This season has brought one of the biggest shake-ups in Formula 1 history, with six rookies making their debut, the most we’ve ever seen in a single year. That means 30% of the grid is made up of fresh talent, new names, and exciting stories just waiting to unfold.
To help you get to know the new kids on the block, I’ve put together a quick and easy guide to each rookie’s background, career journey, and how they’ve been performing so far in 2025.
1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
- Age: 18 (youngest driver on the grid)
- From: Bologna, Italy
- Fun fact: Son of Italian racing driver Marco Antonelli
Career highlights:
- Started karting at age 7
- Joined the Mercedes junior program at just 11
- Won both the Italian F4 and Formula Regional championships in Europe and the Middle East
Path to F1:
- Skipped Formula 3 entirely
- Finished 6th in F2 with Prema Racing
- Signed by Toto Wolff for the 2025 Mercedes seat
Performance so far:
- P4 in Australia (his debut!)
- P6 in China & Japan
- P11 in Bahrain
- Youngest driver ever to lead a race and set a fastest lap
- Currently 6th in the Drivers’ Championship
2. Oliver Bearman
- Team: MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
- Age: 19
- From: Essex, England
- Fun fact: Failed his driving test on the first attempt, he was too quick off the lights!
Career highlights:
- Won Italian and ADAC Formula 4 titles
- Strong F3 and F2 results, with multiple podiums and wins
Path to F1:
- Filled in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in 2024 (P7 on debut!)
- Signed full-time by Haas for 2025
Performance so far:
- P14 in Australia
- P8 in China
- P10 in Japan
- P10 in Bahrain (from P20 on the grid!)
3. Liam Lawson
- Team: Red Bull Racing (demoted to Racing Bulls)
- Age: 23
- From: New Zealand
- Fun fact: Used to play the violin!
Career highlights:
- Won on debut in Formula First, Formula Ford, F4, F3 Asia, and Toyota Racing Series
- Finished 3rd in F2 (2022)
Path to F1:
- Debuted at the 2023 Dutch GP for AlphaTauri
- Signed to Red Bull for 2025 but demoted to Racing Bulls after poor early performances
Performance so far:
- DNF in Australia
- P12 in China
- P17 in Japan
- P16 in Bahrain
4. Jack Doohan
- Team: Alpine F1 Team
- Age: 22
- From: Gold Coast, Australia
- Fun fact: His first kart was a gift from Michael Schumacher
Career highlights:
- Australian Karting Champion (2015)
- Vice-champion in F3 with four wins
- Finished 6th and then 3rd in Formula 2
Path to F1:
- Joined Alpine’s development program
- Served as reserve driver for two years
- Promoted to a full-time seat in 2025
Performance so far:
- DNF in Australia
- P13 in China
- P15 in Japan
- P14 in Bahrain
5. Isack Hadjar
- Team: Racing Bulls
- Age: 20
- From: Paris, France (French-Algerian)
- Fun fact: He practices judo in his spare time
Career highlights:
- 3rd in French F4
- 4th in FIA F3 with three wins
- 2nd in F2 (2024) after finishing 14th the year before
Path to F1:
- Promoted from the Red Bull Junior Team
- Signed by Racing Bulls for 2025
Performance so far:
- DNF in Australia
- P11 in China
- P8 in Japan (first points in F1!)
- P13 in Bahrain
6. Gabriel Bortoleto
- Team: Kick Sauber
- Age: 20
- From: Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil
- Fun fact: Managed by Fernando Alonso
Career highlights:
- National karting titles in Brazil
- Rookie champion in FIA F3 (2023)
- Rookie champion in FIA F2 (2024)
- FIA Rookie of the Year (2024)
Path to F1:
- Joined McLaren’s junior program before signing with Sauber for 2025
Performance so far:
- DNF in Australia
- P14 in China
- P19 in Japan
- P18 in Bahrain
Watch this video to find out a bit more about them:
See you Trackside!
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