All 10 Formula 1 reserve drivers taking part in FP1 in Abu Dhabi tomorrow

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Free practice is never the most exciting part of a Formula 1 weekend, but there will be some additional interest when the cars take to the track in Abu Dhabi.

There will be 10 new drivers featuring on Friday morning when the lights in the pit lane go green, with nearly every team showcasing at least one new driver.

It seems to be more and more difficult for young drivers to get an opportunity in Formula 1.

The 2024 grid looks set to be identical to this year’s line-up as long as Williams confirm Logan Sargeant as their second driver.

It means the number of Formula 2 champions and other top young drivers waiting to pounce on an opportunity to join the sport is growing.

Liam Lawson proved during his five-race cameo that he’s more than ready to step up into F1.

A rule has therefore been introduced that means every driver has to give up their seat during one practice session each season for a driver with less than two Grand Prix under their belt.

Nearly every team has chosen Free Practice 1 in Abu Dhabi to give up either one or both of their seats.

Cristian Horner admitted that ‘Abu Dhabi tends to have no great deal in car set-up value’ which might be why so many new drivers will be featuring.

Either way, all 10 races will be hoping to impress during the 60-minute session.

Rookies set to take to free practice in Abu Dhabi

The only team not fielding a new driver in Friday’s practice session is AlphaTauri, who have already fulfilled their obligations this season.

Nyck de Vries and Liam Lawson were both technically rookies during their first sessions and therefore fulfilled their quota, although they still handed Isack Hadjar an opportunity in Mexico City.

The 19-year-old Frenchman will still be taking part in Abu Dhabi, however, as he takes one of the two vacant Red Bull seats.

He will be joined by 28-year-old Formula E champion Jake Dennis who is the oldest new driver taking part in the session.

There are a host of Formula 2 drivers being given their chance before their season finale takes place.

Championship leader Theo Pourchaire will hope for more luck than he experienced in Mexico City where he managed just four laps in his Alfa Romeo.

Second place Frederik Vesti will be in the Mercedes, while Jack Doohan and Ollie Bearman will return for Alpine and Haas respectively.

Two F2 graduates Robert Shwartzman and Felipe Drugovich will drive for Ferrari and Aston Martin, while Williams will hand Zak O’Sullivan his first drive in a Formula 1 car ahead of him joining the F2 grid in 2024.

The final driver is McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, who returns after finishing fourth in IndyCar this year.

Free practice in Abu Dhabi could be one of the most chaotic sessions of the season so far, with so many drivers on the grid with something to prove.

It will be fascinating to see how many of them end up in Formula 1 in the future.