Lewis Hamilton will be replaced by Ferrari rookie Oliver Bearman during the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion is set to hand over his Mercedes car to the 18-year-old British driver as part of the sport's requirement for teams to run a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions per season.
Bearman, who currently races in Formula 2 and is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, will make his second FP1 appearance of the season after previously driving for Haas in Mexico. The session will provide valuable track time for the young driver ahead of a potential future move to Formula 1.
Hamilton, who is leaving Mercedes at the end of the season to join Ferrari in 2025, expressed his support for the decision. 'It's great to see young talent getting opportunities,' he said. 'I remember how important those early sessions were for my career.'
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend marks the final race of the 2024 season, with Hamilton currently fourth in the drivers' championship. Mercedes will confirm their full FP1 lineup later this week.
