F1 Class of 2025: The rookies who defined a season

Every new Formula One season brings hope, but 2025 brought possibility. It marked the rise of a new generation, with several rookies stepping onto the grid together, a wave of fresh talent arriving at a moment of change. They were ready to test themselves against the machinery, the men who had defined the era, and the relentless spotlight of F1.

Over 24 races, some shone with brilliance, while others faltered under the sport’s unforgiving demands. For this junior group, the campaign was as much about lessons learnt as it was about flashes of promise.

Leading the pack was Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes’s newest hopeful. Tasked with filling the vast void left by Lewis Hamilton, he repaid the faith with glimpses of his prowess. Despite scoring less than half the points of his experienced teammate George Russell, the teenager produced a debut campaign that stood out. Antonelli  claimed three memorable podiums in Canada, Brazil, and an inherited finish in Las Vegas. The Italian’s consistency — reaching Q3 sixteen times, second only to Hamilton’s 2007 rookie record of seventeen — hinted at a future star still sharpening his racecraft, with much more to come.

Not far behind in intrigue was Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls. The Frenchman’s tenure began with a harsh introduction as he suffered a formation-lap crash in Australia. But in a team that lacked the machinery of the front-runners, Hadjar’s ability to extract performance from every session was remarkable.

Single-lap pace, equalling Antonelli’s mark in qualifying consistency, and a hard-fought podium in the Netherlands confirmed his skill set. By race 23, he had earned a promotion to the Red Bull second seat — a cursed revolving door that could define the next stage of his career.

Other debutants experienced the sport’s learning curve in their own ways. Haas’ Oliver Bearman consistently fought within the midfield, shining in single-lap performances. The Briton is a familiar face around the paddock, having filled in at Ferrari and Haas last year. His first full season had positive returns, with a career-best finish of fourth in Mexico.

Liam Lawson turned over a new leaf after a challenging start with the senior squad. The Kiwi, who had made sporadic outings with Racing Bulls since 2023, endured two difficult races with Red Bull before being reassigned. He gradually regained form and delivered a fifth-place finish in Azerbaijan, securing his seat and another chance to prove his capabilities.

For Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber offered both opportunity and challenge. The Brazilian entered F1 after dominating junior categories, but the team’s limited development this year meant extracting performance was often a test of patience. 

Yet a sixth-place finish in Hungary and multiple points finishes highlighted his adaptability and potential.

Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan, limited to a partial campaign with Alpine, faced the steepest challenges of all. Doohan was shown the door early, while his successor, a familiar fill-in on the grid, had no real standout drives. The Argentinian, gaining invaluable knowledge despite scarce chances to score, has been handed another golden opportunity in 2026 to establish himself.

The 2025 season was an opportunity to make their mark, each with a unique journey, but all enduring the same baptism of fire. Every weekend offered glimpses of how F1’s future could look in the coming years, laying the foundations of what may become long, successful careers.

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Published on Dec 20, 2025