A resurgent McLaren (complete with driver drama), a bold new red era for Lewis Hamilton, a chaotic midfield scrap featuring Carlos Sainz Jr., and, of course, the endurance test of Max Verstappen seemingly carrying Red Bull on his back—for the first time in years, Formula 1 feels wide open. With shifting team dynamics, high-stakes rivalries, and career-defining moves on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory. And for the next several months, we’ll be here to cheer, laugh, cry, and rage over every twist and turn.

But 2025 isn’t just about the on-track legends. Last season saw one of the highest numbers of expiring contracts in F1 history, triggering a rookie revolution. Six (or five, if you’re excluding Liam Lawson) newcomers are set to shake up the grid, making this the most exciting rookie class in years. Among them, Antonelli and Bearman seem the most primed to make an immediate impact, while Hadjar and Doohan face steeper learning curves. Bortoleto’s season will hinge on Sauber’s competitiveness, and Lawson’s performance could determine whether Red Bull keeps him long-term.

There’s plenty to dissect, and it all starts this week at the Australian Grand Prix—the first real test for this new era. Here’s everything you need to know.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

• Age: 18

• Racing Number: #12

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been Mercedes’ next big thing for years. Handpicked by Toto Wolff and part of the Mercedes Junior Team since his karting days, Antonelli was fast-tracked through the junior ranks, skipping Formula 3 entirely after dominant seasons in Formula 4 and Formula Regional. In 2024, he raced in Formula 2 with Prema, finishing sixth in the standings—an underwhelming result on paper, but one that had more to do with F2’s new car shaking up the competitive order than his outright pace. His standout moments included a brilliant wet-weather performance at Silverstone, where he was lapping a second faster than the field. His biggest weakness? Pushing too hard. His FP1 crash at Monza last year was a prime example, and Mercedes will be hoping he finds the right balance between aggression and consistency .

Antonelli’s pre-season testing in Bahrain showed both his potential and his inexperience. While his raw speed was evident, he was visibly pushing the limits of the W16, at times looking twitchy in high-speed corners. His long-run pace was solid, but his tyre management will need work—his degradation on C3 tyres was notably higher than George Russell’s. The pressure of replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes is immense, but expectations have been managed. Mercedes insists this is a learning year, though internally, they’ll want him to be competitive with Russell sooner rather than later .

Oliver Bearman (Haas)

• Age: 19

• Racing Number: #87

Oliver Bearman’s rapid rise to F1 was solidified in 2024 when he stood in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, scoring points on debut. While his full-time F2 campaign with Prema was disappointing (12th in the standings), he showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in qualifying, and was often hampered by bad luck and mechanical issues. His real F1 audition came in the three substitute drives he had with Ferrari and Haas in 2024, where he outqualified seasoned teammates and proved he could handle the pressure. Now, as a Ferrari-backed driver in Haas, he has a clear path forward—but that also means big expectations from Maranello .

Pre-season testing in Bahrain confirmed that Bearman is among the most prepared rookies on the grid. Having already driven F1 machinery in race conditions, he looked comfortable in the Haas VF-25, clocking competitive times in race simulations. His tyre management was one of the best among the rookies, and he outpaced teammate Esteban Ocon in a few sessions—something that won’t go unnoticed. Haas isn’t expecting miracles, but if Bearman can consistently beat Ocon and bring in points, it will reinforce his future as a potential Ferrari driver .

Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

• Age: 20

• Racing Number: #15

The reigning Formula 2 champion, Bortoleto made history by becoming the first driver since George Russell to win F3 and F2 back-to-back. He raced for Trident in F3 and then moved to MP Motorsport for his F2 campaign, where he thrived despite the unpredictability of the season. While he didn’t dominate outright in terms of wins—taking just two victories—his racecraft set him apart—much like his manager and mentor, Fernando Alonso. He has a knack for staying out of trouble and maximizing results, which will be crucial in F1, especially with Sauber, a team unlikely to be fighting at the front .

Bortoleto’s Bahrain test was a mixed bag. On one hand, he handled the car’s unpredictability well and compared decently to teammate Nico Hülkenberg in terms of outright pace. On the other hand, the Sauber C45 looked tricky to drive, and Bortoleto had a few moments where he oversteered into the sand, showing that he’s still adjusting to the higher downforce of an F1 car. His challenge will be squeezing performance out of a midfield car that doesn’t inspire much confidence. However, if he can match Hülkenberg in qualifying and race pace early on, he’ll earn a lot of respect in the paddock .

Jack Doohan (Alpine)

• Age: 22

• Racing Number: #11

Jack Doohan, son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, has had a unique road to F1. After spending time in the Red Bull Junior Programme, he moved to the Alpine Academy and has been their reserve driver since 2023. In Formula 2, he raced for Virtuosi and finished third in 2023, but instead of another F2 season, Alpine gave him extensive testing time in older F1 cars. His Abu Dhabi GP debut as a stand-in for Alpine in 2024 was solid, if unspectacular, but his extensive mileage in F1 machinery makes him more prepared than most rookies .

Bahrain testing suggested Doohan is still adjusting to Alpine’s 2025 challenger. While his race pace was steady, he was a few tenths off teammate Pierre Gasly in qualifying simulations, indicating that he still needs to extract more from the car over one lap. Alpine is in flux, and with Franco Colapinto signed as their reserve on a multi-year deal, Doohan needs to perform from day one to secure his place beyond this season .

Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

• Age: 20

• Racing Number: #26

Hadjar has been a Red Bull junior for years, and after a slow start in F2, he finished second overall in 2024 with Hitech. He’s known for his aggressive driving style, which served him well in F2 but could be a liability in F1, where consistency is crucial. Unlike some of his fellow rookies, Hadjar had limited F1 experience before 2025, with only a handful of FP1 outings for Red Bull in 2023 and 2024 .

Testing in Bahrain highlighted his lack of experience. Racing Bulls had to modify his run plan to give him extra laps, but he still had a few erratic moments, including a near-spin in Turn 9. While his speed isn’t in question, he’s likely to struggle early on as he refines his racecraft and adapts to the complexity of an F1 weekend. His immediate challenge will be keeping up with Yuki Tsunoda, who is entering his fifth season and won’t go easy on him .

Liam Lawson (Red Bull)

• Age: 23

• Racing Number: #40

While Lawson is classified as a rookie (depending on who you ask), he already has 11 F1 starts under his belt, having replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls in 2023. His performances there—particularly his points finish in Singapore—earned him a full-time seat at Red Bull in 2025, partnering Max Verstappen. His aggressive-yet-controlled style makes him well-suited to F1, but stepping into a team that has historically been ruthless with its second drivers means the pressure is immense.

Testing was frustrating for Lawson. A water leak limited his running on the final day, leaving him with less mileage than he would have liked. While he’s shown he can handle the pressure of an F1 race weekend, adapting to Red Bull’s unique car philosophy will take time. His first goal will be to get close to Verstappen in qualifying—if he struggles early, Red Bull won’t hesitate to consider alternative options.