The 2025 Formula 1 grid will feature five new faces after one of the biggest shake-ups in the sport’s recent history. For the first time ever, there were no changes to the grid for 2024, but many teams came to regret playing it safe.
They’ve consequently looked to revitalise their line-up with young talents, but unusually, this hasn’t been confined to the midfield. Mercedes have taken the spectacular risk of replacing Lewis Hamilton with 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli.
At 18, Antonelli will become the third-youngest driver in F1 history. His former PREMA teammate Oliver Bearman is aligned with Ferrari but will have to prove himself at Haas first, having already made two substitute appearances for the team in 2024 in place of Kevin Magnussen.
| TEAM | DRIVER ONE | DRIVER TWO | RESERVE |
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri | TBA |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Lewis Hamilton | TBA |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen | Liam Lawson | TBA |
| Mercedes | George Russell | Kimi Antonelli | Valtteri Bottas |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll | TBA |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | Jack Doohan | Paul Aron |
| Haas | Esteban Ocon | Oliver Bearman | TBA |
| Racing Bulls | Yuki Tsunoda | Isack Hadjar | TBA |
| Williams | Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz | Franco Colapinto |
| Sauber | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto | TBA |
Antonelli was sixth in F2, with Bearman an underwhelming 12th, but ironically, the champion Gabriel Bortoleto starts with the poorest F1 team. He joins a Sauber squad that only scored four points this year.
The runner-up, Isack Hadjar, will have long-term ambitions of partnering Max Verstappen after taking the last spot on the grid at Racing Bulls. Jack Doohan is the fifth and final rookie, with Alpine rewarding his patience.
Doohan last raced full-time in 2023, finishing third. He then committed himself fully to a reserve role at Enstone, and got the nod to replace Esteban Ocon.
Paul Aron an alternative to Jack Doohan at Alpine
At the end of the 2023 season, Doohan raced against Paul Aron. His impressive showing in F3 (he finished third) earned him an opportunity to take part in the final round at Yas Marina.
Aron went on to take third once again at F2 level, behind Bortoleto and Hadjar. He notched one victory, four poles and eight podium finishes.
Alpine signed Aron after Mercedes let him go, making him their reserve driver for 2025. And he may now have his eye on Doohan’s seat.
Speaking on the F1-Insider YouTube channel, journalist Ralf Bach said Doohan would be wary of the Estonian lurking in the background. Franco Colapinto, set to be Williams reserve driver, remains a rival too.
“Aron is definitely a source of pressure for Doohan. He came in the top three in Formula 2. He delivered, you have to say. That is the logical step – you promote him. He’s ready if Doohan doesn’t perform so well. As I said – Colapinto, wait and see. He is still at Williams.”
It’s previously been reported that Doohan has only signed a five-race contract. Even if he’s been promised the whole season, he doesn’t have the security of a multi-year deal.
Ralf Schumacher’s brutal verdict on Flavio Briatore’s move for Jack Doohan
Doohan made an early debut for Alpine at the Abu Dhabi GP after Ocon negotiated an early release to Haas. It was an underwhelming display from the Australian, slowest in qualifying and six-tenths adrift of Pierre Gasly.
He was second-last among the classified finishers on race day, and while Alpine may treat this short-notice outing as a learning experience, he’ll be under pressure before long if he performs at a similar level early next year. Ralf Schumacher ‘can’t believe’ Alpine signed Doohan, with his nephew Mick missing out.
Colapinto is the biggest threat to F1’s rookie class given his eye-catching early results for Williams and his commercial appeal. While his crashes in the final rounds damaged his reputation, he showed in 2024 that he can be a ‘plug-and-play’ option midway through the campaign.
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