Due to the lack of testing opportunities during Formula 1 seasons at present, the premier class has introduced a new rule for 2022 in order to continue giving young drivers the opportunity to put in miles in modern cars.
Throughout the season, teams must field a young driver with no significant F1 experience at least two free practice sessions 1. With four races to go, all teams must field a rookie at least once, and four of the 10 teams have decided to do so this coming weekend at the United States Grand Prix.
And given that Haas will also field Giovinazzi in that FP1, five of the 20 cars will not be driven on track by the regular drivers, which sets a record.
Which young drivers (rookies) dispute the FP1 of the United States GP in Austin?
See which drivers will take to the track in Free Practice 1 of the 2022 United States GP, with which teams and replacing which starters:
- Robert Shwartzman with Ferrari
- Alex Palou with McLaren by Daniel Ricciardo
- Logan Sargeant with Williams by Nicholas Latifi
- Theo Pourchaire with Alfa Romeo by Valtteri Bottas
- Antonio Giovinazzi with Haas by Kevin Magnussen.
Ferrari is one of four other teams that will field a youngster during the first practice session at the Circuit of the Americas. A unique decision, as never before has the Italian team let a rookie of theirs get behind the wheel during an official F1 practice session.
Normally, Ferrari always left such matters to its client teams. Robert Shwartzman will have the honor of changing that as he steps into the F1-75 during FP1 for his first real introduction to the car he has driven many times in the simulator. The Russian, who is currently racing under an Israeli license , racked up some serious mileage in a Formula 1 car earlier this year getting into the 2021 SF21 at Mugello and Fiorano. However, a participation in F1 practice is also totally new for Shwartzman .
Sargeant, preview of a 2023 F1 season as a starter?
The same goes for Logan Sargeant , who is set to make his official F1 session debut with Williams. The American will debut as a locl, before his public, and he really plays more than the others.
A strong performance from Logan Sargeant could give him a good chance of taking Williams’ second seat for 2023. He already seems to be a strong contender, but ultimately it all hinges on getting superlicense . To get it, Sargeant needs to finish the Formula 2 season in the top five, something he has a shot at, as he is currently third in the standings.
Alex Palou tested the McLaren MCL35M in Barcelona earlier this year.
Like Shwartzman and Sargeant, Théo Pourchaire will make his official F1 weekend debut this Friday, when he tests with Alfa Romeo. However, the bet is lower for the Frenchman, since he knows that ascending to the premier class next year will not be possible.
Alex Palou also knows that his debut in an official F1 session is not going to lead directly to a chance to start in 2023. The 2021 IndyCar champion will contest an American championship season again next year, but this end of week McLaren will give you the opportunity to show what you can do with the MCL36 .
Can Giovinazzi convince Haas for F1 2023?
Thus, the fifth and last non-start driver who will contest the first practice session of the United States GP is Antonio Giovinazzi. The Italian already has three seasons of F1 experience and therefore his training with Haas does not count towards the two mandatory practice sessions for newcomers.
Still, the stakes are high for Giovinazzi, who remains in the running for second seat at the American team. He already took part in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix, and now he has a second chance to do so. With good times and good feedback, he could enter the battle with Mick Schumacher and Nico Hülkenberg for the F1 starting seat in 2023.
However, Steiner has always made it clear that these Giovinazzi tests are actually a favor to his Ferrari driver…
