The 2025 F1 season has brought fresh talent to the grid, with rookies making their mark and raising questions about who will dominate.
This year, Formula 1 is experiencing a fresh breeze as rookies (or semi-rookies) make up more than a quarter of the grid.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, Jack Doohan, and Oliver Bearman have all arrived, bringing new energy and excitement to the sport.
At Racing Bulls, Laurent Mekies is managing two very different drivers: Isack Hadjar, a full rookie, and Liam Lawson, who is still adjusting after his demotion from Red Bull following just two Grands Prix.
Mekies commented on the rising talent: “I think this is a very exciting generation of rookies, and they’re all proving they have the skill to be here. They’ve all experienced different levels of pressure.”
When asked who stands out as the fastest, Mekies added, “It’s still a bit early to judge. We’ve seen some ups and downs in their performances, so it’s really just the beginning.”
At Mercedes F1, Andrew Shovlin, the chief race engineer, has been keeping a close eye on their own rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“It’s impressive to see how many of these drivers can transition directly from F2 or other feeder series into F1 and perform at a high level,” Shovlin said. “To be honest, we’ve focused so much on Kimi that we haven’t paid as much attention to the others.”
However, Shovlin acknowledges the overall talent: “Of course, there’s a lot of talent out there. It’s tough for them when they only have a day and a half in Bahrain to get used to the new car and then they’re thrown into challenging situations—like a wet race in Melbourne, or demanding tracks like China or Suzuka. These are all tough circuits.”
For Antonelli, his Suzuka weekend started slowly, but Shovlin believes this was for a good reason: “The big difference is that George (Russell) knows this circuit like the back of his hand. He’s confident and pushes the car to its limits right from the first session. Kimi is approaching it carefully because the last thing he wants is to lose a session or damage the car, which could hurt his learning and confidence.”
Shovlin added, “He’s been working closely with Bono (his race engineer) to bridge the gap and make steady progress through the sessions. It’s not one specific area that makes the difference—George has a lot of experience, and obviously, a lot of natural talent too. Kimi’s biggest gap is his lack of experience.”
At Haas F1, Ayao Komatsu is guiding a team that combines experience with youth, having Esteban Ocon alongside Oliver Bearman. Komatsu sees the rookies coming into F1 far better prepared than in the past due to the high-quality training in the feeder series.
“I think it’s a very positive sign for the feeder series. It’s impressive to see these young drivers come into F1, knowing that nothing really prepares them for the pressure and intensity, yet they are able to perform at the level they’re showing,” said Komatsu.
Specifically, when discussing Bearman, he remarked, “Of course, we knew Ollie had speed, but what’s really impressive is his maturity at just 19. At such a young age, he has the maturity and understanding to see the bigger picture and carry himself in a certain way.”
Komatsu continued, “Overall, his preparation has been remarkable, and I’m really impressed. It’s exciting to see all of this come together.”
As the season progresses, the rookies continue to prove themselves capable of handling the demands of F1. With so many fresh faces on the grid, the question remains: which one will ultimately rise to the top? Only time will tell, but this new wave of talent is certainly one to watch.
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