For the second time this Formula 1 season, Robert Shwartzman gets the opportunity to participate in a first free practice session. This time, the Ferrari junior will showcase his skills during the Grand Prix weekend in Mexico.
Mexico: A Breeding Ground for New Talents
The circuit in Mexico is increasingly seen as the prime location for young drivers to make their first strides in Formula 1. In 2023, we saw a total of four rookies appear on the circuit during the first free practice. Oliver Bearman took the wheel at Haas, and Isack Hadjar got his chance at the then AlphaTauri. Jack Doohan sat in the Alpine, and Mercedes gave Frederik Vesti a seat. Théo Pourchaire also briefly appeared on the circuit, but his training had to be cut short due to technical problems.
Shwartzman Takes Over Zhou’s Car
After his earlier performance at the Dutch Grand Prix, it’s Shwartzman again who steps in at Sauber. The 25-year-old replaces Zhou Guanyu during the first practice, allowing Sauber to comply with the rule of giving a rookie a chance twice in one season. Sauber’s close collaboration with Ferrari naturally connects them with Shwartzman. However, it’s surprising that Shwartzman gets a second chance, considering Sauber also has its own talents like Théo Pourchaire and Zane Maloney lined up for such opportunities. In Zandvoort, Shwartzman finished sixteenth in the first free practice, trailing Zhou by about one and a half seconds.
