The Formula 1 driver’s market is constantly evolving and after a winter full of changes, that’s unlikely to be any different in 2025.
Only McLaren and Aston Martin stuck with both of their drivers from last season and Red Bull were one of the final teams to confirm their line-up.
Sergio Perez provided team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko in a difficult position after consistently underperforming despite signing a contract extension halfway through the campaign.
He finished nearly 300 points behind Max Verstappen and Horner and Marko decided to promote Liam Lawson as a result which handed Isack Hadjar the final available race seat on the grid at Racing Bulls.
Marko has suggested Red Bull is ‘completely different’ since Perez left and Lawson arrived in the garage over the winter.
The pressure is on Lawson and Hadjar ahead of their first full campaigns in Formula 1 but they’re not the only new drivers on the grid.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been promoted by Mercedes, Oliver Bearman has made the full-time switch to Haas, while Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto will be racing for Alpine and Sauber respectively.
Marko was speaking on Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar-7 ahead of the start of the season about each of the rookies.
He gave his verdict on all five of them – excluding the more experienced Lawson – and suggested that Doohan’s future in F1 already looks precarious.
Helmut Marko doesn’t think Alpine driver Jack Doohan will ‘finish the season’
Marko was asked about Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and explained: “He [Antonelli] is clearly a top-series driver, even though he is under immense pressure. His performance is impressive: he has already covered around 10,000 kilometres, but he has also had two major accidents.
“Of course, Toto Wolff wants to replicate Verstappen’s story at Mercedes. However, joining a top team straight away will be a challenge for him. But in terms of potential, he is definitely a top-series driver.”
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko? Everything to know
He then turned his attention to Gabriel Bortoleto and concluded: “I would classify him [Gabriel Bortoleto] as a ‘B’ driver. He is a very intelligent driver – he has won in Formula 3, but only once [twice].
“He tends to stay out of trouble. In Formula 2 he has only had two wins so far.
“He is a driver who brings the car home, has a solid understanding of strategy and tyre management, but I don’t see the finishing speed in him.”
When asked about Doohan, Marko simply said: “He is a C-series driver, I don’t think he will finish the season.”
Jack Doohan facing the toughest task in Formula 1 ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
Doohan will be pleased that he can rely on plenty of home support at the Australian Grand Prix as he prepares for his second race in Formula 1.
He’s sharing the limelight with McLaren star Oscar Piastri but will need all the help he can get from the crowd this weekend.
| Driver | Team | Ranking |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | A-series |
| Oliver Bearman | Haas | A-series |
| Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | B-series (A-series potential) |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | B-series |
| Jack Doohan | Alpine | C-series |
Doohan’s contract only runs for a few races and Alpine haven’t been shy about bolstering their ranks over the winter.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad
Franco Colapinto is the standout star from the team’s array of reserve drivers but Paul Aron is highly rated by Alpine and Kush Maini and Ryo Hirakawa will both fancy their chances.
Doohan can dismiss all of these accusations by matching or even beating Pierre Gasly at his home race.
He’ll hope a swap with Colapinto isn’t an inevitability before he’s even had his chance to prove himself in the sport.
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