Felipe Drugovich Set to Replace Fernando Alonso for FP1 in Bahrain Grand Prix
Felipe Drugovich is continuing to immerse himself in the world of Formula 1 as he builds experience with the hope of earning a permanent race seat in the near future. Since capturing the Formula 2 championship title in 2022, Drugovich has had several opportunities to drive for Aston Martin in Free Practice 1 (FP1) sessions. His consistent and composed performances have started to attract the attention of teams and insiders across the F1 paddock.
Although FP1 sessions are limited to just one hour, each lap on track holds significant value—not just for Drugovich’s own development as a driver, but also for the team’s technical understanding of the car. The first practice session plays a crucial role in laying the foundation for the race weekend. Teams use it to evaluate car balance, study tire degradation, and determine early setup directions. These factors become even more important under the unique conditions found in Bahrain, which include high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, unpredictable winds, and wide temperature swings between sessions.
Veteran driver Fernando Alonso sitting out FP1 isn’t an unusual move, especially at the beginning of the season. Teams often use these early practice windows to test reserve or young drivers in real-time competitive conditions. With Alonso’s vast knowledge and experience, his absence from a single practice session won’t have a significant impact on his overall preparation or race pace.
As the new Formula 1 season begins to unfold, Aston Martin is under close scrutiny. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how their latest challenger, the AMR25, performs on one of the sport’s most challenging and technical circuits. Drugovich’s performance in FP1 will be critical—not only to Aston Martin’s weekend setup but also as a chance to showcase his potential to team principals who may be evaluating future driver lineups.
The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend continues with FP2 later on Friday, FP3 and qualifying on Saturday, and the highly anticipated race on Sunday.
