Formula 1’s Newest Rookies: How will their presence shift the grid’s dynamic?
A new generation of talent is bound to bring a nail-biting return to F1 in 2025.
After the monumental 2024 Formula 1 season concluded with its explosive finale in Abu Dhabi, the motorsport community began a 3-month hiatus in a flurry of emotions. With some drivers switching teams and several leaving the grid for the last time, it was a bittersweet weekend for fans, teams, and drivers alike.
But all eyes are now on the drivers who are set to begin their first-ever full season of Formula 1 in 2025. These drivers are:
Jack Doohan, 21, Australia – Alpine
Gabriel Bortoleto, 20, Brazil – Sauber
Kimi Antonelli, 18, Italy – Mercedes AMG Petronas
Oliver Bearman, 19, Great Britain – Haas F1
Isack Hadjar, 20, France – VCARB
Liam Lawson, 22, New Zealand – Red Bull Racing
Though some fans may not be inclined to include Liam Lawson in the list of next season’s rookies, he has yet to complete a full season in Formula 1. In this writer’s book, that classifies Lawson as a 2025 rookie.
With 30% of the 2025 grid having rookie status, many fans are intrigued (and maybe a little apprehensive) about how their presence could impact races – and close calls on the track – moving forward. Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar, the 2024 Formula 2 Champion and Vice-Champion, are heavy favorites for the upcoming season and the coveted title of Rookie of the Year. However, Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson both having experience driving in multiple Formula 1 races will most likely give them a competitive edge over the other rookies.
Liam Lawson, though no doubt deserving of a seat in Formula 1, has been at the center of recent drama and controversy since being announced as the second Red Bull driver alongside 4x World Champion Max Verstappen. After it was announced that Sergio Perez and Red Bull would be parting ways after the 2024 season, fans were hopeful that VCARB driver Yuki Tsunoda would be offered the seat. The announcement that Perez’s vacated seat would be filled by New Zealand driver Liam Lawson left Yuki Tsunoda on the junior team and fans speculating if the Japanese driver would ever be given a fair shake at Red Bull.
Citing the time Tsunoda spent leading the junior team and the dues he’s paid working for a chance to drive the Red Bull livery, some fans are calling Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson premature, disrespectful, and even a mistake. The Japanese driver may be wondering if he’ll ever be given a fair shake in the Red Bull family. After 4 years, Tsunoda is now the longest standing driver ever on Red Bull’s junior team, a record that’s beginning to resemble a curse.
And though the conversation of whether or not Lawson was brought up to Red Bull too early isn’t stopping any time soon, he has proven himself a fierce competitor and capable of thriving in the midfield (and potentially fighting for podiums). Perhaps Lawson’s aggressive race craft is just what Christian Horner and Red Bull want alongside 4x World Champion Max Verstappen.
But how will Lawson’s racing style fare driving alongside Verstappen? The 22-year-old driver is known for his offensive racing, not defending his teammates position, something Sergio Perez provided Verstappen for the 4 years they were teammates. Will team orders continue to be a deciding factor in Red Bull’s strategy, or could 2025 be a season of teammates battling it out race after race?
Overall, fans are excited to see the new driver pairings and hopefully soon-to-be dynamic duos. Though Mclaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are often considered the best teammate paring on the grid for their combined talent and off-track friendship, new pairings like Bortoleto and Hülkenberg, Russell and Antonelli, and Gasly and Doohan, are being discussed in online forums for their great potential on the track – and maybe even for some comedic relief.
There’s no doubt that every new driver coming to Formula 1 is gifted and deserving of their seat, but they are still less experienced than the rest of the grid. Rookies in the past have been quick to discuss the learning curve and growing pains of graduating from feeder series’ into Formula 1.
Pre-season testing in Sakhir, Bahrain, February 26-28 and the first race weekend in Australia will be telling of who is ready to rise to the challenge. And each of these 6 new drivers are hungry to prove themselves. Because in Formula 1 there are two options: succeed or leave the series.
Now the only question remaining is, who will thrive under the immense pressure that is Formula 1, and who will succumb to it?