The 2025 Formula 1 season has delivered one of the most impressive rookie lineups in recent memory, with several first-year drivers making serious waves in the championship fight. At Supercars.com.GH, we’ve been tracking their progress meticulously, and after 14 races, here’s how we rank this exceptional class of newcomers.
1. Isack Hadjar – The Racing Bulls sensation has been absolutely phenomenal! Despite that heartbreaking formation lap crash on his Australia debut, Hadjar bounced back with incredible resilience. Five points finishes in his first nine events, including that brilliant sixth place at Monaco, proves he belongs at this level. His qualifying performances have been sensational, regularly outpacing the midfield and even troubling the more experienced Liam Lawson. While recent results have dipped slightly, his pace and racecraft suggest Red Bull promotion could be on the cards.
2. Gabriel Bortoleto – The Brazilian has been Sauber’s hidden gem this season. Initially flying under the radar due to his car’s limitations, Bortoleto’s qualifying pace against veteran Nico Hülkenberg was immediately impressive. Since Sauber’s Spanish Grand Prix upgrades transformed their competitiveness, he’s scored points in three of four races before the break. That Hungary sixth place finish earned praise from Fernando Alonso, who called him “the best rookie of this generation.” His trajectory suggests even greater things ahead.
3. Ollie Bearman – Fast but frustrating perfectly describes Bearman’s campaign. The Haas driver has shown electric pace when everything clicks, with that Silverstone qualifying performance standing out as he headed the midfield pack. However, costly mistakes like that red-flag pit lane incident at the same circuit have prevented consistent points scoring. Only two points since April doesn’t reflect his underlying speed, but those rookie growing pains need addressing quickly.
4. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes’ highly-touted rookie has taken a cautious approach that’s yielded consistency over spectacular performances. That Miami sprint pole and his Canada podium showed glimpses of his potential, but he’s often seemed too conservative. The Imola suspension upgrade hurt his progress significantly, creating car instability issues. Still, his solid foundation suggests championship-caliber performances could emerge.
5. Jack Doohan – Alpine’s early-season casualty showed flashes of Pierre Gasly-bothering pace before his premature axing. Those promising speed glimpses in Miami came too late to save his seat.
6. Franco Colapinto – The Argentine’s Alpine switch hasn’t delivered expected results, struggling with the tricky car’s demands despite occasional pace flashes.
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