The manner in which Formula 1 teams will implement the rule regarding the usage of rookie drivers in practice sessions this year remains uncertain.
It has been revealed that, in order to adhere to the regulations that mandate every race driver on the grid to relinquish their car on an official Friday, Robert Shwartzman will occupy Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at Zandvoort.
“We let our drivers decide for themselves when they want to take the break,” said team boss Frederic Vasseur.
Frederik Vesti will be seen performing in a Mercedes in Mexico – and numerous insiders believe this will likely be the stage for many other teams to get in line with the rookie rule.
This is largely due to the lack of alternative sensible options for the teams to fall in line.
For example, the alternative tyre allocation rule is set to return in Monza, and there are three additional sprint weekends on the horizon – in Qatar, Austin, and Brazil – where only a single practice session precedes qualifying.
Las Vegas, on the other hand, is an entirely new street circuit to Formula 1, while the challenging Singapore layout is also considered unsuitable for rookie appearances.
The only remaining feasible venues left to race are Suzuka and Abu Dhabi. It is rumoured that Charles Leclerc, for instance, will surrender his seat at the 2023 finale.
Ferrari, nevertheless, has no plans to deploy its junior drivers Oliver Bearman or Arthur Leclerc, Charles’ younger sibling. “They should first concentrate on the end of the Formula 2 season,” said Vasseur.
Speculation suggests that one of them will be assigned to Ferrari-powered Haas for a rookie experience.
In contrast, McLaren, Alpha Tauri, and Williams have already partially met the rookie rule requirements – by enlisting rookies (Oscar Piastri, Nyck de Vries, and Logan Sargeant) as race drivers this season.
