Ten rookies took to the track during the first practice session (FP1) of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, providing an early glimpse of their adaptation to Formula 1® machinery and the challenging high-altitude circuit. The session offered valuable track time for these newcomers, with performances ranging from promising to difficult as they navigated the demands of their debut or early outings in the sport.
Nikola Tsolov made his public Formula 1® car debut driving for Racing Bulls, finishing in twelfth place, just behind Arvid Lindblad. Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane highlighted that the session was focused on gathering feedback rather than outright competition. Gabriele Mini also debuted, completing his first laps in the Alpine A526 and placing fourteenth, trailing teammate Pierre Gasly by 0.756 seconds. Meanwhile, Freddie Slater’s session with Audi was disrupted by a garage error that left a cooling fan attached to his car, limiting his running and resulting in a €7,500 fine for the team. Slater ended up twenty-first on the timesheets.
Fred Vesti impressed in his third FP1 outing for Mercedes, securing third place and finishing just 0.074 seconds behind the World Champion-elect Kimi Antonelli. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord praised Vesti’s performance, noting his strong pace. Ayumu Iwasa was the only rookie to outpace his temporary teammate during the session, finishing fifth for Red Bull Racing ahead of Isack Hadjar, who faced power unit issues. Ryo Hirakawa completed the session in fifteenth place, 0.570 seconds behind Ollie Bearman.
Other rookies encountered more challenges during FP1. Leonardo Fornaroli struggled with track conditions and tyre temperature management, finishing seventeenth for McLaren. Jak Crawford experienced an ERS issue that forced him to stop on track, resulting in a nineteenth-place finish for Aston Martin. Luke Browning completed his third FP1 session with Williams, ending twentieth, while Colton Herta finished last in the Cadillac, continuing his efforts to accumulate Super Licence points.
The session underscored the varying levels of experience and adaptation among the rookies, with some showing encouraging pace and others facing technical or environmental difficulties. It also highlighted the importance of FP1 as a learning and evaluation opportunity for teams and drivers alike, especially for those still finding their footing in the sport.
Alan Permane’s remarks about the session’s focus on feedback rather than outright competition reflect the cautious approach teams take with rookies during early practice sessions. Similarly, Bradley Lord’s praise for Fred Vesti points to the potential some of these young drivers have demonstrated in limited track time. The session also served as a reminder of the operational challenges teams can face, as seen with Audi’s cooling fan incident affecting Freddie Slater’s running.
Overall, the FP1 session in Mexico City provided a snapshot of the rookies’ current form and adaptation to Formula 1® cars and circuits. While some showed promising signs, others encountered the typical hurdles that come with stepping up to the highest level of motorsport. The session’s results and feedback will contribute to the teams’ preparations for the remainder of the race weekend and the ongoing development of these drivers within the championship.