Ferrari Announce Lewis Hamilton Replacement at Barcelona Grand Prix
Ferrari have officially confirmed that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will not take part in the opening Free Practice 1 (FP1) session at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, with Ferrari Academy driver Dino Beganovic stepping into the SF-26 for the session. �
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The move is not due to injury, illness, or any disciplinary issue involving Hamilton. Instead, it forms part of Formula 1’s mandatory rookie-driver programme, which requires every team to give young drivers opportunities in official Grand Prix practice sessions throughout the season. Ferrari have chosen Barcelona as one of the events where they will fulfil that obligation. �
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Beganovic, currently competing in Formula 2 and serving as a key member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, has impressed the Scuderia with his development work, simulator contributions, and race performances. The Swedish youngster will take over Hamilton’s car for the opening session before the British star returns for the remainder of the race weekend. �
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The announcement comes at an interesting time for Hamilton, who arrives in Spain enjoying some of his strongest form since joining Ferrari. The Briton secured consecutive second-place finishes in Canada and Monaco, helping him climb near the top of the championship standings while continuing his pursuit of a first Grand Prix victory in Ferrari colours. �
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Barcelona has become a popular venue for rookie-driver appearances because teams possess extensive data from years of racing and testing at the circuit. This familiarity allows engineers to evaluate young drivers while minimising risks to race preparations. Several other teams are also fielding rookie drivers during FP1 this weekend. �
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Despite missing the opening practice session, Hamilton’s objectives for the weekend remain unchanged. Ferrari continue searching for their first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season, while Hamilton hopes to convert his recent podium momentum into a genuine challenge against championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the dominant Mercedes squad. �
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For Ferrari, the FP1 driver swap offers a valuable opportunity to assess Beganovic in a competitive Formula 1 environment while also satisfying FIA regulations. For Hamilton, it means a slightly shorter preparation period before qualifying and Sunday’s race, but the veteran is expected to be fully involved from FP2 onwards as Ferrari aim to continue their encouraging upward trend. �
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With the Barcelona weekend now underway, all eyes will be on whether Beganovic can make a strong impression in his Ferrari outing and whether Hamilton can maintain his recent run of podium finishes as the championship battle intensifies. �
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