Six drivers will embark on their first full Formula 1 seasons this year – the most newcomers since 2013.
Half of the half-dozen don’t have a single start to their names yet, while the other three have already experienced the thrill of lining up on a grand prix grid at least once.
But all of them are striving for the same goal: to secure their place at the pinnacle of motorsport. Which of them has the best chance of staying there?
Liam Lawson
Previous F1 grand prix starts: 11
Liam Lawson is Red Bull’s latest attempt to solve the thorny problem of who belongs in a Formula 1 team alongside Max Verstappen. He is the first member of their young driver programme to get the opportunity since mid-2019.
On that occasion Alexander Albon (who had already previously been dropped and then rehired by Red Bull) was brought in to replace Pierre Gasly, who lasted just 12 rounds with Verstappen. Albon was given a year and a half before Red Bull decided he couldn’t cut it and hired Sergio Perez, who had just been cut loose by Racing Point (now Aston Martin).
Red Bull’s sudden faith in Lawson makes it all the more curious that they passed up previous opportunities to give him more F1 experience, particularly at the start of 2023, when they initially placed him in Japan’s Super Formula series and gave a seat at their second team to outsider Nyck de Vries.
The return of Daniel Ricciardo later that year kept Lawson queued up waiting even longer for valuable F1 seat time. As a result, he will spend his first races alongside Verstappen learning several unfamiliar tracks.
Given that, will Red Bull be more patient with Lawson than they were with the likes of Gasly? If not, given this team’s track record, expect mid-season speculation about a potential swap with either of the Racing Bulls drivers, or even someone else.
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Previous F1 grand prix starts: 0
Mercedes’ bold decision to promote total newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a stark contrast to their past approach.
George Russell, Antonelli’s new team mate, had to serve three years’ apprenticeship at Williams before getting his chance. His predecessor Valtteri Bottas did four (and only got his chance in 2017 because Nico Rosberg walked out after winning the championship).
However Mercedes have taken great care both to downplay expectations of Antonelli ahead of his debut and ensure he has had the maximum possible seat time ahead of it. He began a programme driving their older F1 cars last year. His crash five laps into his first appearance in an F1 practice session did nothing to deter Mercedes – he was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement the very next day.
The team has shown every indication it will take its time over bedding in Antonelli, who stands to be the third-youngest F1 driver of all time. That will go some way towards easing the pressure on him, but this nonetheless a huge ask for a rookie, especially if Mercedes produce a potentially race-winning car.
Jack Doohan
Previous F1 grand prix starts: 1
Unlike Lawson or Antonelli, Jack Doohan won’t expect to begin the season with a potentially race-winning car. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the pressure on him will be lower.
Alpine announced Doohan’s promotion in August last year. But soon afterwards Franco Colapinto’s debut at Williams caught the eye, and rumours followed that Alpine were keen to secure his services, potentially as a race driver. Last month Alpine announced they had reached a deal with Williams to bring Colapinto on board as their third reserve driver in addition to Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa.
Doohan was handed the chance to make his F1 debut one race early in last year’s finale. But Alpine consultant Flavio Briatore’s damning-with-faint-praise assessment “for the first race it was okay” will have been ringing in Doohan’s ears throughout the off-season.
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Oliver Bearman
Previous F1 grand prix starts: 3
It’s rare for a driver to get three one-off appearances in Formula 1 before making their ‘proper’ debut. Indeed, Oliver Bearman achieved a unique feat by scoring points in his first two F1 starts with two different teams.
The first of those came at the punishing Jeddah Corniche Circuit as an 11th-hour replacement for Carlos Sainz Jnr at no less a team than Ferrari. Bearman, still only 18 at the time, passed his first test in style.
He already knows Haas well, having started two races for them and appeared in several practice sessions. He can expect to find himself in the cut and thrust of the midfield, but last year’s experience of the pressures of a real race weekend will be invaluable. His former F2 team mate Antonelli may have landed a top drive for his debut, but Bearman has the chance to play himself in at a midfield team while backers Ferrari keep an eye on his progress.
Isack Hadjar
Previous F1 grand prix starts: 0
The wheels are turning on Red Bull’s conveyor belt of young talent again. After the diversions of running the likes of Ricciardo and De Vries, Racing Bulls (as they are now known) are back in the role of promoting the team’s junior talent.
Isack Hadjar’s CV lacks the conspicuous achievement of a junior championship title, but he showed plenty of pace in Formula 2 last year and some poor luck harmed his bid for the crown.
However, this is Red Bull, so he will experience pressure from all sides. He is up against a driver with four years’ experience who is burning to show Red Bull erred by overlooking him. And coming up behind him is Arvid Lindblad, who is poised to clinch the Formula Regional Oceania championship before making his Formula 2 debut, and has already been talked up by the Red Bull top brass.
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Gabriel Bortoleto
Previous F1 grand prix starts: 0
Sauber face a transition year having finished last in the championship in 2024. They have swapped both their drivers and are preparing to become Audi’s works team next year.
Gabriel Bortoleto therefore faces less pressure than some rookies. But Bortoleto, previously a McLaren junior driver, is up against a tricky team mate in Nico Hulkenberg. If the Sauber is no more competitive than it was last year, the driver who enters F1 with back-to-back junior titles to his name will have to be content with fighting for scraps in his first season.
Over to you
Which of F1’s six rookies do you have the highest expectations of? Share your views in the comments.
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