Ferrari has announced that Dino Beganovic will take over Charles Leclerc’s seat for the first practice session (FP1) during the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. This decision marks the second occasion in 2025 that Beganovic replaces Leclerc for a practice session, following his earlier involvement at the Chinese Grand Prix in March.
Leclerc’s reduced track time could influence his performance, considering he also missed most of Friday’s practice during the Canadian Grand Prix due to a heavy crash at the start of FP1. That incident appeared to impact his qualifying results, allowing Lewis Hamilton to outperform him for the second consecutive race weekend. Under current Formula 1 regulations, teams are required to field a rookie driver in at least two practice sessions per car in 2025, an increase from a single session per car in 2024.
Background on Dino Beganovic’s Racing Career
At 21 years old, Dino Beganovic has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020 and made his Formula 1 session debut earlier this year, competing in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He currently races in the Formula 2 championship for Hitech Racing and holds 10th place in the standings, having earned two podium finishes this season.
Beganovic’s earlier achievements include winning the Formula Regional European Championship in 2022 and delivering strong performances in FIA Formula 3 with Prema Racing through 2023 and 2024. During his FP1 debut in 2025, he finished 14th overall and was the second-best rookie driver in that session.
Implications of Leclerc Missing Practice Time
Charles Leclerc’s absence from FP1 sessions raises questions about how limited practice will affect his ability to optimize the Ferrari car’s setup and strategy for qualifying and the race. His crash in Canada and the substitution at China suggest that the team is managing risks while also developing emerging talent like Beganovic.
Providing experience to rookie drivers such as Beganovic reflects broader regulatory changes aimed at giving younger talents more exposure during race weekends. This approach could shape Ferrari’s driver development and race tactics throughout the season.