Leclerc Replacement Bahrain Grand Prix: Dino Beganovic in FP1
When Ferrari announced it would swap Charles Leclerc for a 21-year-old academy driver during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Formula One fans raised eyebrows, but as the 2025 season’s new rookie session rule kicks in, the move is less about drama and more about talent strategy. Here’s what the switch says about Ferrari’s pipeline—and what it means for the grid.
Event: Bahrain Grand Prix FP1 ·
Date: 28 March 2025 ·
Driver replaced: Charles Leclerc ·
Replacement driver: Dino Beganovic ·
Age of replacement: 21 ·
Team: Scuderia Ferrari
Quick snapshot
- Dino Beganovic replaces Charles Leclerc for FP1 only (GPFans (F1 news site))
- Announced on 28 March 2025 (SportBible (sports outlet))
- Mandatory rookie FP1 rule requires each driver to give up one session per season (SportBible (sports outlet))
- Whether Beganovic will get additional FP1 sessions later in the season
- Exact performance benchmarks Ferrari expects from him in the session
- 28 March 2025: Ferrari announces Beganovic as FP1 replacement (Ferrari Official (manufacturer))
- 11 April 2025: FP1 session at Bahrain International Circuit (Ferrari Official (manufacturer))
- Beganovic finished 14th in FP1 (Ferrari Official (manufacturer))
- Leclerc returns for FP2, qualifying, and race
- Beganovic continues F2 season with ART Grand Prix
- Further rookie FP1 slots across other teams this season
Six key facts illustrate the context of Ferrari’s driver rotation:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Event | Bahrain Grand Prix FP1 |
| Team | Scuderia Ferrari |
| Replacement Driver | Dino Beganovic |
| Replaced Driver | Charles Leclerc |
| Date | 28 March 2025 |
| Rookie Session Rule | Teams must run a rookie in at least two FP1 sessions per season |
Who is replacing Charles Leclerc?
Ferrari confirmed that Dino Beganovic will take Leclerc’s seat for FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix, as reported by GPFans (F1 news site). The Swedish driver, 21, has been part of Ferrari’s driver academy since 2020 (GPFans).
Beganovic becomes just the fifth Ferrari academy driver to drive the team’s car in an official session, joining Charles Leclerc, Arthur Leclerc, Robert Schwartzman, and Oliver Bearman (SportBible (sports outlet)).
Who is Dino Beganovic?
- 21-year-old Swedish driver competing in Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix (SportBible (sports outlet))
- Won the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship (GPFans (F1 news site))
- Made F2 debut for the final two rounds of the 2024 season after finishing 6th in F3 in 2023 (SportBible (sports outlet))
- Finished 14th in FP1 at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix (Ferrari Official (manufacturer))
What is Dino Beganovic’s racing background?
- Climbed through single-seater ranks starting in Formula 4
- Won the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship by a margin of 27 points
- Joined Ferrari Driver Academy in 2020 at age 16
- Stepped up to F2 with ART Grand Prix in 2024
The implication: Beganovic’s trajectory mirrors that of Charles Leclerc himself, who also graduated from the FDA before landing a full Ferrari seat.
Why is Leclerc being replaced?
The 2025 season introduced a rule change requiring each driver to vacate their seat for one FP1 session per season, with teams required to field a rookie driver who has completed fewer than two F1 races (SportBible (sports outlet)). Leclerc is not injured—this is a standard compliance measure designed to give young drivers track time (GPFans (F1 news site)).
While most teams treat the rule as a tick-box obligation, Ferrari chose its most competitive circuit of the early season to evaluate Beganovic—suggesting real interest in his performance under live conditions.
Is Leclerc injured?
No. The replacement is entirely procedural and not related to any health issue. Leclerc returned to the car for FP2, qualifying, and the race.
What is the purpose of FP1 replacement?
- Mandatory rookie session created by FIA to funnel new talent into F1 weekends
- Each car must give up one FP1 to a driver with fewer than two GP starts
- Teams can choose which GP to sacrifice—Ferrari picked Bahrain for Leclerc’s slot
What this means: The rule forces teams to plan their season’s FP1 allocation, turning practice into a strategic asset for junior development.
What did Charles Leclerc’s dad do?
Hervé Leclerc was a former Formula 3 driver and the man who introduced Charles to racing. He was a key influence and mentor throughout Charles’s early career (GPFans (F1 news site)).
Who was Hervé Leclerc?
- Raced in Formula 3 in the 1990s
- Coached Charles from karting through single-seaters
- Died in 2017 before seeing Charles in F1
What was Hervé Leclerc’s racing career?
- Competed in French Formula 3 and Formula Renault
- Never reached F1 but passed on deep technical knowledge to his son
The pattern: The Leclerc family story—a father who taught his son the craft—is one of the most human subplots in modern F1.
What illness did Hervé Leclerc have?
Hervé Leclerc suffered from a long illness and died of cancer in 2017 (GPFans (F1 news site)).
How did Hervé Leclerc die?
- Passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer
- Charles was 19 at the time, racing in GP3
- Charles wears a tribute helmet design in his father’s memory
Ferrari loses Leclerc’s input for one critical practice session, but gains data on a potential future driver—plus satisfies a regulation that every team must obey anyway.
The net effect: Ferrari balances short-term practice data against long-term driver development under the 2025 regulation.
Timeline
- 2017: Hervé Leclerc passes away (GPFans (F1 news site)).
- 2023: Dino Beganovic wins Formula Regional European Championship (GPFans (F1 news site)).
- 28 March 2025: Ferrari announces Beganovic as Leclerc’s FP1 replacement for Bahrain (GPFans (F1 news site)).
- 11 April 2025: FP1 session at Bahrain International Circuit; Beganovic finishes 14th (Ferrari Official (manufacturer)).
- 25 June 2025: Beganovic replaces Leclerc again in FP1 at the Austrian Grand Prix (TheJudge13 (F1 analysis site)).
Why this matters: Two FP1 sessions in one season means Ferrari is investing more seat time in Beganovic than the regulation minimum.
Confirmed facts
- Ferrari confirmed Dino Beganovic will replace Charles Leclerc for FP1 (GPFans (F1 news site)).
- Beganovic is 21 and a Ferrari junior driver (GPFans (F1 news site)).
- Replacement is due to the mandatory rookie FP1 requirement (SportBible (sports outlet)).
- Beganovic finished 14th in FP1 (Ferrari Official (manufacturer)).
What’s unclear
- Whether Beganovic will receive additional FP1 sessions later in the season beyond Austria.
- Exact performance of Beganovic in the session (untested at F1 level beyond this run).
“We are pleased to give Dino this opportunity as part of our commitment to developing young talent within the Ferrari Driver Academy.”
— Ferrari official statement on the driver swap for FP1 at Bahrain (GPFans (F1 news site))
“This is a dream come true. Driving a Ferrari F1 car is something I’ve worked toward since I joined the academy.”
— Dino Beganovic, quoted after the FP1 session on his debut (SportBible (sports outlet))
The 2025 rookie rule is reshaping how teams manage their practice hours—and for Ferrari’s academy, every session is an audition. Beganovic’s 14th-place finish in Bahrain, with Lewis Hamilton third in the same session (Ferrari Official (manufacturer)), shows the gap between prospect and proven star. For Ferrari, the choice is clear: invest in Beganovic’s growth now, or risk letting him develop at another team.
Ferrari’s decision to field Dino Beganovic in FP1 has sparked debate, and a closer look at the Leclerc replacement at Bahrain Grand Prix reveals how the new FIA rules are reshaping rookie opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
Will Leclerc miss the entire Bahrain Grand Prix?
No. Leclerc only sits out FP1. He returns for FP2, qualifying, and the race.
What is Dino Beganovic’s previous racing experience?
He won the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship, raced in F3, and stepped up to F2 with ART Grand Prix in 2024.
Is this replacement related to Ferrari’s disqualification?
No. The swap is entirely driven by the mandatory rookie FP1 rule, not any penalty or technical issue.
How many FP1 sessions must teams give to rookies each season?
Each car must give up one FP1 session to a driver with fewer than two F1 race starts.
How long has Beganovic been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy?
He joined the FDA in 2020 at age 16.
Does Leclerc have any other FP1 replacement planned for 2025?
Yes—Beganovic also replaced Leclerc in FP1 at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix in June.
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