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It will be a slightly different start to the F1 weekend in Abu Dhabi as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will miss the FP1 session, making way for the rookies.
Hamilton and Verstappen are among the 10 drivers set to miss the FP1 session. This will allow the rookies to get some track action under their belt. The Mercedes driver will make way for F2 title aspirant Frederik Vesti while the three-time world champion Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez will make way for Jake Dennis & Isack Hadjar.
It is all part of the sport's efforts to give young drivers mandatory three FP1 sessions over the season. Below is the list of 10 rookie drivers who will take to the track in Abu Dhabi for the FP1 session:
Red Bull - Jake Dennis & Isack Hadjar
Ferrari - Robert Shwartzman
Mercedes - Frederik Vesti
Alpine - Jack Doohan
McLaren- Pato O'Ward
Alfa Romeo - Theo Pourchaire
Aston Martin - Felipe Drugovich
Haas - Oliver Bearman
Williams - Zak O'Sullivan
Lewis Hamilton speaks on being teammates with Max Verstappen
Ahead of the 2023 F1 Abu Dhabi GP, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claimed that Lewis Hamilton made contact with them for a possible race seat at the team for the 2024 season.
However, the seven-time world champion swiftly denied any such contact but claimed that he wasn't afraid of partnering with Max Verstappen. He said on Sky Sports:
"I 100 percent would be more than happy to race against him (Verstappen) in an equal car. For me, Red Bull has done an amazing job and it is an incredible team. And any driver would love to drive for such a great group of people.
"I think moving from a car that's not so great to a winning car, from my perspective, that's not a dream. The dream is always to start where we kind of are and build up to then winning. That's why I've stayed with Mercedes. I don't think he wants me to be his team-mate."
Max Verstappen, too, in his response, acknowledged the challenge of racing alongside Lewis Hamilton in the same car. However, it is very unlikely that it will ever transpire as it has the potential of becoming a managerial nightmare for the team.
