The 7 memorable FP1 debuts from future Formula 1 stars

Freddie Slater and Nikola Tsolov will take another significant step up the motorsport ladder at the Mexico City Grand Prix, as they make their FP1 debuts for Audi and Racing Bulls.

The pair feature in a bumper group of young drivers getting Formula 1 track time on Friday, with Fred Vesti, Leonardo Fornaroli, Jak Crawford, Luke Browning and Colton Herta also getting behind the wheel for Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin, Williams and Cadillac respectively.

And plenty of future F1 stars have made their mark in Friday practice before them. F1.com looks back at some familiar names who made FP1 performances...

Kimi Antonelli – Italy 2024

Kimi Antonelli stands on the cusp of the drivers' title this weekend in Mexico City, which would make him the youngest driver to achieve the feat in the championship's history.

It's even more remarkable given that his first appearance on an F1 weekend came only just over two years ago.

Ahead of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Antonelli was thrust into the limelight in front of his home fans as he was handed George Russell's Mercedes for FP1.

Anticipation around the Italian, who had only just turned 18, had continued to grow since Mercedes signed him to their development programme several years earlier and fast-tracked him through the junior categories.

For the then-F2 driver, his F1 weekend debut began in spectacular fashion as he set the fastest time before crashing at the Parabolica after only 10 minutes.

A further FP1 outing came in Mexico, having been announced just a day after his Monza crash as Lewis Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes for 2025.

After a rollercoaster rookie season that yielded three podiums, Antonelli has asserted himself in 2026, with nine wins leaving him on the brink of history.

Lando Norris – Belgium 2018

The reigning World Champion has only ever raced with McLaren since making his F1 debut in 2019, so it's unsurprising that Lando Norris' first appearance in F1 came with the Woking-based team.

Norris was still racing in F2 at the time, having claimed the European F3 title the previous season. He would eventually finish runner-up to George Russell, but during the campaign was handed Fernando Alonso's McLaren for FP1 at the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.

Norris finished P18, one place ahead of regular driver Stoffel Vandoorne, before being handed six further Friday outings ahead of a full-time drive in 2019.

Helping McLaren move up the grid over several seasons, Norris claimed his maiden F1 victory at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix before securing last year's Drivers' title by two points from Max Verstappen.

George Russell – Brazil 2017

Having been signed by Mercedes as a junior driver in 2017, it didn't take long for George Russell to have his first experience of modern F1 machinery.

The Briton was handed his first FP1 opportunity with Force India, a Mercedes engine customer team, ahead of the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix having already secured that year's GP3 title.

Setting the 12th-fastest time, Russell was given another chance ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi, finishing FP1 in P11.

After securing the F2 title at his first attempt in 2018, Russell was handed a full-time F1 seat with Williams. He spent three seasons there before stepping up to Mercedes in 2022.

Charles Leclerc – Great Britain 2016

Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 on his way to securing the GP3 Series title, while also making several FP1 appearances for Haas.

His first appearance came ahead of the British Grand Prix, where the Monegasque driver finished P18 before taking part in a further three FP1 sessions over the remainder of the season.

More Friday running followed with Sauber in 2017 as Leclerc dominated the F2 campaign, before a full-time F1 seat beckoned with the team in 2018.

An impressive rookie season earned him a move to Ferrari for 2019, replacing Kimi Raikkonen. Leclerc won in Belgium and Italy during his first campaign for the Scuderia, while his most recent victory came at Silverstone earlier this year.

Max Verstappen – Japan 2014

There was huge anticipation around Max Verstappen's first F1 appearance following a meteoric rise through the ranks, which included just one season of single-seater racing in European F3.

The son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, the Dutchman became the youngest driver to appear in F1, having only just turned 17, when he made his first appearance for Toro Rosso ahead of the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

After finishing P12, Verstappen was given two more Friday outings before the end of the season ahead of stepping up to a race seat with Toro Rosso for 2015.

After completing his rookie season with Toro Rosso, Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull just four races into the 2016 campaign. He won on his debut with the team at the Spanish Grand Prix before going on to claim four consecutive Drivers' titles from 2021 to 2024.

Sebastian Vettel – Turkey 2006

Sebastian Vettel quickly began to make a name for himself in the junior categories, securing the 2004 Formula BMW ADAC championship with 18 wins from 20 races before a solid campaign in the Formula 3 Euro Series.

With support from BMW, Vettel was handed a Williams F1 test, but his first Grand Prix weekend appearance came with BMW Sauber in Friday practice at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. Four more Friday outings followed.

Becoming BMW Sauber's test driver for the 2007 season, Vettel was handed his race debut at the United States Grand Prix in place of the injured Robert Kubica before joining Toro Rosso later that season.

Vettel delivered a stunning wet-weather victory for Toro Rosso at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix before stepping up to Red Bull the following season. Four consecutive drivers' titles followed between 2010 and 2013.

Title tilts and race wins followed over several seasons at Ferrari, before the German ended his career after a spell with Aston Martin.

Robert Kubica – Bahrain 2006

After claiming the 2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title, Robert Kubica earned an end-of-season test with reigning F1 world champions Renault in Barcelona, where his performance caught the eye of BMW Sauber.

The Pole, who had beaten the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg through the karting ranks, became the team's official reserve driver and made his F1 weekend debut on Friday at the opening round of the season in Bahrain.

After setting the fastest time in the opening session, Kubica continued to impress, culminating in him replacing 1997 F1 drivers' champion Jacques Villeneuve at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, with a podium following just two races later in Italy.

Kubica's sole F1 victory came at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix – a result which put him at the top of the drivers' standings at the time – before he joined Renault in 2010.

A pre-season rally crash in 2011 nearly ended his career at a time when he had reportedly agreed a deal to join Ferrari for 2012.

After years of recovery, Kubica made a comeback with Williams in 2019 during a difficult spell for the team, before two one-off appearances for Alfa Romeo in 2021 brought his F1 racing career to an end.

Kubica now competes in the World Endurance Championship, his career renaissance culminating in victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans aboard the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P.