As Formula 1 gears up for its most dramatic grid shake-up in years, a new wave of young talent is taking center stage. With six rookies entering full-time seats, 2025 marks a bold new chapter in F1 — one filled with promise, pressure, and potential.
Among them is 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who once snuck into an F1 paddock hidden in a stack of tires. Now, he steps into the shoes of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. That anecdote perfectly captures the hunger and ambition of this new generation.
Let’s meet the 2025 F1 rookie class:
🇮🇹 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Age: 18
- Claim to Fame: Third-youngest F1 driver ever
- Junior Highlights: Karting prodigy, dominant in F4 and FRegional
- F2 2024 Finish: 6th
Taking over Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes is no small task, but Antonelli wants to be known not as the next Hamilton, but simply the next Mercedes driver. His rapid rise through the junior ranks proves he’s no stranger to pressure. A crash in a Monza test may have tested his nerves, but his potential remains sky-high.
🇳🇿 Liam Lawson (Red Bull Racing)
- Age: 22
- Previous F1 Races: 11 (Substitute in 2023)
- Notable Achievement: Outqualified Max Verstappen in Singapore 2023
While technically not a rookie, Lawson starts his first full season in 2025 as Sergio Perez’s replacement. Known for his aggressive racing style and clutch performances, the New Zealander has a tough job: keep up with the reigning world champion while justifying Red Bull’s faith over Yuki Tsunoda.
🇬🇧 Oliver Bearman (Haas)
- Age: 19
- F1 Debut: 7th for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia 2024
- F2 2024 Finish: 6th
Bearman’s breakout performance subbing in for Carlos Sainz turned heads. He’s now locked in at Haas, where he’ll look to make a mark as the team rebuilds. Still a Ferrari junior, his long-term future may lie with the Scuderia — but for now, all eyes are on how he handles a full season.
🇦🇺 Jack Doohan (Alpine)
- Age: 21
- F2 2023 Finish: 3rd
- F1 Debut: Abu Dhabi GP 2024 (15th place)
The son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, Jack enters the F1 grid with both legacy and pressure in equal measure. Alpine’s signing of reserve driver Franco Colapinto raises the stakes even higher. With his seat already under scrutiny, Doohan needs consistency from the outset.
🇫🇷 Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Age: 20
- F2 2024 Finish: Runner-up
- Red Bull Junior Since: 2021
Hadjar takes Lawson’s spot at the Red Bull sister team, Racing Bulls. Known for its high turnover rate, the team offers opportunity and risk in equal measure. Hadjar will need early results to secure his spot long-term — even Daniel Ricciardo couldn’t make it through a full season there in 2024.
🇧🇷 Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
- Age: 19
- F2 2024 Finish: Champion
- F1’s First Full-Time Brazilian Since: 2017
Despite being the 2024 F2 champion, Bortoleto enters F1 under the radar. With Sauber struggling ahead of its 2026 transformation into Audi’s works team, he faces a development year. Still, racing under the shadow of Senna (his helmet pays tribute to the legend), expectations from Brazil are sky-high.
Why the Rookie Rush Now?
This influx of youth is no coincidence. The 2025 season offers teams a chance to groom fresh talent ahead of major regulation changes in 2026. With older drivers like Perez and Bottas moving aside, the stage is set for a new generation to take over.
From Antonelli’s fairytale rise to Bortoleto’s quiet confidence, 2025 might be the most unpredictable and exciting season in years.
📌 Final Thoughts
Formula 1 is no stranger to shakeups, but the 2025 rookie class could signal a generational shift unlike any we’ve seen before. Will these rising stars live up to the hype — or crash out under pressure? One thing’s for sure: the grid has never looked more exciting.
