An unexpected influx of talent in Formula 2 last season came at a time when some F1 teams were eager to move on from veteran drivers like Mexican Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas. The change in 2025 gives teams the opportunity to allow young drivers to gain experience before the design rules for single-seaters change radically for 2026.
Gabriel Bortoleto, the rookie champion, has struggled to stand out in F1 despite winning the F2 title last season. His new team Sauber is about to make a complete brand change as Audi's official team in 2026. With a helmet design honoring Ayrton Senna, Bortoleto is the first full-time Brazilian driver in F1 since 2017.
Antonelli is an 18-year-old Italian driver and the successor to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. He stands out among the largest influx of new drivers in F1 in years, as top teams have put their faith in youth, with six of the 20 drivers on the F1 2025 grid embarking on their first full seasons in the category.
Liam Lawson, who replaced Pérez at Red Bull, needs to justify Red Bull's decision to choose him over Yuki Tsunoda last season. Lawson has participated in 11 F1 races since 2023 and is preparing for a full season where he will feel more like a rookie competing on unfamiliar tracks.
Oliver Bearman, a Haas signing who jumped from Ferrari, surprised everyone by finishing seventh for Ferrari in his first race in Saudi Arabia last year. He is now a full-time Haas driver for 2025. On the other hand, Isack Hadjar, the F2 runner-up, will take the seat left vacant by Lawson at the Racing Bulls team.
Jack Doohan, son of Mick Doohan, faces the pressure to impress at Alpine, as Argentinian Franco Colapinto is ready as a reserve should he not meet expectations. Doohan finished third in F2 in 2023 and now seeks to establish himself in F1. The competition among these rookies promises to be intense in the 2025 season.
