Astonishing and Thrilling: F1 Team Principals Laud Rookie Drivers
The Formula 1 team principals are showering the new generation of rookies with praise, highlighting how the young drivers of 2025 have quickly and confidently adapted to the pinnacle of world motorsport. Names like Kimi Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, and Isack Hadjar are undeniably capturing the attention of the F1 community and fans, not only for their on-track performances but primarily for the maturity they have displayed in facing the challenges of the category.
The season has brought a wave of new talents to the grid, with many already leaving their mark by scoring their first points. So far, only Jack Doohan (Alpine) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) are still seeking to secure their maiden points.
Laurent Mekies, the Racing Bulls team principal, is among those applauding the young drivers’ performances, especially Hadjar, firmly believing that this new crop is up to the challenge. Mekies stated, “It’s a very good generation of rookies. They have all experienced different levels of pressure and are clearly showing that they deserve to be in F1.” He emphasized Hadjar’s remarkable debut, highlighting the French driver’s undeniable raw speed and expressing excitement about his potential development.
Despite a scare on the formation lap in Australia when Hadjar crashed before the race even started, the French driver bounced back and surprised everyone by qualifying in seventh place in China, a track he had never driven on before. Mekies praised the level of these young drivers, pointing out Hadjar’s impressive adaptability and speed, leaving fans and experts eager to see more.
At Mercedes, the director of track engineering, Andrew Shovlin, also acknowledged the limited time these drivers have to adapt and yet deliver results, describing it as impressive to witness their seamless transition from Formula 2 or other series into competitive F1 performances. Shovlin praised Kimi Antonelli’s strong performances despite minimal testing time and challenging race conditions, highlighting the excitement that the Italian driver brings to Formula 1.
Ayao Komatsu, the Haas team principal, echoed the sentiment of being impressed, particularly by Ollie Bearman’s maturity. Bearman, who secured a permanent seat with the team this year after sporadic appearances in 2024, has showcased not only his speed but also his remarkable maturity at just 19 years old. Komatsu commended Bearman’s understanding of the team’s dynamics and his conduct both on and off the track, emphasizing the rookie’s admirable preparation and performance.
With so many talented drivers proving themselves in the early races of the season, the future of F1 appears more promising and thrilling than ever before.
