Arthur Leclerc to drive alongside brother Charles in first practice at Ferrari · RaceFans

Arthur Leclerc will make his debut in an official Formula 1 practice session at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old will drive alongside his older brother Charles as Ferrari completes its obligation to run two junior drivers in its cars over the course of the season. Carlos Sainz Jnr will take over his car from second practice.

The younger Leclerc tested for Ferrari’s World Endurance Championship hypercar team in Bahrain last month. He moved into sportscar racing this year with Panis Racing in the European Le Mans Championship, ending the year fourth overall with team mates Manuel Maldonado (cousin of ex-F1 driver Pastor) and Charles Milesi.

He spent four years in the Ferrari Driver Academy, winning the Formula Regional Asian series in 2022, before placing sixth in Formula 3 that year. He left the FDA after a single season in Formula 2.

Ferrari’s junior driver plans have been disrupted by Oliver Bearman making his third appearance in a grand prix at Interlagos last month. As he has started more than two grands prix, he no longer qualifies as a junior driver as described by F1’s rules. Bearman substituted for Sainz at Jeddah, and stood in for Kevin Magnussen in Baku, as well as in Brazil.

Several teams have left it until the final round of the championship to fulfil their obligations to run an inexperienced driver in each of their cars during first practice over the course of the season. Ferrari’s constructors’ championship rivals McLaren will do the same, running Ryo Hirakawa in Oscar Piastri’s car in first practice.

From next year, teams must give up two first practice sessions in each of their cars to junior drivers.

This article will be updated

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