Ferrari Shake-Up: Leclerc Benched for Bahrain FP1 as Rising Star Beganovic Makes F1 Debut
Ferrari has officially announced that Charles Leclerc will not participate in every session during the Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend, scheduled for April 11-13. The Monegasque driver has endured a frustrating start to the season, failing to finish higher than fifth in any of the three races so far. His struggles culminated in his worst result of the campaign last weekend when he, along with new teammate Lewis Hamilton, was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix. This double disqualification marked a significant setback for Ferrari, highlighting their early-season inconsistencies.
As the team looks to turn things around, Leclerc and Hamilton will aim for stronger performances at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, which precedes another double-header leading into Bahrain. However, when the F1 circus arrives at the Bahrain International Circuit, Leclerc will not be behind the wheel for the opening free practice session (FP1). Instead, Ferrari has confirmed that rising Formula 2 star Dino Beganovic will step in to make his Formula 1 debut in Leclerc’s SF-25.
Beganovic, a 21-year-old talent who has been part of Ferrari’s Driver Academy since 2020, recently graduated to Formula 2. His participation in FP1 marks a significant step forward in his career, providing him with invaluable experience at the highest level of motorsport. This opportunity is made possible due to a recent rule change for the 2025 season, which now mandates that teams must field a rookie driver in each of their cars twice per year during free practice sessions. With Beganovic set to be the first of many rookie replacements this season, Ferrari is embracing the new regulations as an opportunity to assess young talent on the global stage.
