Ferrari could do something F1 hasn’t seen for 49 years when Carlos Sainz gives up car for FP1 session

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Carlos Sainz will vacate his Ferrari car for the opening practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next month. It could hold him back on his final weekend with the team before he joins Williams.

But Ferrari are obliged to field a young driver in both of their cars before the end of the season. And thus far, they’ve only done so once.

In Mexico, Charles Leclerc watched on from the garage as Oliver Bearman took over. The car ended up returning to the pits on a flatbed truck after Alex Albon hit Bearman in an unfortunate incident in the high-speed middle sector.

Ideally, Ferrari would have wanted to give the Englishman another outing at Yas Marina. However, Bearman no longer qualifies as a rookie after competing in his third Grand Prix in Brazil.

Haas had to call upon him after regular driver Kevin Magnussen contracted an illness. The Ferrari academy driver will race for the team full-time next season alongside Esteban Ocon.

Rivals Mercedes have already fulfilled their requirement, with Kimi Antonelli appearing in Monza (briefly before a crash) and Mexico. Red Bull and McLaren are only halfway there after solitary runs for Isack Hadjar and Pato O’Ward.

Arthur Leclerc could partner Charles Leclerc in Ferrari practice session

According to Motorsport Netherlands, Ferrari are considering whether to hand Arthur Leclerc an opportunity in Abu Dhabi practice. World Endurance Championship star Antonio Fuoco had been the favourite after amassing sufficient superlicence points and testing an F1 car at Fiorano.

Robert Shwartzman, who has driven for Sauber on two Fridays this season, is also part of the Ferrari family, but he’s focused on IndyCar. The younger Leclerc brother has already tested the car on the simulator as part of his development role.

And Ferrari recognise that it would be ‘interesting’ from ‘a marketing perspective’ if they could field him alongside Charles in an official session. No decision has been made as yet.

The 24-year-old won the Italian GT3 Endurance title this year and also raced in the LMP2 class in the European Le Mans series. At this stage, there’s little chance he makes it to F1, but he’s still enjoying a strong career.

Who were the last brothers to drive for the same team in Formula 1?

After finishing in the top three in Formula 4 and FRECA on his ascent up the ladder, Leclerc reached Formula 3 in 2021. On the back of a sixth-place finish season in his second season, he graduated to F2.

However, his performances in the feeder series were underwhelming. With no wins or podiums, he ended up mid-table.

Still, Arthur and Charles could be the first brothers to share the track since Michael and Ralf Schumacher in 2006. And they could be the first to represent the same team since Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi in 1975.

After bidding farewell to Sainz in Abu Dhabi, Leclerc will partner Lewis Hamilton next year. Leclerc says it will be ‘very special’ to battle Hamilton in the same machinery given his peerless record.