One of the most exciting aspects of the 2025 F1 season is how many new drivers are set to be on the grid when the Australian Grand Prix finally rolls around.
A quarter of the 2025 F1 grid have taken part in three Grand Prix or less heading into the season opener.
That’s in stark contrast to this time last year when for the first time in Formula 1 history, no drivers changed teams over the winter break.
Four drivers are arriving F1 together from Formula 2 – champion Gabriel Bortoleto, runner-up Isack Hadjar and Prema pair Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli – and they’ll all join Jack Doohan who made his debut at Alpine at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Each of those drivers will have different goals and expectations heading into 2025 given where their teams sat in the Constructors’ Championship last year.
For example, Bortoleto may have defeated all of his young rivals last year but is likely to have the worst car on the grid in 2025.
Jack Doohan is already fighting for his F1 future, especially as Alpine have just signed Franco Colapinto from Alpine.
Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft was at the Autosport International Festival and asked about this season’s rookies.
He predicted that unsurprisingly Liam Lawson might finish highest in the championship, he believes that Haas’ new star Bearman could be the driver that excites fans the most.
David Croft thinks Oliver Bearman will ‘delight’ F1 fans in 2025
Croft was asked by the Manon & Maia F1 content TikTok channel which rookie he thinks will top the championship this year and said: “Which rookie’s going to top the championship? Well, the rookie championship?
“Not the real championship, because that would be quite an ask! Although Liam Lawson’s got a chance.
“He’s a rookie because he hasn’t had a full season, so I think probably Liam because he’s in the Red Bull.”
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know
Croft was then asked about the other rookies and continued: “They are all exceptionally talented, it’s whether their car is going to give them what they need to compete.
“I think Ollie Bearman is a phenomenal driver, I think Gabriel Bortoleto… look if George Russell and Charles Leclerc have won back-to-back championships, F3 and F2, what Gabriel Bortoleto’s done the same, so that’s his calibre there.
“I’m going to go for Ollie Bearman in the Haas as the rookie that will not surprise but delight and Liam Lawson [is] probably a bit more consistent because he’s in the Red Bull.”
Haas hoping to build on exceptional 2024 with Bearman and Esteban Ocon
A lot of driver changes have taken place over the winter break but only Haas and Sauber have changed both of their drivers.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu knew early in the year that he had lost Nico Hulkenberg to Sauber but had a much harder decision to make with Kevin Magnussen who found some form at the end of the year.
However, Komatsu has seen close-up just how impressive Bearman is after his substitute appearances in Baku and Sao Paulo and appears to be very confident that he’s the right man for the job.
READ MORE: All to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari and Toyota ties
Bearman’s Ferrari connections are particularly exciting and while they may have helped him secure a seat with the Banbury-based team, they also make him the early favourite to replace Lewis Hamilton when he decides to eventually call him on his F1 career.
The 19-year-old faces a tough task up against Ocon who has never made life easy for any of his F1 teammates.
Pierre Gasly and Ocon’s relationship has been tested but Bearman will hope he can keep the Frenchman onside throughout his first full F1 campaign.
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