Know the rookies: what to expect from the F1 class of 2025

In 2025, 30% of the Formula 1 grid will be composed of rookies, with six pilots who debut in the full season this year. Three of those rookies have one or more grand prize begin to their name, but none of them (including Red Bull’s Liam Lawson) They have started a season as a racing pilot named for an F1 team.

It is possible that it is already familiar with the “new” names in F1 this year, but then we map the unique challenges and opportunities that each one faces.

Career number: 12
Race registration:
2024: Formula 2, sixth finished (two victories)
2023: Frera champion (nine wins)
2022: German and Italian F4 champion

When Toto Wolff found out Lewis Hamilton Ferrari would go in 2025, he took the five minutes to decide on Antonelli as the replacement of seven times champion. Such a vote of confidence in a 17 -year -old tells you everything you need to know about how Mercedes qualifies Antonelli, and illustrates the exaggeration that has left his shoulders long before his debut career.

To prepare the Italian adolescent for his high profile arrival at the F1, Mercedes has provided more than 5,500 miles of private tests in previous cars. It was during these tests that Antonelli’s raw rhythm shone and his ability to bring a car to his limit already has an almost legendary state.

In the announcement of Italian last year, Wolff highlighted a wet F3 test in Silverstone where Antonelli jumped in the car, went to the track and returned to the wells four seconds faster than the best driver. His heroic victory in Motorsport’s games with a broken doll in 2022 also adds to the flourishing legend of Antonelli, while indicating an underlying resistance that will undoubtedly serve him well in F1.

Despite the general promise, the questions remain about their consistency. In the Italian Grand Prix last year, Antonelli had the opportunity to drive George RussellS W15 in the first practice. His first round was much faster than the team engineers expected (or asked), but their second round ended deeply in the crash barriers in the parabolic.

Errors are expected at the beginning in any F1 race, and Wolff has made it clear that he would prefer to have a fast driver who crashes than a slow driver who remains out of trouble, but a clean start of the season will still be high on the list of Wishes of Antonelli.

Career number: 87
Race registration:
2024: Formula 1, finished 18 of three openings (7 points); Formula 2, finished 12 (three victories)
2023: Formula 2, sixth finished (four victories)
2022: Formula 3, finished third (a victory)
2021: Italian and German F4 champion

Bearman is among the pilots on this list that already have experience in F1 career in their name before their first full season. When Carlos Sainz He was diagnosed with appendicitis at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix last year, Ferrari resorted to Bearman, then only 18 years, to take a step forward as his replacement.

With only one practice session to prepare, Bearman assured the 11th in the network in the qualification before scoring points in his F1 debut with a seventh place in the race. Later, in the season, he also went up to Kevin Magnussen in Haas when the Danish was prohibited for the weekend of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and became ill in Brazil. Both Haas and Ferrari were impressed by the consistency of Bearman’s performances, and his rhythm when he overcame Haas Team Compan Nico Hülkenberg In Brazil.

The sporadic so -called F1 were part of the reason why Bearman’s F2 campaign looks quite average on paper, but still obtained three victories in Sprint’s career during the year. His Ferrari links mean that there is a clear path for Bearman to progress in the coming years, and Haas seems the perfect environment for him to catch up.

Career number: 5
Race registration:
2024: Formula 2 champion (two victories)
2023: Formula 3 champion (two victories)
2022: Freca, finished sixth (two victories)

It only seems correct that the current champion of Formula 2 wins a place in the Formula 1 grid, and that is exactly what Sauber has offered Bortoleto by 2025. What is more, the Brazilian is that rare breed of champion of F2 That he not only won the title in his first attempt, but also assured the Formula 3 championship the previous year. Only three drivers have achieved that feat in recent years: Russell, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc – That is, Bortoleto is already in an exalted company.

The consistency was the key to its success of the Title of F2 last year, with only two victories in the race and two positions in the Pole over the course of the season, but a total of 19 results among the top six and helping him accumulate 214.5 points.

When joining Sauber, a team that was firmly based on the back of the network in 2024, has its work cut, but it is also a transition team as it develops towards its brand change as Audi in 2026. The team Chief Mattia Binotto was attacked by the team towards the end of last season (while his new teammate Hülkenberg was signed by the previous management at the beginning of the year), so he should have a lot of support as he puts into the day.

Career number: 7
Race registration:
2024: Alpine reserve driver (ABU Dhabi GP ran)
2023: Formula 2, finished third (three victories)
2022: Formula 2, sixth finished (three victories)
2021: Formula 3, finished 2nd (four victories)

Doohan, son of the five -time MotoGP world champion Mickp Mick, has been knocking on the door of F1 for some time. After sitting apart as Alpine’s reserve driver last year, he became a leading candidate to take the step when he was clear Esteban Ocon He would not continue in the team beyond 2024.

He was confirmed as a 2025 race pilot from the back of a series of strong private tests with Alpine, and made his debut in the Grand Prix in the 2024 final race after Ocon to Haas was pushed into the exit for the team management. Despite Alpine’s desire to accelerate his arrival, Doohan’s future is already the least safe in this list.

It seems hard to speculate on the position of a driver before the season has begun, but Alpine’s decision to hire Franco Colapinto in a several -year contract in January is not a good omen for the Australian. Colapinto impressed during his nine races with Williams in 2024 and would be the perfect candidate to place himself in a race seat in 2025 if he will be available. His presence leaves Doohan with a zero margin by error in the few initial races, since any lack of perceived performance or a great error would provide the perfect excuse for an exchange of early season.

Career number: 6
Race registration:
2024: Formula 2 runner -up (four victories)
2023: Formula 2, finished 14th
2022: Formula 3, finished fourth (three victories)
2021: Freca, finished fifth (two victories)

The consequences of the departure after Sergio Pérez’s season of the Red Bull senior team opened a space for Hadjar to join Racing Bulls by 2025. In truth, Hadjar knew about his promotion before the final race of the season, removing part of your pressure pressure. Showdown of the Formula 2 title with his rookie partner 2025 Bortoleto. As the next Red Bull Junior pilot online, it was the obvious option to fill the gap left by Lawson’s promotion, but there was a stage in which the team’s management was considering seriously Colapinto.

Hadjar is undoubtedly fast and won twice in F2 last year that the eventual Bortoleto champion, but a fall of the season, in which he failed to score a point in two consecutive races in Monza and Baku, finally proved to be expensive His hopes of his hopes of claiming the crown F2. The radio outbursts were another topic of Hadjar’s F2 campaign, something that might not be tolerated by a Red Bull -owned F1 team.

Liam Lawson | 22 | Bull Red

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Career number: 30
Race registration:
2024: Formula 1, ended on the 21st of six openings (4 points)
2023: Formula 1, finished 20 of five openings (2 points); Super Japanese formula, finished second (three victories)
2022: Formula 2, finished 3 (four victories)
2021: Formula 2, ninth finished (a victory)
2020: Formula 3, finished fifth (three victories)
2019: Formula 3, finished 11

With 11 appearances in the Grand Prix for two years in his name, it is difficult to call Lawson a rookie, but 2025 will be the first time he approaches an F1 season with a guaranteed seat from the beginning. The experience of these 11 races will be invaluable since their rookie season is attached to the most difficult work in motor racing: teammate for Max Verstappen.

Since arriving at Red Bull in 2016, Verstappen has faced four teammates (Pérez, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo) and, apart from Ricciardo who left on his own, he has made everyone clearly average. In that sense, Lawson is entering the lion’s lair, but comes with the one -year promise with a car -winning car, something that no driver would reject.

With Red Bull without junior options and apparently opposed the idea of ​​promoting Yuki Tsunoda From bull races, there is a stronger wish than to make Lawson’s arrival work. The meaningless approach of the Neo Zealand and the aggressive career style were what made it stand out on Tsunoda, and both will be crucial if it makes Red Bull a permanent home.