Seven F1 driver changes confirmed for Barcelona GP weekend including two debutants
Seven driver changes will be made for FP1 at this weekend's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - including two Formula 1 debutants.
Each of the 11 teams must field 'rookie' drivers - those who have competed in no more than two Grands Prix - in two practice sessions across the 2026 season.
In previous years, teams have often waited until later in the season - when their positions in the Constructors' Championship are more secure - before fielding the rookie driver, as it takes practice time away from one of their lead drivers.
But the process is also a valuable learning experience for the younger drivers as they get a taste of what it is like to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend.
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The Grand Prix weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya will be historic in one sense, as it will be the first time that former IndyCar star Colton Herta will compete in an F1 session.
The American decided to quit IndyCar at the end of last season and join F2 for the 2026 season, with an eye on securing enough Super Licence points for a future F1 seat.
Herta was signed as reserve driver by Cadillac, and will compete in FP1 for the American team on Friday.
READ MORE: Driver set to make F1 debut at Spanish GP and achieve 10-year first
He's not the only debutant, however, with McLaren junior driver Leonardo Fornaroli also set to compete in FP1.
The 21-year-old, who is the reigning F2 champion, will replace reigning F1 champion Lando Norris on Friday morning in Catalunya.
Luke Browning, who made three FP1 appearances for Williams last season, is back at the same team this weekend.
The Englishman is currently driving in Japan's Super Formula, but there is not a race scheduled for this weekend.
Long-serving Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti will also make an appearance, replacing Kimi Antonelli.
It is only the second time that Antonelli, who leads the Drivers' Championship by 66 points after winning the last five Grands Prix, will have missed a practice session.
Lewis Hamilton, who is in second in the drivers' standings, will also miss out as he is being replaced by Dino Beganovic at Ferrari.
Ayumu Iwasa, who is the reigning Super Formula champion, will step in for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, while Paul Aron will make his debut for the rebranded Audi team - he competed in FP1 under their old guise of Sauber last season - in Barcelona.
Spanish GP undergoes name change
While the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, to give it its full name, would normally go under the Spanish Grand Prix moniker, that has changed this year.
A new Grand Prix at the Madring Circuit in Madrid will debut on the F1 calendar in September, and has taken over the Spanish Grand Prix name.
That means that what used to be the Spanish Grand Prix is now the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix instead.
The circuit's contract was due to expire at the end of 2026, but race organisers secured an extension in February to last until 2032.
However, the Grand Prix will only be held every second year, in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
Madrid, meanwhile, has a continuous contract until 2035, which had initially placed the staging of the Barcelona race in significant doubt before an extension was agreed.
Topics: Formula 1
Ryan Smart