Ferrari announce Lewis Hamilton replacement at Barcelona Grand Prix following…more details in the comments
Ferrari have officially announced that rising motorsport talent Dino Beganovic will temporarily replace Lewis Hamilton during the first practice session (FP1) of the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit. The decision is part of Formula One’s regulations that require every team to provide opportunities for rookie drivers throughout the season.
Beganovic, who is currently a member of Ferrari’s Driver Academy and competes in Formula 2, will take over Hamilton’s car for the opening practice session. This opportunity represents another important milestone in the young driver’s career as he continues his development within Ferrari’s driver programme. The Swedish-Bosnian racer has impressed with his performances in the junior categories and is regarded as one of the promising talents being groomed for a potential future in Formula One.
The rookie driver appearance is not due to any issue involving Hamilton. Instead, it is part of a mandatory requirement introduced by Formula One to help emerging drivers gain valuable experience behind the wheel of modern F1 machinery. Under the current regulations, every team must field a rookie driver twice in each race car during a season. This means that each team must provide a total of four rookie practice appearances over the course of the championship.
Ferrari are not the only team making such changes for the Barcelona weekend. Several teams across the Formula One grid have also confirmed that young drivers will participate in practice sessions as they work to meet the rookie driver quota. In total, seven rookie drivers are expected to replace established full-time racers during the FP1 session at the Spanish Grand Prix.
For Beganovic, the opportunity offers a chance to gain first-hand experience with Formula One’s latest generation of cars. Driving during an official Grand Prix weekend provides invaluable knowledge that cannot easily be replicated in testing programmes or simulator sessions. It also allows Ferrari engineers to assess his performance under real race weekend conditions.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One World Champion, will return to the cockpit after the conclusion of the FP1 session and continue with the remainder of the race weekend. The temporary replacement does not affect Hamilton’s participation in qualifying or the Grand Prix itself.
Ferrari’s decision highlights the team’s continued commitment to developing young talent through its academy system. By giving Beganovic an opportunity to participate in an official Formula One session, the Italian team is investing in the future while complying with the sport’s regulations.
The Barcelona practice session will therefore be an important moment for Dino Beganovic, offering him a rare chance to showcase his abilities on one of Formula One’s biggest stages and potentially strengthen his prospects for a future full-time seat in the sport.