Charles Leclerc will not participate in the first practice session (FP1) of the Austrian Grand Prix, as Ferrari academy driver Dino Beganovic takes his place. This means Lewis Hamilton will have a new teammate for the start of the weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
Ferrari's Recent Performance
Ferrari has shown promising form recently, despite trailing Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship. The team has secured podium finishes in each of the last three races, including a victory in Barcelona where Hamilton took the chequered flag. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, endured a difficult debut season with Ferrari but now appears to be regaining his competitive edge.
Leclerc, however, has struggled to match his teammate's pace in recent weeks. He finished only eighth in Barcelona two weeks ago. The Monegasque driver will be eager to rebound at the Austrian Grand Prix but will start the weekend at a disadvantage.
FP1 Replacement: Dino Beganovic
Leclerc's absence from FP1 means he will have one hour less track time than Hamilton. Replacing him is Dino Beganovic, a Swedish driver who has been part of Ferrari's driver academy since 2020. Beganovic has been involved in development work this season and previously drove in FP1 in Barcelona, replacing Hamilton in that session as well.
The change did not hinder Hamilton's performance in Spain, as he went on to claim his first Grand Prix victory with Ferrari. Leclerc will aim to catch up during FP2, where he will have his first track time of the weekend.
Circuit Characteristics
The Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, making straight-line speed a critical factor for the 71-lap race. Leclerc will need to quickly adapt to the track in limited practice time.
Team Principal's Outlook
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur commented on the upcoming race: "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. We will approach this weekend with the same method and mindset that we have adopted since the start of the season."
Vasseur added: "[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."
