Norris, Verstappen among 10 F1 drivers to miss Mexico first practice

Ten Formula 1 drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and George Russell, will sit out first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday. Teams are utilizing the session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to satisfy the mandatory requirement to run rookie drivers during the season. Ferrari will be the only team on the grid fielding both of their full-time regular drivers for the opening session.

The substitutions include Ayumu Iwasa driving for Red Bull, Leonardo Fornaroli taking over Norris' McLaren, and Frederik Vesti stepping into Russell's Mercedes. Other rookies participating include Nikola Tsolov for Racing Bulls, Colton Herta for Cadillac, Jak Crawford for Aston Martin, Luke Browning for Williams, Gabriele Mini for Alpine, Ryo Hirakawa for Haas, and British teenager Freddie Slater making his practice debut for Audi.