With Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso sitting out the first practice session, the circuit was devoid of champions for the first time since the 1996 French Grand Prix.
There had been a champion scheduled to race that day in 1996, but Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher suffered an engine failure on the formation lap – preventing him from taking the start.
While Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen all raced too, they were not yet F1 champions.
Future talent looms
The next four championships were won by the trio before Schumacher went on a historic streak of dominance with Ferrari.
FP1 gave teams the opportunity to test young drivers in their cars – ones that could go on to become champions much like Hill, Villeneuve and Hakkinen
Frederik Vesti, who drove for Mercedes and is vying for the F2 title this weekend, could be the next of the young drivers who tested on Friday to make their way onto the grid with an opening at Williams still up for grabs.
He won Saturday’s F2 sprint race – his sixth victory of the season, which massively boosts his chances at a drive and championship.
