Oscar Piastri won’t be one of nine drivers giving up their seat to a rookie replacement in practice for the Mexico Grand Prix this weekend. And it means he’ll likely have to step aside before the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi.
F1 rules dictate that all teams must use a rookie driver in at least two practice sessions throughout the season – twice each for both cars. Piastri and Lando Norris have already vacated their seat once each this season, and Norris will hand over to Pato O’Ward in the opening practice session in Mexico this weekend.
Oscar Piastri will have to step out at some point before the end of the F1 season. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
That will complete the requirement with Norris’ car, but leaves McLaren needing to decide when Piastri steps out a second time. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico is a popular venue for teams to use their rookies, as it’s a relatively simple circuit with no sprint events.
It’s the same in Abu Dhabi, and that’s where Piastri will likely step aside. But it’s far from ideal for Piastri not to be getting as much practice as possible when Abu Dhabi hosts the final race of the season.
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The Aussie is only 14 points ahead of Norris in the championship with five races remaining, with Max Verstappen surging back into contention and trailing by just 40 points. Taking Piastri out of his car in the first practice session in Abu Dhabi will certainly raise a few eyebrows if he needs to win the race or finish strongly to clinch the championship.
Pato O’Ward will drive for Lando Norris in the opening practice session in Mexico. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
Brazil, Qatar and Las Vegas are less favourable options. Brazil and Qatar have sprint races attached, meaning there’s only a single hour of practice for all drivers. While Vegas is a street circuit, meaning there’s a higher chance of a crash.
The rule was introduced in 2022, and increased to two sessions per car in 2025. If Piastri is still leading before the final round of the season, it would be highly unusual to ask him to step out of the car and miss a valuable practice session with so much on the line.
Rookie F1 drivers taking part in Mexico Grand Prix
O’Ward will step into Norris’ car this weekend in front of his home crowd in Mexico, after doing the same last year. The 26-year-old, who finished second in the IndyCar championship last year, also took part in practice at Abu Dhabi in 2022 and 2023.
Alex Dunne is the other McLaren driver who filled in once each for Piastri and Norris – in Austria and Italy – this year. This weekend, Ferrari will use Antonio Fuoco to replace Lewis Hamilton, while Arvid Lindblad will step into Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Frederik Vesti is in for George Russell (Mercedes), Jak Crawford for Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Paul Aron for Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Ryo Hirakawa for Oliver Bearman (Haas), Ayumu Iwasa for Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Luke Browning for Carlos Sainz (Williams).