McLaren to Be Forced Into Driver Change at Abu Dhabi GP

McLaren will be forced to change their lineup during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race weekend.

On Sunday afternoon, McLaren looked to bounce back from a disastrous weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as they started the penultimate race in Qatar in P1 and P3.

However, a controversial strategy decision from the Woking-based team saw them essentially hand the race win to title rival Max Verstappen, with previous race leader Oscar Piastri finishing in P2 while Lando Norris came in P4.

The result means that all three drivers remain in contention for the Drivers' Championship title when the lights go out at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But before the race gets underway, McLaren will be made to change one of their drivers due to a rule put in place at the start of the 2025 Formula One season.

McLaren's strategy call saw Piastri miss out on a race win in Qatar. (Image: Kym Illman/Getty Images)

In 2025, every Formula 1 teams must give at least two first free practice sessions to a ‘rookie driver’ in each car.

Normally, teams will pick four race weekends during the season to let a rookie take one of their seats, meaning that one regular driver will remain in the car per session to allow for testing.

So far this season, Norris has already given up his seat on two occasions, in Austria and Mexico, but Piastri has done this only once so far in 2025.

This means that the Australian will be forced to miss the opening practice session ahead of perhaps the biggest race of his career in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

As it stands, it is not yet known who will replace Piastri in Abu Dhabi, however the most likely candidate is Pato O’Ward, McLaren’s Mexican test and reserve driver.

Pato O'Ward is expected to replace Piastri in Abu Dhabi's FP1 session. (Image: Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

O'Ward stepped in for Norris during his home race weekend in Mexico City, while Ireland's Alex Dunne replaced Norris for FP1 in Austria and took Piastri's seat for the first practice session for the Italian Grand Prix.

Given the fact that Dunne has already had two outings this season, one in each car, it stands to reason that O'Ward would also be given a second practice session in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Although missing out on the session will no doubt be furstrating for Piastri, who needs to be flawless if he is to win the title, he will be able to return for both FP2 and FP3 ahead of qualifying.

In the Mexico Grand Prix back in October, Norris missed out on FP1 but went on to claim pole position and win the race.