F1
The Weekly Question – 2025, the best class of rookies in F1?
© Eric Alonso / DPPI
The Weekly Question is back for a new edition. Each week, you have the opportunity to answer a question about an event that took place the previous weekend or that could take place the next. F1, MotoGP, Rally, Endurance, IndyCarGT… all disciplines will be represented. With only four Grands Prix remaining in the F1 season, Brazil is the next race on the calendar. For the first time since Felipe Massa, Gabriel Bortoleto will allow the São Paulo crowd to cheer on a Brazilian driver. Formula 1 Brazilian on the Interlagos circuit. Surprising at times this year, he is surrounded by a strong field, notably featuring Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, and Oliver Bearman.
To these four protagonists, we can also add Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto – although these two drivers have already participated in a portion of the 2024 season – and Jack Doohan, who started the season with Alpine before being replaced by his Argentinian counterpart. Having experienced varying fortunes, these young players had plenty to choose from after a 2024 season in which no changes were made to the grid compared to the 2023 season. But, besides their number, what about their talent when we compare this generation to those of the 21st century?
ALSO READ > The Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix schedule
Will the F1 rookies of 2025 surpass the benchmark years?
Although Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar, for example, have already each reached the podium, and Oliver Bearman, for instance, is coming off a superb fourth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix, some exceptional years have also seriously challenged the 2025 crop. In 2001, for example, Kimi Räikkönen was making his debut with Sauber, just like... Fernando Alonso alongside Minardi. A certain Juan Pablo Montoya was also present at WilliamsMore recently, we can cite years such as 2015 with the arrivals of Max Verstappen et Carlos Sainz, or even 2019, fueled by Lando NorrisGeorge Russell, and Alexander albon in particular, one year after the appointments of Charles Leclerc et Pierre Gasly.
So, are the F1 rookies better in 2025 than in other years of the 1st century? Despite the limited perspective we have on their potential development, does their rookie season already inspire you for the future? Don't forget to vote and feel free to share your opinion in the comments!
Mathieu Chambenoit
Responsible for the single-seater categories (F2, F3, FRECA, Eurocup-3, F4...), I enjoy discussing F1, Endurance, or MotoGP.
-
Collector's item Renault 5 Turbo
11,90€ NEW -
7,90€ INDISPENSABLE -
Collector Ferrari Legendary Duos
11,90€ NEW
Read also
Bisous
04/11/2025 at 07:29 a.m.
Antonelli already has several penalties, blatant inconsistency, a visually impressive driver but one who will end badly sooner or later, I don't see the star he was touted to be, and the average gap in qualifying with Russell is enormous: Meh............... Hadjar can be fast and a good manager but is also a bit inconsistent and we rarely see him in attack or defense situations: Good but nothing more, and above all, the impression that we won't see much more of him............... Bearman came close to suspension for avoidable mistakes, he leads ahead of Ocon, who is struggling to adapt to the Haas but sometimes makes mistakes due to a lack of concentration. Seems to have the ability to get his car working quite quickly with a more aggressive driver than Ocon: Good, but more consistency in 2026............... Bortoleton: a more classic rookie path with mistakes at the beginning before gaining momentum and more consistency afterwards, becoming more incisive, no missteps: To be confirmed in 2026............... Lawson is completely dominated by Hadjar in qualifying and races with very few exceptions, arrogant despite not showing the level to justify it, involved in a multitude of accidents and incidents, a new Sainz but much weaker than the original: Out the door............... Doohan: we'll never see him again, but already 2 crashes in 6 GPs, he wasn't starting well, to his credit the environment was unhealthy: Not a loss all the same............... Colapinto: 8 crashes from September 2024 to September 2025 out of a total of 20 GPs, still no points while Gasly has them Having scored 13 goals since they got together, his only asset is the check his sponsors pay him Alpine But he was never worth the 20 million that Brille paid Williams: Get rid of him! This rookie class surpasses others of the 21st century in quantity but not in quality. Kimi and Fernando made a better impression on me, as did the combined class of Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, and Russell.
Fred
04/11/2025 at 03:53 a.m.
It's true that this year's field was good, but 1984, with Stephan Bellof and a certain Ayrton Senna, remains the best. However, it's true that back then, rookies finished their apprenticeship before F1, in F2, F3, and F1 preseason testing.
viel
04/11/2025 at 03:52 a.m.
It's true that this year's field was good, but 1984, with Stephan Bellof and a certain Ayrton Senna, remains the best. However, it's true that back then, rookies finished their apprenticeship before F1, in F2, F3, and F1 preseason testing.