Big changes are coming to Formula 1 in 2025, with a wave of young talent set to shake up the grid. After a rare year of stability where all 20 drivers stayed put, F1 teams are now betting big on rookie drivers.
Oliver Bearman is heading to Haas F1, while Mercedes has their eyes on Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Alpine’s giving Jack Doohan his shot, and Sauber’s bringing in Gabriel Bortoleto. There’s even talk of Isack Hadjar joining Racing Bulls.
But here’s the thing – F1 isn’t always kind to newcomers.
Just look at Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire. They won F2 championships in 2022 and 2023, but they’re still waiting for their F1 break.
"We need to be patient with these young drivers," says Bruno Michel, Formula 2’s CEO. He’s seen all these rookies race in F2 and knows what they’re capable of.
Michel points to some interesting history. "Look at Lewis Hamilton – he was fighting for championships right away against Fernando Alonso. But then you’ve got Max Verstappen, who needed some time to find his feet before becoming the force he is today."
It’s worth noting that some of next year’s rookies have already gotten their feet wet. Bearman turned heads with an impressive showing at Ferrari last season, and Doohan got some valuable experience too.
"What Ollie did in Jeddah was absolutely amazing," Michel says, clearly impressed by Bearman’s performance. "But F1 is a different beast. The cars are more complex, the teams are bigger, and the pressure is intense."
The spotlight will be brighter than anything these drivers have experienced before. They’ll need to handle not just the racing, but the media attention and technical demands that come with F1.
Will they sink or swim? We’ll find out in 2025.
The good news is that several of these rookies have already had a taste of F1 action. That experience could prove invaluable as they make the jump to the big league.
"I’m really happy that drivers like Oliver and Jack have already had some race experience," Michel adds. "It gives them a head start for what’s coming."
Only time will tell if these young guns can live up to the hype. But one thing’s for sure – 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting rookie seasons in recent F1 history.
