A new crop of rookie drivers entered the 2025 Formula 1 season with high expectations, and 14 races in, they have delivered in part. This ranking considers drivers who had not started a Grand Prix before 2025 or had only a limited campaign, excluding drivers like Liam Lawson. The evaluation is based on qualifying and race pace, mistake count, execution, and overall performance.
6. Franco Colapinto
Why it matters: Colapinto has faced a tough start to his rookie season with Alpine, compounded by the team's struggles.
The details: His confidence was notably low before a qualifying crash at Imola. Despite this, he's shown flashes of good pace, particularly in Canada where he ran in the points, and more recently in Hungary. Given his late start to the season and Alpine's difficulties, it's understandable he hasn't hit his stride.
What's next: Returning to familiar tracks offers his best chance to demonstrate his full potential. Alpine should allow him time to build on this difficult beginning.
5. Jack Doohan
Why it matters: Like his replacement Colapinto, Doohan was dealt a poor hand this season, leading to a comparable performance but with slightly more consistent flashes of pace.
The details: He showed promising speed, sometimes matching Pierre Gasly, but also made too many costly errors. These included crashes in Australia and Japan (FP1), collisions in China, and tyre issues in Bahrain. He was removed after a Miami weekend where speed was evident but errors persisted.
What's next: Doohan should have been given more opportunities to develop and build on his speed, despite the early mishaps.
4. Kimi Antonelli
Why it matters: Antonelli has been largely consistent and error-free, yet often lacked the searing pace expected of him, though this has improved.
The details: His approach has been cautious since an FP1 shunt at Monza last year. Miami was an exception, where he secured sprint pole and outpaced George Russell in qualifying. He delivered a superb race to a first podium in Canada but then struggled with car instability after an Imola upgrade.
What's next: His rookie season is decent but not yet extraordinary. However, his strong fourth-place ranking suggests he has the potential to climb higher by season's end.
3. Ollie Bearman
Why it matters: Bearman has demonstrated impressive raw speed but has been frustratingly inconsistent, failing to convert pace into consistent results.
The details: He hasn't scored points in the last 10 Grands Prix, with only a few points from the Spa sprint after his P10 in Bahrain. Silverstone highlighted his potential with an eighth-place qualifying, but also his errors, as a pitlane crash led to a grid penalty. This was his second red-flag penalty of the year.
What's next: These are typical rookie growing pains. If he can turn his speed into more consistently well-executed weekends, better results will follow.
2. Gabriel Bortoleto
Why it matters: Bortoleto was an under-the-radar star early in the season, now converting strong qualifying pace into regular points finishes.
The details: Initially, Sauber's struggles meant his qualifying efforts (often Q2) didn't yield points, making him conspicuous mostly for mistakes (crashes in Australia, China). However, a series of floor upgrades from Spain transformed Sauber's performance. He scored points and achieved a first Q3 in Austria, then scored in three of four races before the August break.
What's next: He's fast, intelligent, and a quick learner, now capable of regular scoring. On his current trajectory, he's very close to claiming the top rookie spot.
1. Isack Hadjar
Why it matters: Hadjar has been a revelation, exceeding expectations and rapidly becoming a contender for a Red Bull promotion.
The details: Despite crashing out of his expected debut in Australia, he rebounded swiftly. He qualified as the best midfield driver in China and Suzuka, where he also secured his first F1 points with an eighth-place finish. This was the first of five points finishes in his first nine races, peaking with a sixth place in Monaco. While recent results have dipped due to increased midfield competition, misfortune (Spa power unit issue), and occasional errors (Silverstone collision with Kimi Antonelli), his underlying performance is strong.
What's next: His strong performances, especially against Liam Lawson, have propelled him into serious contention for a Red Bull seat next year.