Formula 2 championship leader Kimi Antonelli and McLaren's Oscar Piastri are among five drivers who will not participate in the opening practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1. This strategic decision, common during race weekends, allows teams to provide valuable track experience to young drivers or test new components with less experienced personnel.
The Hungarian Grand Prix, held at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest, is known for its tight and twisty nature, often leading to processional races if overtaking opportunities are limited. For Antonelli, a highly-touted prospect often linked with a future Mercedes seat, missing FP1 means one less opportunity to gain familiarity with the current generation of F1 machinery on a track that demands precision. His absence, along with others, suggests a focus on specific development goals for the teams involved.
While the full list of drivers who will sit out FP1 has not been explicitly detailed in the provided snippets beyond Antonelli and Piastri, the practice session is typically used by teams to run one of their reserve or academy drivers. This often includes drivers who are competing in other series, such as Antonelli in F2, or established younger drivers like Piastri who might be evaluating specific car setups or components. The exact reasoning for each driver's absence will likely be clarified by their respective teams.
For Indian fans, the Hungarian Grand Prix practice session will commence on Friday, July 19th, at 3:00 PM IST. The entire weekend's action, including all practice sessions, qualifying, and the race, will be available for viewing on FanCode, the official F1 streaming partner in India. This FP1 session, though featuring fewer regular drivers, still offers insights into team strategies and the performance of alternative tyre compounds or aerodynamic configurations.
Source: Sky Sports F1