While the 2024 Formula 1 season started without a single rookie on the grid, 2025 will be a completely different story.

At least two absolute rookies, Gabriel Bortoleto and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, are confirmed to join the grid next year and the season-opening Australian Grand Prix is set to be their first race.

On top of that, other two drivers, Oliver Bearman and Jack Doohan, who have already made their official debut with a full F1 weekend are starting their first full campaign.

Among these fresh faces, the most experienced driver in Formula 1, Fernando Alonso, has already voiced a clear opinion on who stands out.

Alonso, whose A14 Management oversees Bortoleto’s career, has named the Brazilian driver as the top rookie of the 2025 class.

“He's the best,” stated Alonso quoted by Motorsport.com.

“He was, in his rookie season in F3, champion. He was, in his rookie season in F2, champion.

“I know there are a lot of talks about the young generation – a lot of rookies also next year, very talented all of them, but the best is Gabriel. He showed it on track with the same cars.

“Obviously next year he will maybe not have the same car as some of the rookies, but I hope people do not forget that he's better than them. He was and he will [be].”

Bortoleto won only two races in Formula 2 this season, which was fewer than Bearman and the same as Antonelli, but he was the most consistent driver.

He finished in the top 10 in 21 of the 22 races and in the top five in the final seven races. This consistency helped him close a 35.5-point gap to Isack Hadjar and win the championship in a close title fight.

Next year, he will join Sauber alongside Nico Hulkenberg as the first full-time Brazilian F1 driver since Felipe Massa in 2017.

Additionally, one more rookie might join the grid as Hadjar, the F2 runner-up, is expected to step in for either Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson, in case their are promoted to Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez, with a decision on that front expected shortly.