Rookies get their chance as several drivers skip FP1 in Hungary

The opening practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix is being reshaped by a batch of rookie running, with Leonardo Fornaroli set for a second grand prix weekend appearance of 2026. The sources say the McLaren junior will deputise for Oscar Piastri in FP1 at the Hungaroring, giving him another chance to show what he can do in a live Formula 1 session rather than in testing or simulator work.

Fornaroli’s assignment is notable because it is not his first exposure to the McLaren F1 car this year. The Motorsport.com report says he already took over Lando Norris’s McLaren in Barcelona last month, which means this weekend’s outing will give the Italian another practice run with the team. That repeat mileage matters because it allows McLaren to compare his feedback, adaptation and execution across more than one FP1 appearance, instead of judging him on a single set of laps.

The wider FP1 picture is just as important. Motorsport.com says several drivers will sit out the opening session as teams use mandatory or strategic rookie opportunities to evaluate talent. The article frames this as part of the normal pattern of F1 weekends where teams must, or choose to, hand over running to less experienced drivers. For the rookies, those outings are among the few genuine chances to demonstrate that they can cope with the speed of an F1 weekend, the complexity of an unfamiliar car and the pressure of needing to deliver useful data for the team.

That is why these sessions are watched so closely even when they are not the headline act of a grand prix weekend. FP1 rookie runs are not just a formality or a box-ticking exercise. They give teams a chance to assess prospects in a real competitive environment, while also helping them satisfy their own programme priorities. For the academy drivers, the opportunity can be a meaningful step in showing that they are ready for more responsibility later, whether that is more practice time, a reserve role with greater weight, or simply a stronger internal reputation.