WHICH ROOKIES ARE GETTING FP1 OUTINGS IN AUSTRIA?

Six F1 teams are set to field rookie drivers during Friday's opening practice in Austria, fulfilling the regulation that mandates two such outings per full-time driver annually. American driver Jak Crawford returns to the Aston Martin cockpit, taking over from Lance Stroll for his fourth career FP1 session. Crawford, who finished P2 in last year's F2 championship, eyes more valuable F1 mileage. The American-owned Haas F1 team also brings in test and reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, replacing Esteban Ocon for his seventh FP1 appearance.

Other promising talents include Ferrari's Dino Beganovic, who replaces Charles Leclerc, and Racing Bulls' Ayumu Iwasa, filling in for Liam Lawson. Williams' Luke Browning hopes for a clean run after a technical issue sidelined him in Barcelona, while Audi's Paul Aron gets another shot. These sessions are crucial for driver development and provide teams an early look at potential future stars, shaping the grid for years to come.