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F1’s 2025 Rookie Class: Who Will Sink, Who Will Shine?

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 12, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 6 mins read
0
F1’s Rookie Revolution: Meet the New Wave of Talent Set to Light Up the 2025 Grid

Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli hang out in the Paddock at the Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

As Formula 1’s 2025 launch season revs up, all eyes aren’t just on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut—there’s an exciting new wave of rookie drivers ready to shake up the grid.

From Liam Lawson’s high-pressure Red Bull assignment to Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes debut, this year’s crop of fresh faces will be tested like never before. So, who will rise to the occasion—and who’s on the hot seat before the season even starts?


🚀 The 2025 Formula 1 Rookies: Breaking Down Their Chances

🔥 Liam Lawson (Red Bull, 11 F1 Starts) – A Baptism by Fire

💡 Biggest Challenge: Keeping up with Max Verstappen

Lawson isn’t just a rookie—he’s stepping into one of the most cutthroat seats in F1. Red Bull’s second seat has chewed up Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and even Sergio Perez.

📌 Key to survival? Avoid the brutal early-season struggles that doomed his predecessors.

📈 Best-Case Scenario: Steady point finishes & proving he belongs at Red Bull.
📉 Worst-Case Scenario: A Gasly/Albon-style midseason demotion.

🔮 Prediction: A season of flashes but enormous pressure. He’ll have to fight tooth and nail to keep his seat in 2026.


💎 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes, 0 F1 Starts) – The Future of the Silver Arrows

💡 Biggest Challenge: Living up to the hype

Toto Wolff is betting big on Antonelli, skipping F2 entirely to fast-track him to F1 at 18 years old.

📌 Key to success? Consistency. No one expects him to match George Russell immediately, but he can’t afford a disastrous start.

📈 Best-Case Scenario: Outperforming expectations and proving he belongs at Mercedes long-term.
📉 Worst-Case Scenario: Struggling to adapt and facing Russell’s dominance.

🔮 Prediction: Expect growing pains, but a promising future. If he beats Russell a few times, his stock skyrockets.


🏎️ Jack Doohan (Alpine, 1 F1 Start) – The High-Pressure Gamble

💡 Biggest Challenge: Keeping his seat

Doohan steps into Alpine’s chaotic driver carousel, with Franco Colapinto already waiting in the wings for 2026.

📌 Key to success? Close the gap to Pierre Gasly and deliver consistent points.

📈 Best-Case Scenario: Proves himself against Gasly and secures his long-term Alpine future.
📉 Worst-Case Scenario: Gets dropped mid-season for underperforming.

🔮 Prediction: A tough road ahead. He has the talent, but Alpine’s instability means he has no room for error.


🐻 Oliver Bearman (Haas, 3 F1 Starts) – Ferrari’s Rising Star

💡 Biggest Challenge: Managing expectations

Bearman was a revelation in his three-race F1 cameo, proving he belongs on the grid. But now, he must perform consistently against Esteban Ocon.

📌 Key to success? Staying close to Ocon in pace and avoiding rookie errors.

📈 Best-Case Scenario: Establishes himself as Ferrari’s future talent pipeline.
📉 Worst-Case Scenario: A difficult season that stalls his momentum.

🔮 Prediction: A solid debut season, but no room for complacency. Ferrari will be watching closely.


🏎️ Isack Hadjar (RB, 0 F1 Starts) – Red Bull’s Dark Horse

💡 Biggest Challenge: Defeating Yuki Tsunoda

Horner has already hinted that Hadjar has serious pace—and with Arvid Lindblad rising through the ranks, the pressure is on to perform immediately.

📌 Key to success? Matching or beating Tsunoda regularly.

📈 Best-Case Scenario: Establishes himself as a future Red Bull candidate.
📉 Worst-Case Scenario: Gets outclassed by Tsunoda and fades into obscurity.

🔮 Prediction: A sleeper rookie to watch—if he can outshine Tsunoda, he’s in the mix for a Red Bull promotion.


🛠️ Gabriel Bortoleto (Stake Kick Sauber, 0 F1 Starts) – The Long-Term Play

💡 Biggest Challenge: Learning under low pressure

Bortoleto isn’t expected to make waves immediately, but he has an incredible opportunity to develop alongside Nico Hülkenberg.

📌 Key to success? Steady improvement throughout the season.

📈 Best-Case Scenario: Becomes a solid midfield driver as Stake transitions to Audi in 2026.
📉 Worst-Case Scenario: Struggles and gets replaced before the Audi project takes off.

🔮 Prediction: A slow start, but long-term potential. No huge expectations in 2025, but 2026 is the real test.


Final Rookie Power Rankings: Who Has the Most to Prove?

🥇 1. Liam Lawson (🔴 Red Bull) – 🔥 Survive the Verstappen Test or Bust
🥈 2. Kimi Antonelli (⚫ Mercedes) – 🚀 A Young Star in the Making?
🥉 3. Oliver Bearman (⚪ Haas) – 💎 Ferrari’s Best Prospect
4️⃣ Jack Doohan (🔵 Alpine) – 🚨 Job Security Issues Already?
5️⃣ Isack Hadjar (🔵 RB) – 👀 Red Bull’s Next Big Thing?
6️⃣ Gabriel Bortoleto (⚫ Stake) – 🛠️ Low Pressure, High Potential


Who Will Be the Breakout Rookie in 2025?

🔥 Liam Lawson & Kimi Antonelli face the most intense pressure.
⚔️ Bearman vs. Ocon & Doohan vs. Gasly will be must-watch battles.
🕰️ Bortoleto has time to develop—but will Stake/Audi be patient?

Which rookie will shine and which will struggle? Drop your predictions!

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