The 2025 F1 season will see six drivers make their full-time debuts, but it might just be a baptism of fire for some…
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The 2025 Formula 1 season is less than a month away from ‘Lights Out!’ in Australia. Alongside Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari on a multi-year deal, the other big news is the rookies that will make their full-time debuts this year. Some of these drivers have raced in an F1 race before, but this season promises to be a baptism of fire as they come to grips with some of the most powerful and fastest race cars in the world.
In no particular order, here are the six drivers aiming to make their mark on F1.
- Liam Lawson – Red Bull Racing
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes-AMG
- Ollie Bearman – Haas
- Jack Doohan – Alpine
- Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
- Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
The F1 Magnifying Glass
While all eyes will be on the debutants, ready to give guidance (sometimes from the comfort of our couches), the biggest magnifying glass will be on Lawson, Antonelli, and Doohan – all for very different reasons.
Liam Lawson, with 11 Grands Prix to his name, has been given the nod to replace Sergio Perez and partner Max Verstappen. His promotion from, what is technically a stand-in role – caught some by surprise, leaving many to ponder why he was chosen over long-time B-team driver, Yuki Tsunoda. If the New Zealander fails to meet Red Bull Racing’s high standards, he might get demoted to Racing Bulls (a la Pierre Gasly, 2019). As such, he has been given the mandate by the team’s decision-makers to NOT challenge Verstappen, but instead play the #2 role.
If Lawson does what is expected, he will not put pressure on himself or find himself in precarious positions. If he manages that, he might just secure his long-term future within the team.
Kimi Antonelli is the big surprise for 2025 as he will make his F1 debut at just 18-years-old. The Italian has been touted for a move to Mercedes for much of 2024 as Hamilton’s replacement. But given his tender age, there was, expectedly, much to say about his prospects of joining the team. However, team boss Toto Wolff was adamant about signing the youngster, citing his regret for not putting pen to paper with Verstappen when the opportunity came knocking more than a decade ago.
The Mercedes rookie, like Verstappen, Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso, is regarded as a ‘generational talent’, but the Silver Arrows must manage his season well and avoid him imploding on himself. The world of F1 is cutthroat and unforgiving, but the team must endure when the teething problems rear their heads. Just ask Red Bull about Verstappen’s problems…
Jack Doohan, the son of well-known Australian motorcycle rider, Mick Doohan, will don the Alpine overalls as he finally gets a chance to race in F1 after being on the sidelines for so long. However, while this is an exciting moment for the Doohan clan and Australia, rumours have been making the rounds that the debutant only has a contract for six races. According to unconfirmed reports, Flavio Briatore, Renault’s executive advisor for its F1 project, has his eye on the 2024 Williams call-up, Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian replaced Logan Sargeant midway through the year and impressed wholly, despite feeling the pressure late in the season and making unforced errors (an expectancy of rookie drivers, remember).
But Colapinto was signed to Alpine as its third driver, skipping the queue ahead of the existing two reserve drivers. Briatore’s clear favour for Colapinto does not bode well for Doohan’s 2025 prospects and he will start his season with a dark cloud hanging over him. It is sink or swim for the young Australian because one wrong step and Briatore will not think twice about cutting him off…
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