F1 Teams Urge Suspension of Rookie FP1 Rule for 2026 Due to Calendar Shifts

A majority of Formula 1 teams are pushing to temporarily suspend the rule that requires each team to field a rookie in four free practice sessions during the 2026 season, according to GPblog. With two Grands Prix already postponed and the fate of Middle East races uncertain, teams argue compliance is impractical and are proposing a reduction to just two rookie sessions per team.

Why it matters:

The rookie FP1 rule was designed to give young drivers valuable track time in competitive machinery, helping to bridge the gap between junior categories and F1. But a disrupted calendar — rooted in geopolitical instability in the Middle East — threatens to make the mandate unworkable, potentially stunting development opportunities for up-and-coming talents.

The details:

• Current regulation: Each team must run a driver with at most two Grand Prix starts in four FP1 sessions per season, effectively forcing each regular driver to hand over their car twice.
• The problem: The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have been postponed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Only one of those rounds may be rescheduled at best.
• Further uncertainty surrounds the late-season races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, traditionally venues where teams frequently deploy rookies during FP1.
• The proposal: Reduce the requirement to two FP1 sessions per team, meaning each regular driver would give up their car only once.
• The decision now rests with the FIA, which must agree to an exception for 2026.

What's next:

The FIA is expected to respond to the teams' request in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, no rookies participated in FP1 at Monaco, but several young drivers are anticipated to get track time during the upcoming Barcelona weekend. The outcome of this push will shape how teams allocate practice running and how quickly the next generation of drivers can gain experience.