Two F1 drivers to miss Mexico practice as Audi and Aston Martin give rookies a chance

News Summary

• Freddie Slater and Jak Crawford are confirmed for the opening practice session of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix on Friday, October 30.
• Slater will replace Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi, while Crawford will take over Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin for the one-hour session.
• FP1 begins at 12:30pm local time in Mexico City, equivalent to 3:30pm BRT, 6:30pm GMT and 2:30pm EDT.

Two young drivers will take part in the opening practice session of the 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, with Freddie Slater making his race-weekend debut for Audi and Jak Crawford returning to the cockpit for Aston Martin. The changes mean Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll will sit out FP1 on Friday, October 30, before returning for the remainder of the weekend.

Both appearances form part of Formula 1’s mandatory rookie-practice programme. Teams must provide opportunities for eligible inexperienced drivers during the season, allowing them to gain track experience while supporting development work.

Who will replace the regular F1 drivers in Mexico FP1?

Audi and Aston Martin have confirmed changes to their driver line-ups for the opening session at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Confirmed Mexican GP FP1 substitutes

Confirmed substitutions as of October 27. Any subsequent team announcements would require an update.

Both regular drivers are expected to return for FP2 and the rest of the Grand Prix weekend.

The session is scheduled to begin at 12:30pm in Mexico City and last one hour.

Freddie Slater makes first F1 weekend appearance with Audi

For 18-year-old Freddie Slater, Mexico represents his first official Formula 1 Grand Prix practice appearance.

The British driver joined Audi’s development programme earlier this year and finished runner-up in the 2026 Formula 3 championship.

He has already secured a Formula 2 seat with Invicta Racing for 2027.

Audi confirmed that Slater will complete two FP1 appearances during the closing stages of 2026.

The first will come in Mexico, replacing Bortoleto. He will then return at the São Paulo Grand Prix, where he is scheduled to take Nico Hülkenberg’s car.

As GRANDE PRÊMIO previously reported, Audi’s plan gives Slater consecutive opportunities in Mexico and Brazil.

For Audi, the outings will provide development data while allowing the British prospect to become familiar with the team’s R26.

Slater has emphasised that his immediate priority is to help the engineers complete their programme rather than focus solely on lap times.

Jak Crawford returns for Aston Martin

Jak Crawford will make his fourth FP1 appearance of the season, replacing Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin.

The 21-year-old American serves as the team’s third driver and has already participated in practice sessions in Japan, Austria and Belgium this year.

Mexico will complete Aston Martin’s rookie-practice obligations for 2026.

Crawford also has experience at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, having made his first Formula 1 practice appearance at the circuit in 2025.

The additional track time will help him continue developing his understanding of the car while providing technical feedback to Aston Martin.

The Silverstone-based organisation has faced a challenging first season with its Honda power unit, making the collection of useful data particularly important.

Fernando Alonso will continue in the other Aston Martin throughout Friday’s opening session.

Why does Formula 1 require rookie FP1 sessions?

The rookie-practice regulations are designed to provide track opportunities for inexperienced drivers who might otherwise have limited access to current Formula 1 machinery.

Under the 2026 requirements, each team must ensure that eligible drivers complete the required rookie outings across its two cars.

The regulations define eligibility by previous Grand Prix participation, allowing junior drivers and reserve drivers to qualify if they have not exceeded the permitted number of race starts.

For teams, the sessions create a balance between development requirements and preparing regular drivers for the Grand Prix.

At Mexico, that balance is particularly delicate because the circuit’s altitude affects cooling, aerodynamics and energy management.

The technical challenges created by Mexico City’s 2,240-metre altitude mean teams must make efficient use of every practice session.

Slater and Crawford will therefore be expected to follow carefully planned programmes rather than simply attempt competitive lap times.

What time does Mexico FP1 start?

The opening practice session takes place on Friday, October 30, with the following start times:

The Mexican Grand Prix weekend continues with FP2 on Friday, FP3 and qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday, November 1.

For viewers in India, the complete IST schedule covers all five sessions.

Fans in Australia and New Zealand can consult the dedicated Oceania schedule.

GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix, including the rookie practice appearances, qualifying and race coverage, in its Formula 1 section.