Occasionally, a Formula 1 season attracts a remarkable group of rookie drivers, and 2025 seems to be one of those seasons, at least based on the first 14 races.
In The Race’s assessment of rookie drivers, we only consider individuals who hadn’t participated in a grand prix before 2025 or those who had limited opportunities in the previous season. Therefore, Liam Lawson, who raced in 11 events during 2023 and 2024, is excluded from this list.
The rankings reflect their speed in qualifying and races, frequency of errors, overall execution, and numerous other factors that influence a driver’s performance.
6 Franco Colapinto
Colapinto expressed that just before the Hungarian Grand Prix, he felt most confident until he crashed in qualifying on his return to Imola. His season has been challenging, although he has shown competitive speed against Gasly at times, notably in Canada and Hungary.
Considering Alpine’s difficulties and his late start to the season, it’s not surprising he hasn’t yet hit his peak performance. The upcoming races on familiar tracks might offer him a chance to showcase his capabilities.
5 Jack Doohan
Both Doohan and his replacement, Colapinto, have faced a tough season, resulting in their placement at the bottom of the rankings. While their performances are similar, Doohan takes fifth place due to more frequent stellar speed compared to his successor.
However, Doohan had the advantage of pre-season experience and the start of last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He faced multiple challenges, including crashes and tire issues, and was replaced after showing potential speed but making mistakes during the Miami weekend.
4 Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli has demonstrated more consistency, albeit struggling with car instability from an upgrade. He showed exceptional speed during a pole position sprint in Miami but mostly adopted a cautious approach due to past errors, particularly after a crash at Monza last year.
While he gathered solid results and achieved a podium in Canada, ongoing car issues have hampered his performance. His season has been adequate, but there’s potential for him to rise in the rankings as the year unfolds.
3 Ollie Bearman
Bearman has exhibited considerable speed but has gone scoreless in the last ten races, with just a couple points from a Spa sprint. His speed elevates him in the rankings despite inconsistent execution during qualifying and racing.
While he has produced electric performances, as seen at Silverstone, his reliability has been a concern, highlighted by penalties stemming from mistakes. If he can convert his speed into consistent performances, more points are surely on the horizon.
2 Gabriel Bortoleto
Bortoleto started the season quietly but stood out with his qualifying speed against veteran teammate Nico Hulkenberg. Unfortunately, race struggles hindered his ability to score points initially.
However, after a set of upgrades for Sauber, he garnered points in three of four races before the August break, despite a poor showing at Silverstone. Bortoleto’s emerging talent signals he could soon rise to the top of the rookie rankings.
1 Isack Hadjar
Initially perceived as a pragmatic promotion by Red Bull, Hadjar has exceeded expectations. Despite a crash in his potential debut, he quickly established himself with competitive qualifying positions and consistent points finishes.
Although his results have tapered off recently due to a more competitive midfield and some misfortunes, Hadjar’s performances against Liam Lawson have positioned him as a contender for promotion to Red Bull in the future.
