21-year-old Swedish racing prodigy Dino Beganovic is poised to make his official Formula 1 debut during the first free practice session (FP1) at the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 11, 2025.
The Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) member will step into the cockpit of Charles Leclerc’s SF-25 at the Bahrain International Circuit, marking a significant milestone in his journey toward the pinnacle of motorsport. This opportunity not only highlights Beganovic’s rising star but also underscores Ferrari’s commitment to nurturing young talent as the 2025 season unfolds.
Born on January 19, 2004, in Linköping, Sweden, to Bosnian parents, Dino Beganovic has been a standout talent since his karting days. His racing career took off in earnest when he joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2020, following an impressive third-place finish in the Italian F4 Championship with Prema Powerteam.
Beganovic’s trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable: he clinched the Formula Regional European Championship title in 2022 and has since made waves in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, securing two race wins and finishing sixth overall in 2024 with Prema Racing.
Now, in 2025, Beganovic has stepped up to Formula 2 with Hitech Grand Prix, partnering Williams junior Luke Browning. His late-2024 F2 debut with DAMS Lucas Oil showcased his potential, including a podium finish in Abu Dhabi, setting the stage for this high-profile FP1 outing.
For Beganovic, driving a Ferrari F1 car during an official session is a dream come true—a testament to years of hard work and the FDA’s belief in his abilities.
The decision to hand Beganovic his FP1 debut at Bahrain aligns with the FIA’s 2025 regulations, which mandate that each F1 team must field a rookie driver—defined as someone with no more than two Grand Prix starts—in four FP1 sessions across the season, up from two in previous years.
Ferrari has opted to fulfill one of these requirements early, choosing the Bahrain Grand Prix, the fourth race of the 2025 calendar, as the stage for Beganovic’s introduction.
Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit is an ideal proving ground. The track hosts F1 pre-season testing, giving teams ample data to work with, and its generous run-off areas reduce the risk of costly mistakes—perfect for a rookie’s first official outing.
For Ferrari, it’s also a chance to evaluate Beganovic’s performance in a competitive environment while allowing Leclerc to step back briefly before resuming his weekend duties.