Antonelli, Hadjar, Bortoleto… Who are the six newcomers on the 2025 grid?

They will not all be rookies, but six of the twenty drivers at the start of the 2025 season will be Formula 1 will compete in their first season as a regular. A small revolution for the premier category, especially after a 2024 vintage without the slightest change at the start. Overview of the new faces, more or less already known to the general public.

Liam Lawson (Red Bull, 23 years old, 11 Grand Prix under his belt)

Liam Lawson, new Red Bull driver. © Red Bull

He is the oldest and most experienced of the newcomers. The New Zealander had in fact taken part in five Grands Prix in 2023, replacing a Daniel Ricciardo injured, then in the last six rounds of 2024, always in place of the Australian, who was dropped during the season. The Kiwi has already entered the points three times, systematically in 9th place, and convinced the Red Bull staff to entrust him with the wheel of Sergio Pérez in 2025. Never crowned in promotional formulas, he nevertheless has an impressive background showing a pronounced versatility and adaptability: 2nd in German F4 (2018), 2nd in Euroformula Open (2019), 5th in FIA F3 (2020), 2nd in DTM (2021), 3nd in F2 (2022) or even 2nd in Super Formula (2023). The picture is enticing, and the boy clearly deserves his chance for real. Facing Max Verstappen At Red Bull, he will have a lot to do. The only positive point in this situation is that he will not be expected to beat the Dutch idol, but simply to evolve as close as possible to him and allow Red Bull to become constructors' world champion again if the car allows it.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes, 18 years old, 0 Grand Prix under his belt)

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, new Mercedes F1 driver. © DPPI

Almost five years younger than Liam Lawson, the Italian will be the youngest on the grid in 2025. Mercedes is indeed taking a huge gamble by replacing its legend Lewis Hamilton by a young adult who was still developing in karting three years ago. It must be said that AKA has proven himself since then. Winning four titles in just two seasons in 2022 and 2023, he was notably crowned in Italian F4 and FRECA, a championship that had never been won by a rookie since its creation in 2021. By deciding to skip Formula 3, which few drivers do, he was taking a pretty huge risk when arriving in F2. Although he didn't shine, his ability to learn quickly within a Prema team that wasn't as magical as usual allowed him to show the brand with the star that it could trust him in 2025. Sixth in the championship, he beat his repeating teammate Oliver Bearman (12th), took the sprint victory at Silverstone and in the main race in Hungary. He will be the huge curiosity of this 2025 season. With a first victory in his sights?

Jack Doohan (Alpine, 21 years old, 1 Grand Prix under his belt)

Jack Doohan, new driver Alpine.

The Australian takes advantage of the non-renewal of his contractEsteban Ocon (left at Haas) to become the first pilot of theAlpine Academy to access F1 with his training team. While he is taking advantage of a certain proximity with Flavio Briatore to make a place for himself in the sun, the Italian manager has already shown in his comments that he is not guaranteeing anyone anything about staying in the car for the entire season. Some rumors indicate a possible five-race contract, or at least an exit clause after five Grands Prix in the event of poor performance, but it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. The Aussie is in any case an interesting talent. Particularly fast over one lap, he showed off his skills by finishing vice-champion of FIA F3 (2021) and 3rd in FIA F2 (2023). The Gold Coast native was lucky enough to benefit from an adaptation round in Abu Dhabi in 2024, where he showed in free practice his ability to perform close to the times of gasly on one lap, as well as a large margin of progression in race configuration. Among the six arrivals, the Aussie is perhaps the one whose seat is the most precarious, with a Franco Colapinto who will wait for the slightest opportunity to resurface and take the bet. Strong in the head, the son of the five-time world champion of Moto 500cm3 nevertheless has everything to impose himself. Provided he does not delay in entering his season…

Oliver Bearman (Haas, 19 years old, 3 Grands Prix under his belt)

Oliver Bearman, smiling in Baku. © Eric Alonso /DPPI

If there was an election for the replacement of the year, Oliver Bearman would have no competition against him! Embroiled in a terrible F2 season considering his talent and abilities (12th, despite 3 sprint victories and two missed rounds), the Englishman saved his future by seizing his chance in F1. A reserve driver for Ferrari and Haas, the Briton was able to respond when Carlos Sainz gave up his seat in Saudi Arabia to have an operation for an appendicitis attack. Impressively, he only missed out on Q3 by a handful of thousandths, and the next day brought home a magnificent 7th place. Bis repetita with Haas in Baku, later in the season, replacing a Kevin Magnussen suspended. He won the point for 10th place and beat Nico Hulkenberg, which he dominated again in Brazil, despite the absence of points and some mistakes at Interlagos. "Ollie" is a fast boy, winner of the Italian and German F4 simultaneously in 2021, before becoming 3rd in FIA F3 and 6th in FIA F2 in 2023, ahead of only Victor Martins in the rookie standings. Without his luxury stints, the Ferrari protégé would not have had his chance in F1. Opposed to Esteban Ocon, he will have to show the full extent of his talent, in order to convince the Team to offer him a seat in the more or less near future.

Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls, 20 years old, 0 Grand Prix under his belt)

Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls in 2025. © Sebastian Rozendaal / Dutch Photo Agency / DPPI

The Frenchman was the last to be announced and to close a 2025 grid regenerated from top to bottom. Isack took advantage of Checo Pérez's setbacks and the Mexican's replacement by Liam Lawson at Red Bull to secure his place at Racing Bulls, in the B team. An opportunity that he nevertheless owes to his excellent results amassed throughout the season in Formula 2. Vice-champion in a team that he was able to take to the top after going through several episodes of bad luck, the Parisian was the best performer of the year, with four victories, three of which were gleaned in the main race. A season crowning a nice run in promotional formulas, marked by a 3rd place in F4 France (2020), a title of best rookie in FRECA (2021) and a great season in FIA F3 (2022) punctuated by a 4th place that hardly reflects his overall performance. Associated with Yuki tsunoda In F1, the Frenchman will want to prove his worth and impose himself in the premier category. Apart from a few free practice sessions 1, he has not driven a single car in an F1 car and will have to learn everything. Nothing likely to scare this optimist by nature.

Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber, 20 years old, 0 Grand Prix under his belt)

Gabriel Bortoleto, F2 champion. © Sebastian Rozendaal / Dutch Photo Agency / DPPI

Far from being impressive until FRECA, which he finished in 5th place in 2022, the Brazilian revealed himself late in life by winning F3 and F2 in quick succession over the last two years. The Auriverde did not win a lot during his two campaigns, but he never missed a beat in his races, displaying exceptional consistency. Protected by McLaren Since his title acquired in F3, he has been kindly relieved of his duties by the Woking team in order to give him the opportunity to join Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026. Alongside the experienced Nico Hülkenberg, he will necessarily represent the future of the team, which made a long-term choice by preferring him in particular to the multiple Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, who had been with the team for three seasons. Mature, hard-working and determined, the São Paulo native is also here to stay. If his Sauber is as fast as it was in 2024, he will at least have plenty of time to learn in peace and quiet in the shadow of the spotlight. A good consolation prize at only 20 years old.

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