 season left something to be desired, but Lindblad’s impressive pace in Silverstone and Mexico City has got everyone excited for his F1 career.

READ MORE: Who is 2026 Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad? Everything you need to know

Mercedes – Frederik Vesti

Frederik Vesti has been a test and reserve driver for Mercedes since he finished second in F2 in 2023. Since then, he has plied his trade in sports cars, and unfortunately, Vesti’s pace in FP1 session has been lacking – unless he somehow moves up the pecking order, his chances of landing an F1 seat are slim.

McLaren – Alex Dunne and Pato O’Ward

McLaren are in a difficult situation with their FP1 rookies, as in 2025, they had two highly talented drivers who both face a bleak reality when it comes to landing a full-time seat.

Firstly, Alex Dunne was hugely impressive in Austria, finishing an incredible P4 in his first F1 session. The Irishman is no longer at McLaren as they mutually parted ways at the end of the season, but he does have the potential to reach F1, and teams are starting to express an interest.

Pato O’Ward enjoyed his best IndyCar season to date in 2025, finishing second behind the dominant Alex Palou. The Mexican has been racking up more mileage in F1 cars and certainly has the talent, but as long as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have seats, his chances of reaching the sport are blocked.