Last Updated on June 26 2025, 11:01 am
Ferrari sidelines Leclerc as young talent gets the call: Dino Beganovic steps in at Spielberg – The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a sobering reality check for Ferrari. The team has struggled with inconsistency, mechanical issues and disappointing results from their two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, once hailed as the dream team set to revive the Scuderia’s championship prospects, are now locked in a frustrating battle just to reach the podium.
In a move that may surprise some fans, but which is deeply rooted in FIA regulation, Ferrari has opted to temporarily sideline Leclerc at the Austrian Grand Prix, for Friday practice at least.
As the paddock arrives at Spielberg, the red team is chasing more than just points. They’re also playing the long game, balancing short-term needs with their development pipeline. With an eye on the future and an obligation to fulfil rookie practice requirements, Ferrari has confirmed that 21-year-old Dino Beganovic will replace Leclerc in Free Practice 1.
Leclerc makes way for a rising star
In an official statement posted on social media, Ferrari announced the substitution with a touch of ceremony: “A great moment in red. Dino Beganovic will take the wheel of Charles’ car for FP1 in Spielberg.”
For the young Swede, this is more than just another practice session; it is a milestone moment in his journey from academy prospect to potential race contender.
Currently racing in Formula 2, Beganovic sits tenth in the standings, delivering solid, if not yet headline-grabbing, performances. This weekend marks his second outing in a Formula 1 car this season; his first came in Bahrain earlier in the year. Once again, Ferrari has entrusted him with the responsibility of logging valuable laps and collecting key data during Friday’s session.
This is part of the team’s efforts to comply with the FIA’s rookie mandate, which requires each team to run a young driver in at least two Free Practice 1 sessions per car each season. With Leclerc stepping aside this weekend, Ferrari has now fulfilled half of that obligation.
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Ferrari’s turbulent campaign
On paper, Ferrari’s 2025 season had all the hallmarks of a turnaround story. A four-time Constructors’ Champion, a seven-time World Champion and one of the sport’s most storied teams were set to make a fresh start. But the dream has so far turned sour. Ferrari currently sits third in the standings, behind McLaren and Mercedes, far from the resurgence that their fans and leadership had hoped for.
Lewis Hamilton, yet to reach the podium in a Grand Prix this season, has struggled to adapt to life at Ferrari.
His switch from Mercedes was expected to shake up the grid, but instead it has exposed Ferrari’s ongoing technical weaknesses. Meanwhile, Leclerc, despite showing glimpses of his talent, has also struggled with setup issues, tyre degradation problems and inconsistent race-day performances.
In this context, the team’s decision to run Beganovic in FP1 is about more than just ticking a box. It gives Ferrari the chance to gather new feedback, experiment with different parameters and potentially benefit from a rookie driver’s unfiltered input, which can be invaluable when a team is struggling to break free from a technical rut.
Hamilton will be next to step aside
Leclerc’s absence from FP1 is just the first step in Ferrari’s plan. The team still has to fulfil the same rookie obligation with their second car, meaning Lewis Hamilton will also have to give up a session later in the season. Although the timing is still to be confirmed, Beganovic is expected to replace the seven-time World Champion in one of the remaining races before the end of the year.
While such temporary replacements during practice are not uncommon, Hamilton’s storied legacy and the ongoing media scrutiny surrounding his lacklustre results mean that his eventual absence from an FP1 session is likely to make headlines.
Beganovic’s steady rise through the ranks of the Ferrari Driver Academy since joining in 2020 has been marked by consistent development. Allowing him to drive Hamilton’s car would demonstrate Ferrari’s trust in his abilities and be another step in what appears to be a carefully managed process to prepare him for an F1 seat in the future.
The strategic value of rookie practice
While fans may see Leclerc’s FP1 substitution as dramatic, it is actually more procedural than punitive. The FIA’s requirement is not just about giving rookies a taste of the big leagues, it’s also about ensuring a healthy development ecosystem within Formula 1. In Ferrari’s case, it’s also an opportunity to evaluate a driver who, if current trends continue, could be in contention for a full-time seat sooner than expected.
Rookie sessions are often undervalued by fans, but they are an essential part of the sport. With only 20 race seats available, the pipeline from Formula 2 and junior series into F1 is notoriously narrow.
For Ferrari, Beganovic’s participation is more than just symbolic. It’s a test. His performance will be scrutinised, timed and benchmarked against the team’s simulations, and his feedback will be weighed carefully against that of Leclerc and Hamilton.
What this means for Leclerc and Ferrari’s bigger picture
Despite the formal nature of the announcement, the optics are not insignificant. Leclerc stepping aside, even temporarily, comes at a time when his position as Ferrari’s long-term focal point is increasingly being questioned. While there has been no suggestion that his race seat is in jeopardy, Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello has complicated the pecking order within the team.
Leclerc’s frustrations this season have been palpable. A driver once seen as the Scuderia’s great hope, he is now not only facing a difficult car, but also rising internal pressure and the looming presence of a global superstar teammate. Add to that the quietly growing presence of young talents like Beganovic, and the internal dynamics at Ferrari are beginning to resemble a pot on the boil.
Ferrari has made no secret of its ambition to win again, and soon. Whether this will involve reshuffling roles, switching development focus or even reconsidering driver futures remains to be seen. For now, the decision to promote Beganovic appears to be a routine one. However, as with all things in Formula 1, it also offers a small insight into a bigger strategy unfolding behind the garage doors at Maranello.
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Beganovic’s opportunity, and what comes next
For Dino Beganovic, FP1 at Spielberg is an opportunity to excel on one of the most technical and unforgiving circuits on the calendar. While he won’t be judged solely on his lap times, his composure, communication skills, adaptability and technical feedback will be under scrutiny. These sessions can make or break careers, and a solid performance could see him become a contender for reserve or development roles in 2026 and beyond.
With Ferrari in flux, their driver development programme is suddenly more relevant than ever. Beganovic and the other academy hopefuls are a group that Ferrari may soon need to rely on as they look to reshape their future, especially if the Leclerc–Hamilton era does not deliver the trophies it was expected to.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc will observe Friday’s opening session from the sidelines, perhaps grateful for a brief respite or perhaps concerned that the Scuderia is already looking to the next generation. Either way, all eyes will be on the red car that isn’t his when it rolls out of the garage in Spielberg. The spotlight will burn just a little brighter on the young Swede behind the wheel.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Why do you write such misleading stories? Ferrari are not “replacing” Leclerc – as per the FIA rules, they are offering a rising young driver the chance to drive the car in one of the free practice sessions, as all the teams do during the year. Why not say “Ferrari are offering an opportunity for a young or standby driver to sample F1”?