Fernando Alonso will not take part in the first free practice session in Abu Dhabi and will leave his place to Felipe Drugovich
At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final event of the year in Formula 1, Fernando Alonso will not be responsible for the AMR23 in Free Practice 1. The Asturian will give up his seat Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin’s reserve driver, who has had the opportunity to drive the car on several occasions, including pre-season testing. Drugovich, who conquered Formula 2 in 2022 with five wins and 11 podiums, has proven to be a promising driver and will have the opportunity to show his skills at the Marina Bay circuit and replace Alonso.
This decision follows FIA regulations, which require each main driver to give up his seat at least once in free practice to a rookie, a driver who has not taken part in more than two F1 Grand Prix races. Alonso, who has attended all meetings so far, must meet this requirementwhich allowed Drugovich to take his place in Abu Dhabi.
FIA regulations and their impact on F1 teams
The FIA ​​rule, aimed at giving young drivers experience, has created challenges for teams, particularly with the introduction of sprint races and the reduction in free practice. In 2023, six of the 22 races featured sprints, making compliance with these regulations even more difficult for teams. Road courses also present additional risk, which is why teams prefer to make these changes in the final stages of the season, when the majority of the championship has already been decided.
Several teams such as Williams, McLaren and AlphaTauri adhered to this rule at the start of the season and replaced their regular drivers with rookies such as Sargeant, Piastri and De Vries. However, the majority decided to keep this rotation until the end of the championship. Carlos Sainz, for example, was replaced by Robert Shwartzman at the Dutch GP after the summer break.
The rookie drivers who will take part in Free Practice 1 in Abu Dhabi
ANDIn Abu Dhabi Free Practice 1, several rookie drivers will have the opportunity to participate and gain valuable experience. Among them are Jake Dennis (Red Bull), Isack Hadjar (AlphaTauri), Frederik Vesti (Mercedes), Robert Shwartzman (Ferrari), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Pato O’Ward (McLaren), Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin), Theo Pourchaire (Alfa Romeo), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Zak O’Sullivan (Williams). This diverse group of promising drivers will have the unique opportunity to showcase their talent on one of the most famous circuits on the Formula 1 calendar.
Fernando Alonso’s decision to hand over his seat at the Abu Dhabi GP to Felipe Drugovich reflects Formula 1’s commitment to developing new talent. While these FIA ​​regulations pose logistical challenges for teams, they provide an invaluable platform for novice drivers To gain experience at the highest level of motorsport.
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