The 2025 Formula 1 season has ushered in a wave of new drivers, many of whom are seen as the future of the sport. Some legends of the track have stepped down and retired, and many feel that it’s time for a change of generations in F1, and we’re just seeing the beginnings of it.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the young drivers who are new to F1 and who are seen as the ones who will make the mark on it, not only this season, but in the years to come.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
Mercedes made a bold move with Antonelli, as he stepped directly into F1 and replaced Lewis Hamilton. He has been a Mercedes junior since 2019 and skipped F3 while impressing with his results and performance in F2. In his debut race, Antonelli claimed a historic record for the second-youngest points scorer, the youngest race leader, and the youngest fastest lap setter.
Many feel that Mercedes is preparing Antonelli for the championship contender. He has the skills needed for the top spot –most importantly, the ability to grow and learn quickly and to stay calm under pressure.
Antonelli is standing 7th in the 2025 championship with 63 points across 12 starts, including 6 top‑10 finishes, one podium, and a sprint pole. However, his best season came in Australia when he started at P16 and ended in P4. Some of the best crypto sports betting sites haven’t managed to predict this rise, and the odds reflected that. Crypto betting sites, however, also change their odds during live events, and this is what happened in Australia as Antonelli surprised everyone.
Oliver Bearman – Haas
Bearman is a graduate of the Ferrari Driver Academy. He had an impressive junior career – Bearman was Italian and ADAC F4 champion, F3 runner-up, and has multiple F2 wins. He debuted in F1 in 2024 for Ferrari, when he finished 7th in Saudi Arabia. Now, he’s in his first full season for Haas.
During his run for Haas, Bearman has shown great composure, adaptability, and the ability to pace the race under a lot of pressure. All of this becomes even more impressive when we take into account he’s only 19 years old.
In 12 races, he’s scored 6 points, achieving 3 top‑10 finishes. It’s important to note that this also means Bearman hasn’t climbed the podium just yet.
Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
A Brazilian driver has a resume that’s a textbook example of how a young racer should rise through the ranks. He was an F3 champion in 2023, and in the following year, he won a title in F2 as a rookie. He also received both Year and Rookie Best Driver awards.
Experts have noted that Bortoleto provides valuable technical feedback and consistently engages in effective racecraft. He will be paired alongside the experienced Nico Hülkenberg. As Bortoleto is only 20 years old, this pairing will offer an interesting blend of experience and youth.
The Brazilian’s season includes 12 starts, 4 points in total, with a best finish of P8 (once), and one point finish out of 12 races, alongside 3 DNFs. These aren’t the best of statistics, but his success in F3 and F2 points towards great capabilities.
Jack Doohan – Alpine
Jack Doohan has big shoes to fill as he is the son of a MotoGP legend, Mick Doohan. His career was pretty conventional – he climbed through the Alpine academy and won in F3 and F2 championships before getting a spot in F1. Doohan debuted in Abu Dhabi in 2024 and is the oldest on our list so far, at 24 years old.
Doohan will have to compete against internal talent in Alpine as well, most notably against Franco Colapinto. Compared to others on our list, Doohan is experienced, and he’s proven to be resilient during difficult races, which will come in handy. Colapinto has replaced Doohan, after a few bad performances, and many feel that Doohan isn’t using his full potential so far.
So far in 7 races, Doohan hasn’t scored yet; his best finish was P13, qualifying as high as P11. He suffered 2 DNFs and hasn’t yet secured points.
Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar has burst onto the racing scene with his four wins in F2 in 2024. His driving style was also much loved by the fans because it included daring overtaking of opponents and focusing on raw speed. Hadjar has proven that he can go toe to toe with racing veterans, but the young driver was also caught having an outburst over the radio.
Experts claim that Hadjar has great potential and that his first races in F1 already prove that. However, they also emphasize that he’ll need to keep his aggression in check.
Hadjar has accumulated 21 points in 11 starts, with a best result of P6 (once), and achieved a P5 qualifying in his rookie season.
