Championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli will be one of five drivers who sit out the opening practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Friday. Under the current Formula 1 regulations, each team must field a rookie driver in at least two practice sessions across the season, and the characteristics of the Hungaroring – a circuit that favors familiarity and does not host a sprint race this weekend – have prompted five teams to take advantage of the rule. Antonelli, who currently enjoys a 45‑point lead over Lewis Hamilton and a 50‑point advantage over George Russell in the Drivers' Championship, will be replaced for Friday's first practice by Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti. Vesti previously piloted Antonelli's Mercedes in the first practice session at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix last month, so the Italian youngster will not miss any additional practice runs beyond this one.
The move allows Mercedes to comply with the rookie‑driver requirement while also giving Vesti valuable seat time in a top‑tier car. Vesti, the 2023 Formula 2 runner‑up, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I'm really excited to get back behind the wheel of the W17 and continue building my experience with the car. It's a great opportunity and one I'm looking forward to making the most of." His comments underline the importance of practice sessions for developing confidence and extracting performance from a complex hybrid machine.
Meanwhile, reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will make his second Friday outing of the season when he steps into Oscar Piastri's McLaren. Fornaroli, who captured consecutive titles in Formula 3 (2024) and Formula 2 (2025), previously drove Lando Norris's McLaren at the Barcelona event and has been linked to a potential seat with Haas for the 2027 season, possibly replacing Esteban Ocon.
In June, McLaren loaned the 21‑year‑old Italian to Haas for a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) program, fueling speculation about a full‑time move. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu cautioned that no final decision has been made, noting, "We are simply keeping the options open.
We are not in a hurry, but Leo did a great job [in the test]." George Russell, who still has not handed his car over to a rookie, will miss two practice sessions during the eleven scheduled rounds after the summer break, as his team opts to retain the experienced driver for maximum performance. Other rookie appearances include Haas's Oliver Bearman, who will sit out the Budapest first practice while Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa takes his second season outing. Paul Aron will enjoy his third 2026 practice when he drives Franco Colapinto's Alpine, having previously been loaned to Audi for practice sessions in Barcelona and Austria. Former IndyCar competitor Colton Herta will also take part in the opening practice, piloting Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac.
The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is packed with supporting series and events. The schedule begins on Thursday, July 23, with a drivers' press conference at 2 pm followed by the Paddock Uncut show at 5 pm.
Friday, July 24, features Formula 3 practice at 8:50 am, Formula 2 practice at 10 am, and the first Formula 1 practice session at 12 pm (officially starting at 12:30 pm). Qualifying sessions for F3 and F2 follow, and the second F1 practice starts at 3:45 pm.
The day concludes with The F1 Show at 5 pm. Saturday, July 25, hosts the F3 sprint at 9 am, the third F1 practice at 11:15 am (starting at 11:30 am), the F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, and the build‑up to the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying at 2:15 pm. The main qualifying session for the Grand Prix runs at 3 pm, followed by Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 5 pm. Sunday, July 26, kicks off with the F3 feature race at 7:35 am, the Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, and the F2 feature race at 10:20 am.
The Grand Prix build‑up begins at 12:30 pm, leading to the race itself at 2 pm. Post‑race coverage includes the Hungarian GP reaction at 4 pm and Ted's Notebook at 5 pm. All of these sessions are broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.
Fans can stream every session via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free subscription that can be cancelled at any time. For those who prefer mobile updates, Sky Sports provides a WhatsApp service delivering the latest news, videos, features, and analysis.
In summary, the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend will see a blend of seasoned champions and emerging talent sharing the track. The rookie‑driver rule not only satisfies regulatory requirements but also gives promising drivers like Vesti, Fornaroli, Hirakawa, Aron, and Herta a chance to showcase their skills on a high‑profile stage, while the established stars continue to battle for championship points at the iconic Budapest circuit.