Six Rookies to Watch in 2025

A completely renovated grid in 2025

If the 2024 season had started with the same drivers as in 2023, the year 2025 will mark a real upheaval. Out of the ten teams present, only McLaren and Aston Martin have retained their driver duo. While some drivers have switched teams, F1 will also welcome three new faces: Gabriel Bortoleto, Kimi Antonelli, and Isack Hadjar. These three former F2 drivers will be accompanied by slightly more experienced drivers, namely Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman, and Liam Lawson. Although each is progressing in a different team, they all share the same goal: to stay in F1 for several years and win the world title.

Liam Lawson at Red Bull

For his first full season in F1, the New Zealander will have a tough challenge as he will be teaming up with Max Verstappen. It’s a task that has already claimed several victims: Pierre Gasly in 2019 and Alexander Albon after the 2020 season. Since 2021, the Austrian team had decided to rely on experience by recruiting Mexican Sergio Pérez. However, the former Force India driver did not convince the team to keep him in 2025 (only eighth in the championship, without any victory). Therefore, they decided to entrust the steering wheel to a member of their junior program, in the person of Liam Lawson.

An opportunity in gold for someone who has already raced in 11 Grand Prix in his career. In 2023, while he was already competing in the Super Formula championship (which he finished in second place), he was called by AlphaTauri in Zandvoort following Daniel Ricciardo’s injury during free practice. He competed in four Grand Prix before giving his place back to the Australian. In 2024, a repeat occurrence, as the native of Hastings once again replaced Ricciardo after the Singapore round, but this time for the remainder of the season.

Despite everything, the pressure will be much greater this season. In addition to getting into a single-seater he is not necessarily used to, he will also discover new circuits. Will he be up to the task or will he suffer the same fate as Albon and Gasly? The first Grand Prix races will already reveal the true talent of the New Zealand driver.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes

He is the youngest driver on the grid. At just 18 years old, the Italian is about to discover F1, and in a leading team no less. Although his arrival raised some concerns—with doubts heightened when he damaged his Mercedes in Monza after just a few laps—the German team has complete confidence in their junior driver’s talent. The Bologna native has already demonstrated it in the lower categories. He has won the Italian and German F4 championships and has just concluded a promising F2 season with Prema, finishing in sixth place despite a car struggling with the new regulations.

Despite high expectations, Mercedes is looking not to put too much pressure on him. The team has already announced that it will give him the necessary time to get familiar with his car, especially since, for the moment, he has only driven older cars of the brand. Nevertheless, the challenge will be significant. Will his inexperience be a disadvantage, or on the contrary, will he be the pleasant surprise of the 2025 season? The Italian driver will be particularly scrutinized this year.

Jack Doohan at Alpine

He is surely the most at-risk driver on this list. The Australian, who has only competed in one Grand Prix (in Abu Dhabi replacing Esteban Ocon), is already under pressure. Although the season has not yet started, many rumors suggest a contract of only six races for the former F2 driver. If he doesn’t perform quickly, the French team is said to have already found his successor: Franco Colapinto. The former Williams driver has recently been recruited by Flavio Briatore as the third reserve driver.

Regarding Doohan’s performance at Yas Marina, the Italian notably stated: « For a first race, it was fine ». Comments that are not necessarily reassuring for the future of the Australian driver in F1.

Oliver Bearman at Haas

Three races, two teams, and two finishes in the points: such were the brilliant beginnings of the Briton in Formula 1. For his first race, he had the tough task of replacing Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, as the Spaniard was suffering from appendicitis. After qualifying just outside the Q3, the former double F4 champion impressed in the race and secured seventh position.

A few months later, he is called up by Haas following the suspension of Kevin Magnussen for the Azerbaijan round. Like in Jeddah, the Briton scores points with a tenth-place finish. Although his third F1 appearance was more challenging (twelfth in Brazil after several driving errors), the former Prema driver is ready to take on the challenge of performing consistently to help Haas dominate the midfield. His lack of experience could be a hindrance, but the fact that he has already raced for the American team and participated in some free practice sessions for them will give him a certain advantage.

Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls

A third Frenchman on the starting grid in 2025. After Ocon and Gasly, F1 will welcome the F2 vice-champion, Isack Hadjar, who is joining Racing Bulls. A decision that demonstrates Red Bull’s renewed interest in its young drivers. Although Hadjar hasn’t won any titles in the promotion formulas, his speed is undeniable. Last season, he finished second in the F2 championship despite experiencing a lot of bad luck.

The pressure will nevertheless be strong. In addition to discovering F1, he will face Yuki Tsunoda, a very fast driver who will already be starting his fifth season in the discipline. The former Campos driver will therefore have to perform quickly, as Red Bull is not the most forgiving team with its drivers in the event of successive poor performances. Especially since behind him, other young talents are knocking on the door, starting with the talented Briton Arvid Lindblad. The 2025 season, although his first, will already be decisive for his future.

Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber

Conversely, he is the driver who will experience the least pressure. Firstly, his team will not aim for the top next season. The Swiss team has just come off a very complicated 2024 season, where they only scored four points. Expectations will therefore understandably be lower. Furthermore, his potential replacements are no longer part of the Sauber program, like Théo Pourchaire and Zane Maloney.

Despite everything, the F3 and F2 champion should not be too overwhelmed by Nico Hülkenberg’s domination. If the 2025 season unfolds in the same way as that of 2024, the year is likely to be very difficult for both drivers.

Six drivers, all in completely different situations. Yet, they will all start their first full season in Formula 1. With them, the future of the sport is already assured.