Lewis Hamilton will have a new teammate for the start of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, as Ferrari has confirmed that Charles Leclerc will be replaced during the first practice session (FP1) at the Red Bull Ring. Dino Beganovic, a 22-year-old Swedish driver from Ferrari's driver academy, will take Leclerc's place in the car for FP1, leaving Leclerc with one hour less track time than Hamilton ahead of the race.
Ferrari's Season So Far
Ferrari has made an encouraging start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, though they currently trail Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship standings. The team has secured podium finishes at each of the previous three races, with Hamilton clinching victory in Barcelona two weeks ago. The seven-time world champion endured a difficult first campaign with Ferrari in 2025 but is now showing strong form, while Leclerc has struggled to keep pace in recent outings. Leclerc could only manage eighth place in Barcelona, highlighting the performance gap between the two drivers.
Dino Beganovic Steps In
Dino Beganovic has been part of Ferrari's driver academy since 2020 and has been involved in development work this season. He was also drafted in at the Barcelona Grand Prix, where he took part in FP1 in place of Hamilton. That switch did not hinder Hamilton's success, as he went on to secure his maiden Grand Prix win with Ferrari. Beganovic's participation in Austria gives him valuable track time and allows Ferrari to assess young talent under race weekend conditions.
Leclerc's Disadvantage and Track Characteristics
Leclerc will miss FP1 entirely and will have to familiarize himself with the Red Bull Ring during FP2, putting him at a disadvantage compared to Hamilton, who will have the full practice session. The Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest circuits on the F1 calendar, meaning top-end speed will be a crucial factor over the 71-lap race. Leclerc will need to quickly adapt to the track to close the gap to his teammate.
Team Principal's Perspective
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur commented on the team's outlook ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. "We arrive in Austria encouraged by our positive showing over the past few races. We are fully aware that there is still a lot of work to do and that we must continue to focus on ourselves," Vasseur said. "We will approach this weekend with the same method and mindset that we have adopted since the start of the season. [We are] aiming to put together clean sessions in every respect, from track execution to the strategic decisions taken on the pit wall. We know that every weekend has a different story to tell, which is why we will continue to take the championship one race at a time."
