Ferrari officially confirms Hamilton’s replacement at Barcelona GP.
Ferrari has stirred excitement across the Formula 1 paddock ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya by confirming a temporary change to Lewis Hamilton’s car lineup.
Fans can relax, though—the seven-time world champion is not leaving his seat permanently. Instead, Ferrari Academy prospect Dino Beganovic will take over Hamilton’s SF-26 during Friday’s opening Free Practice 1 session. The 22-year-old Swede will get valuable track time as part of Formula 1’s rookie driver requirements.
The decision comes as teams work to meet regulations that require each car to be handed over to a rookie driver for at least two FP1 sessions during the season. With Barcelona’s well-known layout providing an ideal testing environment, Ferrari has chosen the venue to give Beganovic another important step in his development.
Currently competing near the front of the Formula 2 championship, Beganovic has already played a key role behind the scenes through extensive simulator work at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. However, the opportunity to drive the team’s current F1 machine on a race weekend represents a significant milestone in his career.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Beganovic expressed both excitement and determination, describing the chance to wear Ferrari colors, work directly with the team’s engineers and mechanics, and return to the cockpit as a special experience. He added that his expectations combine strong emotions with a clear focus on completing the technical objectives of the session.
Hamilton, meanwhile, will temporarily step aside for FP1 before returning to the car for the second practice session later in the day. The British driver arrives in Spain with momentum on his side after securing back-to-back runner-up finishes in Monaco and Montreal.
Ferrari will not be the only team fielding a young driver on Friday morning. Several rivals, including , , and , are also set to hand practice duties to rookie talents as part of the regulation.
Despite the widespread changes, much of the attention will be focused on Ferrari’s garage, where Beganovic will have a rare opportunity to showcase his potential in one of the most scrutinized seats in motorsport and offer a glimpse of the team’s future.
