About F1

Rookies and reserve drivers

Each team has two race drivers, but there are usually more people in its line-up than that. Teams keep reserve drivers ready in case a race driver is ill or injured, and they're required to give practice time to rookies, young drivers who haven't yet raced much in F1.

The rookie practice rule

In every season, each team must hand each of its two cars to a rookie for one practice session at two different events. That makes four rookie sessions per team per year. For this rule, a rookie is a driver who has started no more than two Grands Prix in their career.

The rookie can run in either FP1 or FP2. On a sprint weekend there's only one practice session, so teams nearly always do their rookie runs at normal weekends. Most use FP1, because FP2 is more important for race preparation.

A few rules apply to these runs:

  • the team has to tell the FIA a week before the event
  • the rookie must hold at least a free practice super licence
  • the rookie uses the engine and tyres from the race driver's allocation, and runs under the race driver's car number

The rule was brought in to give young drivers a way into F1, since testing is so limited. It was doubled from two sessions per team to four in 2025. It isn't popular with every race driver, because giving up an hour of practice can hurt their weekend, especially at a circuit they don't know well.

Teams can also run other drivers in practice outside the rookie requirement, as long as they tell the FIA beforehand.

Reserve drivers

A reserve driver (sometimes called a third driver) is the person who steps into a race seat if a regular driver can't race. Teams usually bring a reserve to every event, or have one on call nearby. Smaller teams sometimes share a reserve with a partner team or their engine supplier.

The role often comes with a lot of simulator work. While the race drivers are at the track, the reserve might be at the factory trying set-up changes on the simulator overnight, so the team can use the results the next day.

Reserves tend to be one of two types: young drivers hoping for a race seat, or experienced former race drivers who can step in at short notice and do a solid job.

When a reserve steps in

A team can swap a driver before qualifying begins. After the cars have passed initial scrutineering, it needs the stewards' approval, which is normally a formality when a driver is unwell. The new driver takes over the original driver's engine and tyre allocation.

Some memorable stand-ins:

  • In 2024, Oliver Bearman was called up by Ferrari in Saudi Arabia on the Friday of the race weekend, after Carlos Sainz needed his appendix removed. He qualified 11th and finished seventh, scoring points on his debut at 18.
  • Later that year Bearman stood in for Haas at Baku when Kevin Magnussen was serving a race ban for collecting 12 penalty points.
  • In 2022, Nyck de Vries filled in for Alex Albon at Williams at Monza, scored points and earned himself a full-time drive with AlphaTauri for 2023.

How many drivers a team can use

Each team can use up to four drivers in races across a season. Practice-only drivers don't count towards that limit. See driver contracts and the transfer market for how drivers move between teams.