Young Guns at Silverstone: Rising Stars Ready for British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix will see three promising young drivers participate in the practice sessions. According to the sport’s current rules, every season, each F1 team must field a rookie in two FP1 sessions. So, who are the lucky ones?
The newest driver on the roster is Franco Colapinto. The 21-year-old Williams Driver Academy athlete will officially debut at a Formula 1 weekend at Silverstone. Colapinto will become the first Argentine to participate in an F1 weekend in over 20 years, the last being Gastón Mazzacane in 2001.
In his F2 campaign in 2024, he secured his first win with MP Motorsport in a sprint race at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. He has also claimed two second-place finishes and currently stands fifth in the championship fight.
“It’s a mega opportunity. I’m excited. I know it is short, only one hour [of running] but Silverstone is the nicest track to drive an F1 car with all these high-speed corners. I’m really looking forward to it and will try to do a good job,” Colapinto said.
Ollie Bearman will be driving in the FP1 session for the Haas F1 team. He is also the reserve driver for both the Ferrari and Haas F1 teams. Bearman, a Ferrari Academy driver, is competing in his second year of Formula 2 but his season so far has been inconsistent.
He qualified first for the Jeddah round but withdrew to make his F1 debut, substituting for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He qualified 11th but produced some amazing overtakes on a track so narrow, twisted and quick, finishing 7th. Bearman’s withdrawal from his F2 Saudi Arabian weekend saw him fall in the standings.
Currently 14th in the championship, he took his first win of 2024 in the sprint at the Red Bull Ring. The Brit will replace Nico Hulkenberg at Haas in 2025 in a multiyear deal.
On Silverstone, Bearman said:
“It’s really a track where you can use the downforce and grip of a formula car, you really enjoy it there. Of course, then there’s the fans and the fact that it’s my home race — I’m quite lucky to have such a great track as my home race.
“The fans, particularly in the fan zone, which I’ve done the past two years, have always been so supportive and that’s really nice.”
Australian racing driver Jack Doohan, son of former 500cc motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, is also set to drive an FP1 session this weekend. Doohan is part of the Alpine Academy and is currently fulfilling his role as a reserve.
He completed two full seasons of Formula 2, finishing sixth and third in the standings, respectively, collecting six wins and eleven podiums overall.
Doohan has participated in five FP1 sessions and several test sessions and is a major contender for Esteban Ocon’s vacant seat next year, that is if Carlos Sainz can’t be lured to the Enstone-based team. Doohan will be taking over Gasly’s A524 this weekend.
