Liam Lawson

• Age: 22  
• Nationality: New Zealand  
• Team: Red Bull  

Liam Lawson is not quite a new face as he has already gained valuable experience in Formula 1, having replaced Daniel Ricciardo in 2023 for 5 races after the Australian’s wrist injury and in 2024 he jumped in fully after the Singapore Grand Prix.

In 2025, he will make his full-time debut alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen, becoming the driver with the least F1 starts to race for Red Bull’s main team.

Lawson, originally from New Zealand, has spent years patiently waiting for his opportunity within the Red Bull family, demonstrating his worth as a strong candidate through a diverse junior career that includes stints in DTM, Super Formula, and Formula 2.

His maturity and ability to adapt to new challenges played a key part in Red Bull's decision to promote him instead of Yuki Tsunoda. However, he now faces a tough challenge of becoming Verstappen’s teammate, as drivers like Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez have all failed to live up to the team's high expectations.

Oliver Bearman

• Age: 19  
• Nationality: British  
• Team: Haas 

Oliver Bearman, one of the youngest rookies on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, is set to make his full-time debut with Haas.

The British driver has already proven his talent in Formula 3 and Formula 2, where he achieved multiple podium finishes and race wins. His impressive speed and skill have earned him a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy, and with Haas being powered by Ferrari engines, this connection could provide valuable opportunities for his development.

Although Bearman doesn't come to F1 with a junior championship under his belt like some of his peers, he has shown his potential in the sport. He made his F1 debut in 2024, stepping in for Carlos Sainz after the Spaniard was sidelined by appendicitis. Despite the challenge of the Jeddah Corniche circuit, Bearman finished an impressive P7 in his first race.

Later in the season season, he scored points for Haas in just his second F1 race, filling in for the race-banned Kevin Magnussen in Azerbaijan. In 2025, as Bearman partners with Esteban Ocon at Haas, he’ll be looking to help the team at least replicate the point success of 2024.

Jack Doohan

• Age: 21  
• Nationality: Australian  
• Team: Alpine  

Jack Doohan, an Australian driver with a strong racing background, will make his full-time Formula 1 debut with Alpine in 2025.

The son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, Jack has impressed in Formula 3 and Formula 2, earning a spot in the Alpine Academy. Known for his aggressive driving and race management skills, Doohan is eager to prove his talent in Formula 1.

Doohan’s path to F1 has seemed inevitable. After receiving his first go-kart from Michael Schumacher, he steadily rose through the ranks.

In 2024, he made an unexpected appearance at the final race, replacing Esteban Ocon. Though he finished outside the points, the experience gave him valuable insight ahead of his full-time debut alongside Pierre Gasly.

In addition to his race experience, Doohan has spent hundreds of hours in the simulator, working hard at the Alpine factory after his time in Formula 2. His efforts in the simulator have helped him prepare for the challenges of Formula 1, but the big question is how competitive he will be in the actual races.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

• Age: 18  
• Nationality: Italian  
• Team: Mercedes  

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is one of the most highly regarded young talents in motorsport, and his full-time promotion to Formula 1 in 2025 with Mercedes will be closely watched by many.

The Italian driver has dominated in lower formulas, with a standout performance in Formula 4, where he quickly became a title contender. His success continued in Formula 3, where he impressed with consistent podium finishes and victories.

Antonelli’s speed, maturity, and natural driving talent have made him a standout figure in the Mercedes Driver Academy, and the 2025 season will give him the opportunity to prove himself on the Formula 1 stage.

Mercedes is putting a lot of faith in Antonelli as he is the first rookie to race for the team since the early years of Formula 1. He will also be under a lot of pressure as he takes the seat of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari.

Gabriel Bortoleto

• Age: 20  
• Nationality: Brazilian  
• Team: Sauber  

Gabriel Bortoleto, a talented Brazilian driver, is another exciting rookie for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The Brazilian rose to prominence in 2023, winning races and eventually the Formula 3 title. The following year, he joined a select group of drivers—like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri—who have claimed back-to-back championships in both F3 and F2.

His standout performance in 2024, where he won the Monza feature race after starting from the back, highlighted his potential. Despite being part of McLaren's Driver Development program, Bortoleto signed with Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026.

Sauber offers a great environment for Bortoleto to learn, especially with the experience of teammate Nico Hulkenberg. While Sauber is expected to remain near the back of the grid in 2025, the focus is already on 2026, giving the 20-year-old a chance to adapt to F1 without too much pressure.

On top of everything, Bortoleto is part of A14 Management, a motorsport management company owned by Fernando Alonso, who gives him a lot of support.

Isack Hadjar

• Age: 20
• Nationality: French-Algerian  
• Team: VCARB  

Isack Hadjar is the latest rookie to join the F1 grid. The French-Algerian driver was promoted to VCARB in late December after Liam Lawson moved up to partner Max Verstappen.

While he doesn’t come with championship titles or enormous expectations, this makes Red Bull a perfect place for him to develop and learn from seasoned drivers like Yuki Tsunoda.

In Formula 2, he won more races than any other driver and earned praise for his quick reactions, especially when he avoided a crash in the Monaco tunnel in 2024. In the same year, he also challenged Gabriel Bortoleto for the title until the season-ending race and lost the battle just by a few points. 

As he joins VCARB in 2025, he can only surprise as nobody knows what to expect from him, which allows him to work under less pressure and focus on growing throughout the season.