Andrea Kimi Antonelli, once an eager young fan sneaking his way into the Formula 1 paddock hidden in tires, has now secured a coveted position with Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s successor. At just 18 years old, Antonelli is among the largest influx of new drivers that Formula 1 has seen in recent years, as top teams are placing their future in the fresh talent emerging onto the scene. With six out of the twenty drivers on the 2025 grid beginning their inaugural full seasons in the sport, some of these rookies are looking set to challenge for victory, while others may find themselves struggling to retain their place.
Last season, Formula 2 showcased an unexpectedly strong pool of competitors, offering the perfect moment for some Formula 1 teams to transition from more seasoned drivers such as Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Taking this step in 2025 allows teams to provide young drivers the opportunity to gain valuable experience prior to the significant overhaul of F1 car design rules slated for 2026.
Let’s delve into who makes up this promising rookie class:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Taking over the mantle from a seven-time world champion at Mercedes casts Antonelli into the limelight, as he gears up to become one of the youngest F1 drivers in history. Despite Hamilton’s impressive legacy, Antonelli aspires to make his own mark as the ‘new Mercedes driver.’ His first exposure to an F1 paddock dates back to 2014, at eight years old, when his father, Marco – who managed a support series team – ingeniously sneaked him into the German Grand Prix by concealing him inside a stack of tires. “That was an incredible experience,” Antonelli shared recently. With a distinguished junior series track record and a sixth-place finish in F2 last season, Antonelli faced a challenging start in Formula 1 after a severe crash during a practice session for Mercedes at Monza in August.
Liam Lawson
Although Lawson has competed in 11 Formula 1 races since 2023, his inclusion here is as Red Bull’s rookie for a complete season. At the dawn of the current season, he feels “more like a rookie” on tracks that are new to him. Teaming up with four-time champion Max Verstappen, as Perez’s successor, appears daunting for Lawson, who already challenged Verstappen by outperforming him in qualifying in just his third F1 race in Singapore during 2023. The New Zealander has the task of proving Red Bull’s decision to promote him over former teammate and roommate Yuki Tsunoda, who surpassed Lawson over the six races they competed in last year.
Oliver Bearman
Bearman made an impressive entrance in Formula 1 less than a year ago, finishing a commendable seventh in Saudi Arabia while filling in for Carlos Sainz Jr., who was recovering from surgery. Despite having never raced in Jeddah and joining the race on two days’ notice, Bearman handled the pressure admirably. Later in the year, he succeeded in races against his seasoned Haas teammate Nico Hülkenberg, and now holds a full-time spot with Haas for 2025. Nonetheless, the Ferrari junior program alum appears unlikely to replace full-time Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc anytime soon.
Jack Doohan
Facing a critical juncture in his fledgling Formula 1 career at Alpine, Doohan knows he must deliver results quickly. With Franco Colapinto constituting a potential substitute as the reserve driver, Doohan has little room for errors. “There’s always immense pressure in this unforgiving sport,” Doohan admitted. Despite finishing third in F2 in 2023, his lack of race participation last year until a surprise entry in the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi – where he placed 15th – has left him eager to showcase more competitive performances against his teammate Pierre Gasly, who secured seventh.
Isack Hadjar
After Lawson’s promotion to Red Bull, the opening at what was its second team, now branded as Racing Bulls, has welcomed F2 runner-up Hadjar. The French driver joins an outfit known for mid-season driver changes should performance lag. The quick turnover even saw Daniel Ricciardo end his tenure within a year there in 2024.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Despite clinching the F2 crown last year, outpacing Hadjar, Antonelli, and Bearman, Bortoleto’s own transition to Formula 1 has been somewhat subdued, overshadowed by his past adversaries. Part of this is due to his new team, Sauber, striving to find its footing after a challenging season, as it anticipates a full transition to the Audi works team come 2026. With a helmet design honoring three-time champion Ayrton Senna, Bortoleto represents Brazil’s first full-time Formula 1 driver since 2017.