Freddie Slater and Nikola Tsolov will take one other important step up the motorsport ladder on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, as they make their FP1 debuts for Audi and Racing Bulls.
The pair characteristic in a bumper group of younger drivers getting System 1 observe time on Friday, with Fred Vesti, Leonardo Fornaroli, Jak Crawford, Luke Browning and Colton Herta additionally getting behind the wheel for Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin, Williams and Cadillac respectively.
And loads of future F1 stars have made their mark in Friday follow earlier than them. F1.com appears to be like again at some acquainted names who made FP1 performances…
Kimi Antonelli – Italy 2024
Kimi Antonelli stands on the cusp of the drivers’ title this weekend in Mexico Metropolis, which might make him the youngest driver to realize the feat within the championship’s historical past.
It is much more exceptional on condition that his first look on an F1 weekend got here solely simply over two years in the past.
Forward of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Antonelli was thrust into the limelight in entrance of his dwelling followers as he was handed George Russell‘s Mercedes for FP1.
Anticipation across the Italian, who had solely simply turned 18, had continued to develop since Mercedes signed him to their improvement programme a number of years earlier and fast-tracked him via the junior classes.
For the then-F2 driver, his F1 weekend debut started in spectacular style as he set the quickest time earlier than crashing on the Parabolica after solely 10 minutes.
An additional FP1 outing got here in Mexico, having been introduced only a day after his Monza crash as Lewis Hamilton’s alternative at Mercedes for 2025.
After a rollercoaster rookie season that yielded three podiums, Antonelli has asserted himself in 2026, with 9 wins leaving him on the point of historical past.
Lando Norris – Belgium 2018
The reigning World Champion has solely ever raced with McLaren since making his F1 debut in 2019, so it is unsurprising that Lando Norris‘ first look in F1 got here with the Woking-based staff.
Norris was nonetheless racing in F2 on the time, having claimed the European F3 title the earlier season. He would ultimately end runner-up to George Russell, however through the marketing campaign was handed Fernando Alonso’s McLaren for FP1 on the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.
Norris completed P18, one place forward of normal driver Stoffel Vandoorne, earlier than being handed six additional Friday outings forward of a full-time drive in 2019.
Serving to McLaren transfer up the grid over a number of seasons, Norris claimed his maiden F1 victory on the 2024 Miami Grand Prix earlier than securing final yr’s Drivers’ title by two factors from Max Verstappen.
George Russell – Brazil 2017
Having been signed by Mercedes as a junior driver in 2017, it did not take lengthy for George Russell to have his first expertise of recent F1 equipment.
The Briton was handed his first FP1 alternative with Drive India, a Mercedes engine buyer staff, forward of the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix having already secured that yr’s GP3 title.
Setting the Twelfth-fastest time, Russell was given one other probability forward of the ultimate spherical in Abu Dhabi, ending FP1 in P11.
After securing the F2 title at his first try in 2018, Russell was handed a full-time F1 seat with Williams. He spent three seasons there earlier than stepping as much as Mercedes in 2022.
Charles Leclerc – Nice Britain 2016
Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 on his approach to securing the GP3 Sequence title, whereas additionally making a number of FP1 appearances for Haas.
His first look got here forward of the British Grand Prix, the place the Monegasque driver completed P18 earlier than collaborating in an additional three FP1 periods over the rest of the season.
Extra Friday operating adopted with Sauber in 2017 as Leclerc dominated the F2 marketing campaign, earlier than a full-time F1 seat beckoned with the staff in 2018.
A formidable rookie season earned him a transfer to Ferrari for 2019, changing Kimi Raikkonen. Leclerc gained in Belgium and Italy throughout his first marketing campaign for the Scuderia, whereas his most up-to-date victory got here at Silverstone earlier this yr.
Max Verstappen – Japan 2014
There was enormous anticipation round Max Verstappen’s first F1 look following a meteoric rise via the ranks, which included only one season of single-seater racing in European F3.
The son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, the Dutchman turned the youngest driver to look in F1, having solely simply turned 17, when he made his first look for Toro Rosso forward of the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
After ending P12, Verstappen was given two extra Friday outings earlier than the top of the season forward of stepping as much as a race seat with Toro Rosso for 2015.
After finishing his rookie season with Toro Rosso, Verstappen was promoted to Crimson Bull simply 4 races into the 2016 marketing campaign. He gained on his debut with the staff on the Spanish Grand Prix earlier than happening to say 4 consecutive Drivers’ titles from 2021 to 2024.
Sebastian Vettel – Turkey 2006
Sebastian Vettel rapidly started to make a reputation for himself within the junior classes, securing the 2004 System BMW ADAC championship with 18 wins from 20 races earlier than a stable marketing campaign within the System 3 Euro Sequence.
With assist from BMW, Vettel was handed a Williams F1 take a look at, however his first Grand Prix weekend look got here with BMW Sauber in Friday follow on the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. 4 extra Friday outings adopted.
Turning into BMW Sauber’s take a look at driver for the 2007 season, Vettel was handed his race debut at the USA Grand Prix rather than the injured Robert Kubica earlier than becoming a member of Toro Rosso later that season.
Vettel delivered a surprising wet-weather victory for Toro Rosso on the 2008 Italian Grand Prix earlier than stepping as much as Crimson Bull the next season. 4 consecutive drivers’ titles adopted between 2010 and 2013.
Title tilts and race wins adopted over a number of seasons at Ferrari, earlier than the German ended his profession after a spell with Aston Martin.
Robert Kubica – Bahrain 2006
After claiming the 2005 System Renault 3.5 Sequence title, Robert Kubica earned an end-of-season take a look at with reigning F1 world champions Renault in Barcelona, the place his efficiency caught the attention of BMW Sauber.
The Pole, who had overwhelmed the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg via the karting ranks, turned the staff’s official reserve driver and made his F1 weekend debut on Friday on the opening spherical of the season in Bahrain.
After setting the quickest time within the opening session, Kubica continued to impress, culminating in him changing 1997 F1 drivers’ champion Jacques Villeneuve on the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, with a podium following simply two races later in Italy.
Kubica’s sole F1 victory got here on the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix – a consequence which put him on the prime of the drivers’ standings on the time – earlier than he joined Renault in 2010.
A pre-season rally crash in 2011 practically ended his profession at a time when he had reportedly agreed a deal to affix Ferrari for 2012.
After years of restoration, Kubica made a comeback with Williams in 2019 throughout a troublesome spell for the staff, earlier than two one-off appearances for Alfa Romeo in 2021 introduced his F1 racing profession to an finish.
Kubica now competes within the World Endurance Championship, his profession renaissance culminating in victory on the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans aboard the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P.
