Seven Notable FP1 Debuts from Future F1 Stars
Some of the brightest talents in Formula 1 made memorable debuts in Free Practice 1 sessions. This piece revisits the early track appearances of drivers like Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli, who have since become household names in the sport.
Freddie Slater and Nikola Tsolov are gearing up for a significant milestone at the Mexico City Grand Prix, as they prepare for their Free Practice 1 (FP1) debuts with Audi and Racing Bulls. They're part of a promising batch of young drivers, including Fred Vesti, Leonardo Fornaroli, Jak Crawford, Luke Browning, and Colton Herta, who will also get their taste of F1 action with Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin, Williams, and Cadillac, respectively.
Reflecting on the pathway to stardom, F1 has seen several drivers who began making waves during their FP1 debuts. Kimi Antonelli's journey, for instance, is particularly notable. On the brink of clinching the drivers' title in Mexico City, he first appeared in FP1 just over two years ago at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. Taking George Russell's seat at Mercedes, he crashed at Parabolica, but not before setting the fastest time in his brief outing. Since then, he's had a rollercoaster career, which now sees him potentially becoming the youngest F1 champion.
Lando Norris, the 2025 World Champion, first stepped into F1 with McLaren at the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, taking over from Fernando Alonso for FP1. Despite finishing P18, Norris's career progressed swiftly, culminating in his first F1 win at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix and his championship win by a narrow margin over Max Verstappen.
George Russell's FP1 debut came in 2017 with Force India, shortly after being signed by Mercedes as a junior driver. His initial outing was promising, setting the 12th fastest time, which led to further opportunities and eventually a full-time seat with Williams. Russell's career has been marked by steady progress, leading to eight wins in F1 so far.
Charles Leclerc's rise began with an FP1 appearance at the 2016 British Grand Prix for Haas. After a successful stint in F2, Leclerc moved to a full-time F1 seat with Sauber in 2018, before joining Ferrari the following year. His time with the Scuderia has seen him secure multiple victories, including a recent win at Silverstone.
Max Verstappen's FP1 debut was as a fresh-faced 17-year-old with Toro Rosso at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Finishing P12, he quickly moved up to a race seat, eventually joining Red Bull and winning his first race with the team in Spain in 2016. His career trajectory has been steep, with four consecutive Drivers' titles from 2021 to 2024.
Sebastian Vettel's entry into F1 began with an FP1 session for BMW Sauber at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. His career quickly took off with a race debut in 2007 and a standout victory for Toro Rosso in 2008. Vettel went on to secure four consecutive championships with Red Bull before concluding his career with stints at Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Robert Kubica's FP1 introduction came with BMW Sauber at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix. Not long after, he replaced Jacques Villeneuve and achieved a podium finish in Italy. Kubica's sole F1 victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix stands out, and despite a severe rally crash in 2011, he made a remarkable return to F1 with Williams in 2019. Now competing in endurance racing, he claimed victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.
These FP1 debuts were just the beginning for these drivers, who have since become pivotal figures in the world of Formula 1.