Giving youth its chance – why we need the FP1 young drivers rule and who's doing what in 2023

One of the more unusual, and yet least controversial, rules introduced in recent years has been the requirement for each race driver to give up a single FP1 session at some point in the season, to allow a Super Licence-holding rookie to take their place. 

The sport’s definition of a rookie is a driver who has started two or fewer Grands Prix. It’s written in this way to not punish the Jack Aitkens and Pietro Fittipaldis of this world who’ve appeared as a substitute in the past for a stricken driver – but prevents a team bringing in Rubens Barrichello as a hired gun.