Ferrari has confirmed a significant driver change for part of the final Formula 1 weekend of the season in Abu Dhabi. Lewis Hamilton will be replaced by Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of his teammate Charles Leclerc, during the first free practice session.
A Debutant's Opportunity
The seven-time world champion, 40-year-old Hamilton, will sit out the initial practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit. This move is designed to help Ferrari fulfil its obligation under the 2025 F1 regulations, which mandate that teams must run a rookie driver in at least four FP1 sessions throughout the season – double the previous requirement. A rookie is defined as a driver with no more than two Grand Prix starts.
Arthur Leclerc, who has previously driven for the team in practice sessions, will take Hamilton's seat in the SF-25 on Friday. He becomes the third rookie to drive for Ferrari in FP1 this year, following 21-year-old Dino Beganovic and 29-year-old Antonio Fuoco.
Hamilton's Difficult Debut Season with Ferrari
This substitution comes at the end of what Hamilton himself has labelled a disastrous debut campaign with the Scuderia. The British driver arrives in Abu Dhabi without a single podium finish and sits sixth in the drivers' championship. He holds a mere two-point advantage over Kimi Antonelli, the driver who replaced him at Mercedes.
Hamilton's performance has declined sharply since his high-profile move from Mercedes. After a poor Hungarian Grand Prix in August, he sensationally invited Ferrari to sack him, admitting he felt "absolutely useless." His struggles hit a new low in Las Vegas last month, where he qualified last for the first time in his career. He followed that with a P12 finish in Qatar last weekend.
Brothers Reunited and a Wider Rookie Shake-Up
The driver lineup will see the Leclerc brothers together once more, recreating a piece of F1 history. Last season, Charles and Arthur became the first brothers in F1 history to appear together as teammates during an official practice session.
Ferrari's season has been one to forget, currently fourth in the constructors' standings behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull. This is a stark contrast to last year when they arrived in Abu Dhabi with a chance of winning the constructors' title.
Hamilton is far from alone in making way for a rookie this weekend. A total of nine debutants will get a chance in FP1 at Yas Marina. The list includes Pato O'Ward replacing Oscar Piastri at McLaren, and Arvid Lindblad taking over from Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull. Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, and Liam Lawson will also cede their cars to newcomers for the session.
