Custom Racing Suit
Get Started for FREE
Revealed: What F1 Rookies Pay to Secure FP1 Session Spots
LISTEN
0:00
0:00
Highlights
- Rookies must complete four FP1 sessions each F1 season.
- Ryo Hirakawa paid $3.5 million for 2024 Abu Dhabi FP1 outing.
- Palou appeared in one FP1 session at 2022 US Grand Prix.
- McLaren CEO Zak Brown cited financial contributions for driver programs.
- High fees highlight intense competition for rookie F1 driving opportunities.
Court disclosures in the McLaren vs Alex Palou dispute reveal rookies paying multi-million sums for FP1 access, as teams must deliver four rookie FP1 sessions per season.
The stakes are clear. Limited practice mileage is now a premium evaluation tool, shaping junior pathways and team planning under tight schedules and finite testing.
Palou, who joined McLaren’s driver pool, later chose to stay with Chip Ganassi Racing for 2023. He still completed an FP1 run at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.
Court filings indicate FP1 mileage can cost multiple millions, underscoring its value for prospective Formula 1 drivers.
Motorsport Magazine reports Ryo Hirakawa paid about $3.5 million for an FP1 debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That package included two Testing of Previous Cars sessions.
Hirakawa substituted for Oscar Piastri in Abu Dhabi, then added FP1s with Alpine at the Japanese Grand Prix and Haas in Bahrain and Spain.
Ryo Hirakawa’s FP1 debut at Abu Dhabi 2024 reportedly cost approximately $3.5 million.
The financial outlay reflects demand. FP1 rookie obligations create guaranteed entries, while additional paid outings offer extra data and exposure, albeit within tight weekend programs.
Palou’s defense argues McLaren received the agreed service: a reserve driver ready for assessment between October 2022 and August 2023, including FP1 and TPC running.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown disputes that framing, noting even Lando Norris contributed financially before earning his 2019 race seat, illustrating the programme’s funding model.
Teams must field rookies in four FP1 sessions per season, intensifying the fight for limited, high-value mileage.
For 2025, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris established at McLaren, FP1 rookie slots remain a currency for evaluation, sharpening competition across academies and independents.
The willingness to pay underscores pressure on prospects and the value of live data. FP1 minutes can shift careers, informing both driver decisions and team line-ups.
Visual Summary
⏱️
💰
🔨
🪖
🏁
│
│
│
🧗
Pay Millions.
Every Second in F1 Is a Goldmine For Rookies.
Rookie drivers are paying up to $3.5 million for a single
FP1 session—a high-stakes ladder race for every minute on track. Contracts, court drama, and dreams in the balance.
These rookie laps are worth their weight in gold.
FP1 session—a high-stakes ladder race for every minute on track. Contracts, court drama, and dreams in the balance.
These rookie laps are worth their weight in gold.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
