It is always wild to think about how modern Formula 1 legends first dipped their toes into Grand Prix weekends. As a fresh wave of young talent steps into Friday practice, looking back at how some of the grid's biggest names made their initial FP1 appearances is quite the trip.
Take Kimi Antonelli. Ahead of the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, the young Italian was handed George Russell's Mercedes at Monza in front of his home crowd. He had just turned 18, and for an F2 driver at the time, his debut started in breathtaking fashion by setting the fastest time before crashing at the Parabolica after only 10 minutes. Lando Norris took a slightly more cautious approach at the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, jumping into Fernando Alonso's McLaren. Norris finished P18, one spot ahead of regular driver Stoffel Vandoorne, before eventually claiming a full-time seat and last year's drivers' title.
Further back, George Russell got his first taste of modern F1 machinery with Force India at the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix after securing the GP3 title, setting the 12th-fastest time. Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and made his first FP1 appearance for Haas at the British Grand Prix, finishing P18 before completing three more sessions that year. Then there is Max Verstappen, who became the youngest driver to appear in F1 when he hopped into a Toro Rosso at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix at just 17 years old, courtesy of his father Jos Verstappen's racing legacy. Verstappen finished P12 before taking two more Friday outings.
Going back even further, Sebastian Vettel made his Grand Prix weekend bow with BMW Sauber at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix following support from BMW and a Williams F1 test. Robert Kubica made an immediate splash in 2006 as well, earning an official reserve driver role with BMW Sauber after testing with Renault. The Pole topped the opening session at his debut in Bahrain, setting the tone for a career that eventually brought him victory at the 2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title and later a win at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.
These initial Friday runs are rarely straightforward. Whether it is a rookie binning it after ten minutes or quietly out-pacing an established teammate, those frantic sixty minutes have launched some extraordinary careers.
Source: F1.com
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