The Formula 1 world is constantly pulsating with excitement, but every now and then, special opportunities open up for young hopefuls to showcase their talent at the highest level. The Mexican Grand Prix is precisely one of those occasions where established teams offer coveted FP1 (First Practice) slots to emerging talents. For true F1 enthusiasts, these moments are as thrilling as championship-deciding battles, as they provide an early glance into the sport’s possible next generation.
2023 sees several rookies being ushered into the high-octane cauldron of Formula 1 during the Mexico City Grand Prix, marking crucial milestones in their careers. For most of these drivers, Formula 1 practice sessions are not only invaluable learning experiences but also the ultimate test of their adaptability and potential. Teams, too, benefit, as they’re able to assess future stars in a live environment, understanding how well junior drivers cope with the stresses, nuances, and unpredictabilities of an F1 weekend.
Within the complex ecosystem of modern motorsport, teams are mandated to run at least two rookies in their cars for Friday practice during the season. This not only keeps the driver pipeline flowing but also keeps team engineers on their toes, adapting to fresh feedback styles and working with athletes eager to make a mark. The FP1 stage at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with its unique blend of thin air and rabid fan enthusiasm, is a tough but fascinating proving ground. So who are this year’s debutants, and what should fans watch for as the engines roar on Friday?
First up is Isack Hadjar, the talented French-Algerian prospect from the Red Bull junior programme. Hadjar receives the call-up for AlphaTauri, stepping into a race weekend for the first time. His 2023 Formula 2 campaign has been marked by impressive consistency, and his adaptability has not gone unnoticed in the paddock. Fans will recall that Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda once made their FP1 debuts in similar circumstances, cementing this tradition in Faenza’s DNA. For Hadjar, it’s a pivotal moment to showcase not just outright speed, but also maturity, technical feedback, and poise under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Williams continues to deliver on its promise to nurture future F1 talents, with Franco Colapinto set for his highly anticipated FP1 bow. The Argentine driver is backed by tremendous support in his homeland and has enjoyed a solid ascent through the junior formulas. Williams, under their current regime, has a track record of offering practical experience to rookies, and Colapinto’s outing will be watched closely—especially considering the team’s penchant for developing hidden gems. His performance will offer an early hint as to whether Argentina might, in the not-so-distant future, return to the F1 grid with its own superstar.
In the Haas camp, Oliver Bearman, the immensely talented British teen and Ferrari Driver Academy member, will once again step into the limelight. Bearman’s progress has been closely tracked by F1 insiders for over a year; his combination of racecraft and mature approach in Formula 2 has many tipping him as a future F1 regular. Haas, with its close ties to Ferrari, serves as an ideal audition stage for Bearman, affording both him and the Prancing Horse a key data point for future driver lineup decisions. Don’t be surprised if the young Brit sets tongues wagging after just a handful of laps.
These FP1 outings aren’t mere formalities—they are critical, career-defining experiences for drivers and crucial talent assessment opportunities for teams. Every push lap, every engineer briefing, and every interaction in the garage is scrutinized, sometimes even more intensely than on a race Sunday. For fans, witnessing these rookies is witnessing history in real-time: the next Verstappen, Norris, or Leclerc could be reefing onto the scene before our eyes.
The Mexico City Grand Prix may play out over 71 laps come Sunday, but before that, make sure to tune into Friday’s opening session. This is where the seeds of tomorrow’s F1 stars are sown. The heartbeats are fast, the stakes are high, and if you pay close attention, you might just spot the first flashes of brilliance from a future Grand Prix winner.
