Bearman is no longer a rookie: Ferrari calls up another driver for FP1 in Abu Dhabi

Ferrari has announced that it will field a different driver alongside Carlos Sainz in Friday's opening practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Oliver Bearman, who has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022, will make his Formula 1 debut in place of Charles Leclerc.

Bearman, who won the Formula 4 British Championship in 2021 and the Formula 3 Championship in 2022, has been a highly rated prospect for some time.

He has already driven the Ferrari F1-75 in private testing and impressed the team with his speed and maturity.

Leclerc will miss the session due to a prior commitment, but he is expected to be back in the car for the rest of the weekend.

Bearman's appearance in FP1 will give him a valuable opportunity to experience a Formula 1 weekend and prepare for his future in the sport.

It will also be a chance for Ferrari to assess his potential as a future race driver.