David Coulthard names which F1 rookie has already ‘outperformed’ his expectations for the 2025 season

One of the most fascinating aspects of the 2025 season was always going to be to study how each rookie coped with being thrust into the limelight of racing in Formula 1.

Each driver had a completely unique task ahead of them, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson placed in potentially race-winning cars at Mercedes and Red Bull respectively.

Lawson’s run at Red Bull lasted just two races before he was demoted to re-join RB and new teammate Isack Hadjar.

Oliver Bearman made a permanent return to Haas, while Gabriel Bortoleto has the uneviable task of trying to impress in a very slow Sauber.

Jack Doohan has retained his Alpine seat after the first five races having been put under pressure by reserve driver Franco Colapinto and his boss Flavio Briatore to impress.

All six drivers have shown glimpses of why they’re racing in Formula 1, although some have got off to a better start than other.

David Coulthard was assessing how F1’s newest crop have started their first full seasons in the sport, and picked out two drivers in particular who have risen above their peers.

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

David Coulthard says Isack Hadjar has ‘outperformed’ his expectations

The Scottish former F1 driver was covering the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Channel 4 and asked to examine the youngsters who entered the sport in 2025.

He said, “Yeah, look, I think that Bearman has really stood out on building what he delivered last year.

“I think for Liam, it’s clearly difficult, he’s got to rebuild that confidence, he’s got to be in front of Hadjar, who’s another rookie who I think has actually outperformed what my expectations was.

“Bortoleto, difficult, he’s got to beat Hulkenberg who is a solid, very fast racer, but that’s what he needs to do if he’s going to continue in the sport.”

Red Bull were initially hesitant to promote Hadjar over the winter break, but the poor form of Sergio Perez forced their hand.

His spin on the formation lap at the Australian Grand Prix would have put even more doubts in their minds, but since then, the Frenchman has been outstanding.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Isack Hadjar thriving in his first Formula 1 season as a RB driver

Coulthard heard talk in the paddock about Hadjar after his spin in Australia that concerned the former McLaren driver, but the mental fortitude he’s shown to get over that mistake has been remarkable.

Hadjar should have scored points at the following race in China, only for RB to mess up his and Yuki Tsunoda’s strategy after he outqualified his more experienced teammate.

In Japan, Hadjar added his name to Formula 1’s long list of points scorers, coming home in eighth, ahead of new teammate Lawson and the newly-promoted Tsunoda.

Damon Hill praised Hadjar for his performance at Suzuka, and whale he couldn’t score points in Bahrain, he followed it up with another strong display in Saudi Arabia.

He was left frustrated by Williams enacted a perfect DRS train to keep Alex Albon ahead of the Frenchman with the help of Carlos Sainz, and Bernie Collins admitted Hadjar was more annoyed than she had ever heard before on the team radio.

Hadjar currently sits level on points with Tsunoda and Sainz in the drivers’ championship, and if he can maintain that level until the end of the season, his first season has to be considered a success.